Japanese City Nagoya Seeks to Stop People Walking on Escalator

Nagoya – A new ordinance prohibiting people from walking on escalators went into effect in Nagoya, Japanese City on next week. 

This ordinance was implemented in an effort to prevent accidents, which no penalties, calls on users to stand in place on moving escalators. 

Mayor Takashi Kawamura announced it on Monday, he led an effort to promote the ordinance at Kanayama Station, emphasizing the importance of using escalators safely as he called out to commuters and students, as reported from the Japan Times. 

He was accompanied by station staff, who distributed packages of tissues bearing the message "Nagoya Style: Stand still and ride on the left and right.” 

Encouraging people to also stand on the right side of the escalator departs from the common practice of keeping that side clear for those choosing to walk.

Provisions in the ordinance note that users may stand on either side, and it is hoped that this will give citizens peace of mind, especially when it comes to preventing accidents such as falls.

The ordinance also requires that operators in locations such as train stations and commercial sites with escalators inform users about the rule.

Initiatives in Nagoya to encourage users to stand still while using escalators began in 2004, when concerns were raised by people with disabilities and the elderly about the fear of colliding with those who are walking. 

Since then, posters and announcements promoting standing still on escalators have been displayed and broadcasted at various stations of the city's subway system.

The decision to enact the ordinance was described by Nagoya officials as being part of a commitment to change long-standing customs and increase awareness of issues associated with escalator use.

The Nagoya ordinance is the second of its kind in Japan, with Saitama Prefecture having enacted a similar measure in 2021.

According to the latest data from the Japan Elevator Association, there were a total of 805 escalator accidents categorized as being caused by "improper use" in 2018 and 2019.

These incidents included people stumbling and falling while attempting to run on escalators, tripping and falling, and even instances of individuals going against the escalator's intended direction and subsequently falling.

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VIVA.co.id

16 Oktober 2024