The Hidden History of London Underground Escalators: A Pesky Right Foot Sign Explained

Ever watched an old film of London in the 1930s and seen a sign at the top of an escalator saying to step off with your right foot first? Curious as to why this was, I dove into the archives to uncover the answer. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be a clever design solution aimed at managing foot traffic efficiently.

The Curiosity of Right Foot First

Why were people in films of the 1930s encouraged to step off the escalator with their right foot first? At first glance, it seemed like an unnecessary detail, but when we delve deeper, it reveals a fascinating history of traffic management and escalator design.

The Original Design Purpose

The footage clearly shows that early London Underground escalators had a unique feature. Unlike modern escalators, the steps continued floor-level at the top, carrying on until they disappeared under an angled panelled wall. This meant that passengers had to step from the moving steps onto a solid floor, a transition that was best achieved by stepping with the right foot first. Trying to step off with the left foot first could result in an awkward, if not dangerous, imbalance, as the right foot could slip under, potentially toppling the passenger.

A Silly Convention Clearing Up

To understand the rationale behind this design, we must go back to the early days of escalators in the London Underground. The explanation is not as straightforward as one might think. In the 1920s, a silent film was screening at the BFI 53rd London Film Festival, showing a soldier hesitating over a sign that read, 'Step off on your right.' This was part of an attempt to establish a

stand-to-the-left and walk-to-the-right convention, a traffic control measure intended to keep the flow of people moving.

Essentially, the escalator was designed to gently nudge commuters to exit to the right, bypassing the line of standers to the left. This design detail, although initially perplexing, was a clever workaround to facilitate faster and safer escalator movement in a world where over 250,000 people used the London Underground daily.

Late 20th Century Innovations

Thankfully, this peculiar piece of design, which would be considered incredibly outdated and potentially harmful today, was abandoned. Modern escalators are designed with straight floors that disappear seamlessly, eliminating any need for passengers to navigate a diagonal transition. Moreover, with the rise of automated escalators and improved safety features, the risk of accidental falls or injuries has significantly decreased.

Conclusion

The right-foot-first sign on early London Underground escalators is a relic of a bygone era. It's a humorous reminder of the early days of modern transport, where innovative designs sought to manage the flow of people as efficiently as possible. Although it may seem silly now, this historical detail offers a fascinating glimpse into the early challenges of urban transit engineering.