RIDER BEHAVIOR ON AN IN-LINE ACCELERATING WALKWAY

This UMTA-sponsored study was conducted under contract from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The existing prototype walkway at the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), an experimental tool, is the only in-line system available. This study was undertaken as part of an overall assessment of accelerating moving walk systems by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In this report bunching is defined as the crowding of pedestrians to such an extent that free movement is severely restricted. This report evaluates and presents bunching as a potential problem on in-line accelerating walkways. If riders move forward on the constant-speed section, they may be spaced uncomfortably close together during deceleration at the exit when the standing area is decreased due to a reduction in the treadway surface. This report studies the problem of bunching by a review of the available literature, an examination of pedestrian area occupancies, a demonstration of the behavior of 20 middle-aged riders on an engineering model of such a walkway, and an interview. It was concluded that bunching on an accelerating moving walkway requires a specialized set of conditions that normally would not occur, particularly if the problem is recognized and suggested pedestrian controls are introduced to limit the effect.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Transportation Programs Report.
• Corporate Authors:

  Johns Hopkins University, Laurel

  Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road
  Laurel, MD  United States  20723-6099

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Blevins, R W
  • Gebhard, J W
  • Hanes, R M
• Publication Date: 1977-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 36 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerating agents; Behavior; Bunching; Conveyors; Environmental engineering; Human factors engineering; Moving sidewalks; Passengers; Pedestrians; Sidewalks
• Old TRIS Terms: Accelerating (Process); Bunching (Vehicles)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175472
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-IT-09-0126-78-1, APLJHU-CP059-TPR-040
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 31 1978 12:00AM