Escalator Hand Rails

[Ubil]

Has anyone else noticed that escalator hand rails go slightly faster than the escalator? When you grab the hand rail and hold your hand at the same place on the hand rail, your hand will very slowly be pulled away from you.

I had noticed this on escalators around where I live in Maryland. This past week I traveled to Indianapolis, and I noticed it there as well. Not only the escalators, but also the powered walkway at the airport.

 

[Rose Pink]

I've always noticed that they are not in sync. Glad you asked the question. Maybe someone will know.

 

[DaveNV]

Maybe it's deliberate, to keep you from leaning on the railing. If you did, eventually you'd fall over.

Dave

 

[FlyerBobcat]

Some fairly interesting reading at:

http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/post/2280632.aspx

including this:

The handrail can travel at different speeds but it is not supposed to. The American National Standards Institute code ANSI A17.1 requires that the speed of the handrail shall not change when 444.8 newtons are applied against the direction of motion. To meet this requirement, the handrails are sometimes adjusted to move slightly faster than the step.

The system driving the escalator steps and the handrail are derived from the same source, so in theory they should run at the same speed. Escalators that are installed under the ANSI A17.1-1990 code require that a handrail-speed monitoring device be installed. If the speed of the handrail changes by more than 15 per cent, all power is removed from the motor drive and the brakes are applied. Richard A. Kennedy, Richard A. Kennedy & Associates, Maintenance auditors for elevators and other lifting devices, West Chester, Pennsylvania, US

 

[Ubil]

Thank you, that is interesting. Learned something new.

 

[svwoude]

I am not a germaphobe, However I will not use the hand rails on an escalator!
I don't want to think about all of the "stuff" on it!

Steve

 

[pjrose]

I am not a germaphobe, However I will not use the hand rails on an escalator!
I don't want to think about all of the "stuff" on it!

Steve

I'm with you, they're definitely yucky. I don't want to fall, so I do use them, but I always carry and use hand cleaner afterwards.

 

[gorevs9]

I am not a germaphobe, However I will not use the hand rails on an escalator!
I don't want to think about all of the "stuff" on it!

Steve

I guess that's the same stuff on the hand rails as on all the door handles, etc.

One of my pet peeves are the workers at the donut shop. They use the piece of wax paper to grab the donuts to put them in the bag. Then they put the wax paper IN THE BAG with the donuts .

 

[FlyerBobcat]

.....One of my pet peeves are the workers at the donut shop. They use the piece of wax paper to grab the donuts to put them in the bag. Then they put the wax paper IN THE BAG with the donuts .

Too funny...:hysterical: I thought that only I got bugged by that. Recently I told the guy I didn't want that "dirty" little piece of wax paper.

WHY DO THEY DO THAT...

 

[pjrose]

Add to that, the servers picking up your future cup by pinching the rim or top inch or so, with the fingers INSIDE the cup. Ewwwww.

But I guess we're hijacking this thread...perhaps we need a new one.

 

[gorevs9]

Add to that, picking up your future cup by pinching the rim or top inch or so, with the fingers INSIDE the cup. Ewwwww.

But I guess we're hijacking this thread...perhaps we need a new one.

At least you're picking up YOUR cup, I once saw a worker at the local "burger joint" grabbing the cups that way to put them in the dispenser.

There was a news show on TV that swabbed the bottom of women's purses. The germs that werre discovered would blow your mind. Think of that ladies the next time you "plop" your purse on the kitchen table.

 

[pjrose]

At least you're picking up YOUR cup, I once saw a worker at the local "burger joint" grabbing the cups that way to put them in the dispenser.

There was a news show on TV that swabbed the bottom of women's purses. The germs that werre discovered would blow your mind. Think of that ladies the next time you "plop" your purse on the kitchen table.

I meant the servers picking up my cup - just corrected my post. I once saw a BK counter worker drop the stack of cups he was about to put in the dispenser, pick them up from the floor and start to put them in the dispenser. That was tooooo much - I told him to stop, he looked at me like I was from Mars, and I called the manager.

And yes I saw that about purses. blech! I think I'll go spray my purse with some Lysol.

New thread time.....