MTR Corp’s escalator safety campaign urges Hong Kong commuters to stand still. Photo: Dickson LeeHong Kong’s MTR Corporation has launched a campaign urging commuters to stand still on both sides of escalators.
The MTR Corporation cited safety concerns when it unveiled the initiative on Friday, after 430 accidents involving station escalators were logged in the first nine months of the year.
But the attempt to change common practice has sparked heated discussion, with many rejecting the suggestion to patiently wait on escalators and saying it is at odds with the city’s fast-paced environment.
The SCMP steps into the debate and looks at the local reaction as well as similar efforts in other cities.
1. What is the safety campaign about?
People commonly stand on the right side of escalators in Hong Kong to leave the left clear for others to walk past.
But the MTR Corp on Friday launched the “2024 Escalator Safety Campaign”, which features a new promotional video, station announcements, posters and ambassadors to urge passengers to stand firm on both sides of escalators and use lifts when travelling with bulky items.
Passengers were also reminded to avoid standing close to the edge of escalator steps and be cautious when wearing long or loose clothing.
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2. What has been the reaction?
The rail operator’s appeal soon triggered heated debate.
“It is putting the cart before the horse. The emergence of escalators is for the convenience of people, allowing those not in a hurry to take a break on the escalator and check mobile phones while making the whole journey more efficient for those in a rush,” one internet user said.
“Hong Kong is a fast-paced city, where walking on the left and standing on the right of an escalator has always been a setting of the city.”
Another chimed in to say the current practice was safer.
“More dangerous accidents could happen if people stand so closely and there is no room to move,” the other internet user said.
Some also noted the difficulty in changing long-standing habits.
But not everyone is against the idea, despite the criticisms.
One commenter said: “I think standing still on both sides is safe and can quickly evacuate passengers.”
3. What is the rationale behind the change?
The MTR Corp cited safety concerns in its call for the new etiquette, saying its latest data highlighted the risks associated with passengers moving while on escalators.
The rail giant logged 430 accidents involving its station escalators during the first nine months of this year.
About 60 per cent of them involved passengers who were not holding handrails, lost their balance while walking, were bumped by others or were carrying bulky items.
Data collected from a pilot study carried out previously at Holborn station on the London Underground showed that standing on both sides of escalators reduced congestion and increased escalator capacity by about 30 per cent.
Lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu also said the practice was safer and could also increase passenger flow capacity.
“Although in ideal scenarios, a non-stop walking line of passengers could boost the passenger flow, in reality, not many people used the left side for walking and instead long lines of people waiting to stand on the right were formed,” he said.
4. What are other places doing to change habits?
Hong Kong is not alone in its bid to dissuade people from walking on escalators, but few have succeeded despite years of effort.
Japan’s Saitama prefecture brought in a law to mandate standing on escalators in 2021, with the city of Nagoya following suit in 2023.
Fukuoka is exploring ways to change commuter behaviour, with potential solutions including an artificial intelligence-based speaker system that tells moving passengers to stand still.
In 2016, a six-month standing-only trial was launched for escalators at Holborn station in London after a previous experiment found it reduced station congestion by about 30 per cent.
In Taiwan, the Taipei Metro has also been on a similar mission.
The rail operator has said it will consider using signs or announcements during peak hours at important transfer stations such as Taipei Main Station to reinforce the message and help ease overcrowding.
5. How can the MTR Corp achieve its goal?
Legislator Zhang, who previously worked as an operations manager at the MTR Corp, urged the rail giant to fine-tune its new promotional slogans to send a clearer message to the public and also carry out studies to back up its suggestions.