The Rosslyn Metro Station escalator is scary (with pic)

[Lyric]

Our hotel is right around the corner from the Rosslyn Metro Station. When I saw that HUGE escalator, I chickened out and took the elevator up.



(not my pic--it's one from Wikipedia)

:blush:

[leftyclimber]

1. It's not bad. Really. Just a long wait.

Just walk left, stand right and you will not be shoved aside to possibly plummet to your death. :evilgrin:

[begin_within]

2. Looks like a science fiction movie.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. You won't like the Dupont Circle Metro either.

That's only a few feet shorter. DC has a few of those long escalators. My old T subway station in Boston required three sets of stairs or escalators to get to the lowest platform and the middle escalator was about two thirds as long as the Rosslyn one so I became accustomed to long escalators. Did scare the daylights out of me the first few times I rode them though.

[Shakespeare]

5. Beat me to it.

I'm prone to vertigo (especially when going downhill), so my frequent rides at Dupont when I lived in DC had me using a death grip on the handrailing.

[Arugula Latte]

14. I used to ride into that station quite a bit (worked in Dupont Cir. for a few years)

Sometimes I'd challenge myself to jog up the stairs. :crazy:

[sniffa]

25. Or Porter Square

That's fun to slide down.

[harmonicon]

4. there's one in Prague like that, but maybe even longer

It scares the shit out of me every time. I just look at my feet and try not to feel too sick. It seems to take forever, but you must not look up, because you're only 1/2 way there, and it still seems to go on forever. Ugh.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear Lyric!

Sorry it scared you, sweetie...

I would have loved it!

Heights do not bother me...

As long as there's something to hold onto, I'm fine...

:hug:

[Iggo]

7. Scary escalators? I had no idea.

What's so scary about an escalator? After all, it can never break down. It can only become stairs.


(Thank you and RIP, Mitch Hedberg)

[SallyMander]

8. ...

:toast:

One of my favorites!

[TZ]

9. Don't get near the south Capitol station then

That is longer I think... You know what's bad is when the escalator is broken...

[Shakespeare]

12. Nope; only the Wheaton station is longer than Rosslyn's.

And Dupont's is a close third. Somebody posted a wiki links awhile back that listed the longest escalators--I never knew people kept track of such things. :rofl:

[madinmaryland]

34. I was on that one a couple of weeks ago. I love escalators!!

[no name no slogan]

10. There's one in Victoria Station Underground that's about twice that length

It takes you several minutes to get to the top. It's pretty cool, unless you get freaked out by heights.

[Lex]

11. Here's my picture from a DC escalator

but I don't know which stop now. I took it a couple of years ago. I thought the escalator was beautiful/interesting-looking.

[Flaxbee]

13. Moscow's subways are incredible - really, really, REALLY

long elevator rides. Built to double as bomb shelters. Really, really far underground.

And many (well over 75%) of Moscow's stations are very beautiful - lots of mosaics, sculptures, etc.

I often used the Dupont metro station, which, as others have mentioned, can make you dizzy ...

[MajorChode]

15. I've been up and down those escalators many times

It never occurred to me that anyone would find them intimidating, but I suppose if you are the least bit acrophobic that could definitely be a problem.

[Shakespeare]

19. For me, it's not the height--I don't really have a fear of heights.

I do, however, get vertigo when moving down steep surfaces. It's not fear; it's an equilibrium thing. My field of vision slips sideways (that's what it feels like, anyway), and it's extremely difficult to keep my balance. And THAT is freaky.

[LuckyLib]

23. Me too. A good strategy is to look at your feet while you hold the rail.

[KamaAina]

16. Oh goody. Guess where a lot of the area's short-term furnished housing is

for aspiring DC policy analysts like myself. :scared:

[bikebloke]

17. My only consolation when it snows.

I'm up the hill the there. When snow and ice forces me off the bike and on the train, I walk up two stairs at a time. I always try to get the one with the clearest runway so I can go faster. Though on the descents, with wet shoes and slippery footing I take it easier.

[Shell Beau]

18. Looks cool!

[mentalsolstice]

20. A fellow escalatorphobian!

My husband will quickly get on an escalator, up or down, and all of a sudden he looks back and I'm not following. Then is gets to be a question of us both finding the elevator, where I'll get on and where I'll get off. If it's a slow-moving, short escalator, I'll suck it up and do it. If it's fast, steep, long or has glass walls, there's no way in hell I'm getting on, up or down. In most places, the elevator isn't a bad alternative. However, subway stations in most major cities are the pits. The escalators are scary, and the elevators are stanky and scarier (mmm, urine smells good, not!).

