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TfL scrapped one of the fundamental rules of the Underground today, with the start of a six-month 'standing-only' escalator trial at Holborn tube station. In case people struggle with the concept, the folks at TfL have 'helpfully' painted blue footprints on both sides of the escalator, put up new signs and installed a creepy hologram type thing at the bottom of the escalators, to enforce the new rules.
IMPORTANT pic.twitter.com/byBmqjyxcu
— helena horton (@horton_official) April 18, 2016
But it looks like a swanky hologram isn't enough to get Londoners following the new regime. As far as we can tell, people seem to just be totally ignoring the whole system:
I chuckled all the way up the escalator at #Holborn this morning, as we all calmly continued to stand on the right and walk on the left.
— Louise (@lousical) April 18, 2016
Me at #Holborn station this morning because I'm a loose cannon who won't play by the rules @TfL @centralline pic.twitter.com/7sOfCAmSFQ
— Matthew Hall (@mwhall25) April 18, 2016
Good to see the standing-on-both-sides-of-the-escalator experiment at #Holborn being completely ignored by everyone. @TfL
— Duncan Metcalfe (@TomJoad75) April 18, 2016
'Stand on both sides' the megaphone said. I. Just. Can't! #holborn #londonrobot pic.twitter.com/vg9raFxCJ5
— Johanna (@JohannaWhitaker) April 18, 2016
First standing on both sides of escalator, then they'll classify Jaffa Cakes as biscuits. We must resist. #holborn #british #cake
— Ben Rabinovich (@benjyrabs) April 18, 2016
Anarchy this morning rush hour at #Holborn tube - people ignoring instructions to stand and were WALKING UP THE ESCALATORS! @TfL
— Rouge Absolut (@RougeAbsolut) April 18, 2016
Some people are particularly upset that they won't be able to get in a bit of morning cardio under the new rules:
Thanks @TFL,now need to fit in time on gym treadmill b4 work to make up for lack of exercise caused by standing only #Holborn.
— Johnny Mack (@BuckWeedJoe) April 18, 2016
#holborn I came to London in 1971, vowed to get my exercise by always walking up the escalators. Still doing it today, dont plan to stop
— liz (@Mayolaliz) April 18, 2016
Running up escalators is my training & provides an endorphin rush that calms me to enable commute in an un- enraged state. #Holborn
— Ahuman (@Briesias) April 18, 2016
But this person has really got their priorities right:
Asking people to stand on the left goes against everything British. Plus we can't shout at tourists anymore. #Holborn
— Liz (@captainboo) April 18, 2016
Forget exercise, how are we supposed to feel superior over clueless tourists anymore?!
Thankfully, it looks like no one is paying any attention to the new rules. With any luck, TfL will get bored with the whole thing and restore the natural order to the Underground soon.
In other tube news, 57 stations are at 'high risk' from flooding.
This tube map shows how unaffordable renting in London is.
And here are 25 things you (probably) didn't know about the London Underground.