World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Stand on either side of escalators? Commuters reluctant to ditch ‘keep left’ habit in SMRT trial
SMRT is trialling standing on both sides of escalators at City Hall and Raffles Place MRT stations, hoping to improve safety and use capacity more effectively. But the change challenges Singapore’s familiar practice of keeping left and leaving the right side clear for people who want to walk.
The month-long trial began on 29 October, and SMRT says it will study commuter behaviour and patterns. At City Hall, most people observed by CNA still stood on the left, and all 10 commuters interviewed preferred the existing practice. Walking took about 20 seconds compared with 30 seconds standing, though left-side queues sometimes lasted more than 10 seconds while the right side was relatively clear.
In short
- SMRT is testing standing on both sides at two MRT stations.
- Most commuters interviewed want to keep the right side clear.
- Walking is quicker individually, but queues leave capacity unused.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Standing on both sides could use the escalator’s capacity more evenly, shorten queues and reduce the need for people to walk on moving steps, which may improve safety. A trial lets SMRT observe actual commuter behaviour and assess whether these benefits outweigh the convenience of the existing arrangement.
The case against
Keeping left and leaving the right side clear gives commuters the option to walk and reflects a familiar, well-established habit. In the observations reported, walking was faster than standing and the right side was often clear even as queues formed on the left, so changing the practice may feel less convenient without clear evidence that it improves flow or safety.