Travelators at airports may hold you up

News at Gatwick 17/07/2009

All inclusive holidays on the rise : July 2009 : BA lowers ticket prices and offers upgrades

Moving walkways slow you down and can cause injury

Although you may think you will arrive a little quicker if you use the travelator at the airport, you may want to think again.

Researchers have found that passengers walking along the moving walk ways are not always in a hurry and can cause further delays for passengers in a hurry.

Two studies have been carried out which seem to point out that any time gained from using them is minimal even when there is no obvious congestion to stop the flow of people moving.

The amount of time saved over a distance of 110 yards is only estimated to be 11 seconds.

Findings published in New Scientist magazine said its researchers found that people walking at airports were doing so much slower on an automated walkway.

Dr Seth Young found that “Moving walkways are the only form of transportation that actually slows people down” He said he believed that the main benefits would be for weary travellers to rest their legs at the same time as moving towards their destination with their luggage.

Dr Young said that travelators are more likely to slow people down as others blocked the passage of those in a hurry. The moving walkways were introduced into airports during the ‘70’s but have been criticised for causing injuries especially for elderly people who find it harder to step on and off the moving walkway.

All inclusive holidays on the rise : July 2009 : BA lowers ticket prices and offers upgrades

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