London Underground Riders Aren't Happy With This New Escalator Rule

What was once a temporary nuisance for passengers at the Holborn station in London will now become an enduring fixture of their daily commutes for the next six months. Starting this week, Transport for London (TfL) rolled out a six-month trial program that requires passengers to stand on both the right and left sides of the escalator. The program comes on the heels of a successful three-week trial conducted in November, which accommodated nearly 30 percent more passengers by encouraging them to stand on both sides.

In the days of the initial trial, feedback seemed to be mixed. Passengers were hesitant to follow the standing-only rule, but eventually warmed up to the idea once the third week rolled around. Still, many lamented the fact that they were being denied exercise or the chance to walk. “There was a great deal of non-verbal communication in the form of head-shaking, particularly if the person concerned met the eyes of a member of staff,” said the TfL draft report.