Choosing Between Stairs and Escalator in Shopping Centers

Abstract

The study tested the hypothesis that separating stairway from escalator between pairs of origin and destination floors in a shopping center would increase the rate at which the stairway was used. The study site included 13 stairways and 12 pairs of escalators in seven connected shopping centers. A total of 33,793 pedestrians were counted ascending or descending over 35 days. Simultaneous flow rates up and down among centers correlated at r = .89. Distance between stairway and escalator accounted for 71% of variance in the ascending model and 21% in the descending model, with height between floors resulting in slightly diminished pedestrian volumes, and overall pedestrian volume accounting for less than proportional increases in stair climbing and descending. A 100% increase in distance between stair and nearest escalator yielded a 95% increase in stair climbing.