Why (2)...

[coupwotcoup]

...does the handrail on an escalator go slightly faster than the bit you stand on?

[Sharming Paula]

To try and trip ya up <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[IDtheWIZ]

i found this

 

two reasons the steps are very positive driven by chain and gear box the hanrail not being load bearing is driven by belts when these things first came intomoperation it was decided to keep the arrangement because it kept people aware so they were safer

 

if it helps any

[Burnham Lad]

The handrail has to travel further so it goes faster on the up side you think you can hold and slower on the underground bit you can't see, so it catches up with itself. It also stops people holding on to the handrail, thus saving energy. (London Underground explanation!) <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/busted.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/busted.gif" alt="" />

[coupwotcoup]

Cheers chaps...will now rest eaay coming out of the bowels of the Jubilee line at Waterloo, on my way to the office...

[chilled out entertainer]

i have only found this on sopme escalators, maybe 50%?? or is it just that some are really badly timed??

[coupwotcoup]

I wish I hadn't of asked now...will be constantly checking from now on!!

[IDtheWIZ]

why bother with the Handrails anyway most people just walk up and down them..

[coupwotcoup]

You are havin' a giraffe...seizure alert for me if I try more than two steps at once! Thank goodness my trains from Waterloo are every three minutes, meaning I never have to rush! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/alk.gif" alt="" />

[IDtheWIZ]

and what about the moving floors at the airport have you seen the people running on them, its so funny when they slip <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[chilled out entertainer]

my mother in law, myself and the wife were on one at palma airport in august. a really long one, the rest of our party were miles ahead. the motherinlaw turned around facing us chatting. next thing i know she has disappeared fromview. fasllen over absolutely horizontally. nearly laid an egg i was laughing so hard. some french dude had tried to warn her but his cries of "madame madame" fell on deaf ears. hilarious.

[coupwotcoup]

They used to have an interesting travelator at Barca airport connecting to the railway station. It goes up then down the other side, as opposed to being flat...Weird feeling...