Standing or walking on escalators?

The Seoul Metropolitan Subway network, which opened in 1974, is "one" of the largest and most efficient metro systems in the world.

It runs on 331.5 km of tracks on lines 1 through 9 alone, proudly offering wireless and internet service on all trains, with platform screen doors and escalators at the majority of stations, not to mention its cleanliness.

In particular, senior citizens over 65 can ride for free with the "senior traffic card." I am also one of the authorized free riders in this rapidly aging society.

However, such a good subway system is troubled with a much-disputed issue ― how to ride the escalators.

To stand on the right or walk on the left on escalators, that's the question. Pros and cons are tough, like the ideological dispute between the left and right wings.

This question pops up almost only at underground stations, as people do not tend to be in such a hurry in department stores or shopping centers.

Unfortunately, the government has been confused about this matter.

In the early 2000s, a campaign was "effectively" launched to encourage standing only on the right side to allow other "busy" passengers to walk on the left.

Before long, the formula was causing adverse effects such as walkers bumping against standers or falling down while walking or running.

So, the authority discouraged walking and instead encouraged people to stand on both sides.

Yet, many people across the nation still walk on the left today, despite banners and signs reading, "Don't walk or run on escalators. Hold the rail for your safety." The rule is nothing but a mere scrap of paper.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was in office from 2002 to 2013, used to be a walker for "good exercise," claiming people who stand obstruct walkers.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is neither a walker nor stander, because he seldom uses the subway as his residence is near his office.

People such as Bloomberg are still in the minority of escalator riders around the world. For instance, only one quarter of London Tube users walk, according to a recent study. In Toronto, signs that encouraged people to walk on the left were removed at the recommendation of safety experts.

Those who support walking on the left claim that the philosophy "clears the way for passengers to dash frantically to their platform, lest they miss their train and be forced to wait a whole three minutes or more for the next one.

Most escalators around the world that have a standing-walking system follow the "walk on the left" formula, to "speed up the flow."

But now, like in Seoul, the London transport authority in July asked commuters at Holborn Station, one of the busiest spots on the Tube, to stand on both the right and left sides of the two upward-moving escalators nearest the Central Line platforms.

A study found that it's more efficient for everyone to stand on an escalator rather than have commuters walk up the left side, it said.

A three-week trial at Holborn in November last year found that standing on both sides reduced congestion by 30 percent, according to a report by The Sun.

In Seoul, the scene at the time of a train arriving is almost the same at all platforms. Passengers pour out hastily, run or speed walk to the escalators or stairs, as if they are fleeing from something dreadful.

Then, around half of them walk on the left, while the other half stand on the right, looking up at a banner reading "Don't run or walk."

Age and gender do not matter for the walkers. Some of them may walk on the left not to miss their transfer. In my case, I am an absolute stander, keeping the rule as shown by the banner or signs.

And, I used to think they were so busy walking or running on the escalators, pushing aside others who "happened" to stand on the left instead of the right.

Being irritated by such people, I often told them, "You don't know to read the banner?" But unfortunately, most of them, except for the free pass, couldn't hear me because they were, without exception, wearing earphones from their smartphones.

I could only murmur, "I know you are so busy, but why didn't you come yesterday?"

What's interesting is the fact that the people who walk end up on the same train as me.

At most stations, besides the escalators are stairs with a sign saying "walk on the right." People, including myself, who stand, defend themselves by advising walkers not to be so impatient on the escalator, a type of vertical transportation in the form of a "moving staircase," as it is doing the work for them.

"If you are in such a rush, why not just take the stairs. It will be good for your health too," I used to tell them.

More serious is the vice versa: many people walk on the downward moving escalators. This is absolutely a bad habit, caused by Koreans' world-renowned and notorious quick temper described as "ppalli ppalli” (quickly quickly).

The subway escalator controversy in Korea has nothing to do with the matter of congestion during rush hour. Bad habits die hard.

Yet, a rule exists when it is followed. The subway escalator rule in Korea is not to walk or run on the convenient device.

A London transport expert says, "The vast majority of people don't walk up the escalator. What we end up doing is half the escalator is used and the other half of the escalator only carries fresh air."

Park Moo-jong is the Korea Times advisor. He served as the president-publisher of the nation's first English newspaper from 2004 to 2014 after he worked as a reporter of the daily since 1974. He can be reached at moojong@ktimes.com or emjei29@gmail.com