Letters | We need a conversation about reckless escalator use on the MTR

Readers discuss the MTR’s latest safety campaign, the potential for thriving esports sector in Hong Kong and how opinion polls got it wrong on the US presidential race

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Passengers use an escalator in Admiralty MTR Station, on November 11. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:30am, 17 Nov 2024

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The fierce debate over whether it should be mandatory for escalator users at MTR stations to stand on both sides of escalators and refrain from walking is indeed a necessary one given that safety, efficiency and convenience are core considerations.

The MTR Corporation’s decision to refrain from using by-laws to penalise commuters for not following the desired escalator etiquette is prudent as it takes a substantial public awareness effort to change commuters’ behaviour. Insufficient manpower and heavy foot traffic during peak hours might in any case hinder strict enforcement.

However, the MTR faces an uphill battle in remedying the situation. Decades of old habits are already ingrained in passengers’ minds and are difficult to change.

As a frequent MTR user, I have observed countless instances of reckless and dangerous behaviour, such as people running up or down escalators, deliberately bumping into fellow commuters to force them to make way and sheepishly squeezing through tiny spaces between passengers and the handrail. This has happened at both huge interchanges like Admiralty and Central and smaller stations like Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long. The inconsiderate passengers who behave this way come from all walks of life and vary by age.

At present, signs reminding passengers to stand on both sides of the escalator, frequent announcements serving as verbal reminders and the presence of MTR staff are used to encourage safe escalator use. However, most of these reminders sadly fall on deaf ears as passengers’ eyes are often glued to their phones and any auditory input from the outside world is blocked by earphones.