Japanese city prohibits walking on escalators

A city in Japan has banned walking on escalators in an attempt to limit the number of accidents.

The ruling came into effect on 1 October in the city of Nagoya.

The ordinance prohibits people from walking up and down escalators in an attempt to mitigate incidents involving falls and people losing their balance.

According to the Japan Times, findings from the Japan Elevator Association show a total of 805 accidents between 2018 and 2019 were caused by “improper use” on escalators.

The left side of escalators are generally used for standing in Japan whilst the right are kept open for those in a hurry who want to walk.

But Nagoya officials are now asking that people stand still on either side at train stations and other buildings.

Posters have been put up in major train stations to encourage people to follow the ruling.

“Let’s stop and get on on both right and left,” one says.

“When using escalators, stop and use both the right and left sides. It’s my duty!”

The idea has seen support by Japanese locals before the ruling came into effect on Sunday. Addressing tourists in Japan last month on X, previously known as Twitter, one user said: ‘I like that you leave one side of the escalator open for people in a hurry.’ I sometimes see such comments. Escalators are dangerous, not only for running, but also for walking. I think this is a bad trend in Japan.”

However, the ruling has been faced with backlash too. In response to Japan Today’s explanation of it, one commenter wrote: “...Personally, I hate standing on escalators and it annoys me when people in front of me are standing and blocking me from walking. It’s a waste of my time and a wasted opportunity to get a little exercise!...”

The ruling does not currently come with penalties if broken, which has rasied questions about how dilligently it will be followed.

It is not the first time the ordinance has been introduced in Japan. Saitama Prefecture, just north of Tokyo city did so in October 2021, but unsuccessfully.

A study found that at one point, enforcement decreased the percentage of people walking on escalators from 60 per cent to 38 per cent, but it has now returned to the pre-ordinance level.