However, elevators can be scary in their own right, when there isn't an escalator available. Back when I was practicing law, I got into the elevator at on the 6th floor of our county courthouse (county has about 1+ million population), the only other passenger was a well-dressed elderly man, he could've been my dad, dressed with a tie, slacks and nice windbreaker. Given the noon hour and that only judges and lawyers are on that floor, I figured he was a judge or an esteemed attorney. We were both headed to the 1st floor. After the doors closed, he turned to me and said "you know, I could kill you before we get to the first floor." Seeing that I had no alternatives, I said "well, I guess you could." We rode the rest of the way in silence.

[marzipanni]

22. Yikes, your elevator experience

:scared:
In my mind I heard his voice say "Clarice".

[zanne]

29. WHOA!

That would put me off escalators forever.

[DS1]

21. I can't see shit

[arcadian]

24. I run down that thing.

Sometimes I think I'm gonna wipe out, but I never do. :P

[quakerboy]

26. I was inspired

to spend 30 seconds searching. I found this:
http://mytechnologyworld9.blogspot.com/2009/01/worlds-longest-escalator.html

My, the escalators I have now see. I want to visit them. The Hong Kong one seems particularly cool to me. And who knew there were spiral escalators? Now I want to understand how that works.

[Zavulon]

27. Don't get in the habit of taking pictures yourself - post 9/11, it's illegal in Metro stations.

You'll have your camera confiscated and not returned, and at least three hours of your life will be wasted as you sit in a room waiting for them to decide how to deal with you. Ask my sister.

BTW, the Woodley Park and Wheaton escalators are longer than Rosslyn's:

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31925

Picture of the Wheaton escalator and article about it:

http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2005/09/19/Life/Whats.The.Deal.With.The.Wheaton.Metro.Station.Escalator-989091.shtml

[arcadian]

31. That is not true. Photography is legal in any public space.

Good job perpetuating that myth though, thanks. :thumbsdown:

[Zavulon]

33. You live here, counselor?

You think my sister made it up because she just wanted to rest for a while, give her camera away to a Metro employee and make me wait just for the hell of it? :eyes:

You've never heard of photographers being hassled in Union Station, on the Amtrak platforms, or near public buildings (in public spaces) in DC?

Technically, you can take pictures inside Metro stations and trains if you get written permission from WMATA; otherwise it's illegal. I'll let you find the .pdf yourself, which won't be difficult because you know so much about everything.

The Boston Metro has the same policy, as I learned this summer. It's illegal to take pictures of MBTA vehicle without an MBTA photo permit, and tripod-assisted cameras aren't allowed at all.

Good job perpetuating the myth you know what you're talking about though, thanks. :thumbsdown:







(Edited, typos - I was a bit flustered by the ignorance of what I was responding to)

[Lex]

36. I took pictures in the DC Metro with no problems whatsoever.

There were security folks around too. Nothing was said. Nothing is posted to that effect either--not that it has to be, but still . . .

With the prevalence of camera on every phone now, it would be nearly impossible to police picture-taking anyway in such big places with numerous people.

[Zavulon]

37. I jaywalked past some cops yesterday.

There were no "no jaywalking" posts anywhere and cops saw me do it. In Metro, just like with yesterday's cops, they don't always enforce the rule or advertise it, but the rule exists. As if my sister's experience wasn't enough, a drinking buddy of mine repairs escalators for Metro and he says it all depends on how bored they are, what the photographer looks like (yes, they do profile) or how willing / unwilling they are to write it up.

Your appearance obviously didn't motivate them enough to get them to write you up, so when you come back feel free to take some more pictures. However, if you happen to run into a cop in a pissy mood who takes your camera and you get fined, don't blame me.

By the way, I've seen this in action in instances which didn't involve my sister - Metro using the PA to tell people to put their cameras away.

I use the Metro almost every day, and I'm telling you it's against the law. Believe me or not, your call. I'm not making this up, and neither is my sister - regardless of what you may have picked up from the arrogant, snotty ignorance of the first person to respond to me in this thread.

[arcadian]

40. "arrogant, snotty ignorance of the first person to respond to me in this thread"

What are you? A five year old? Real classy...

[Lex]

41. I just looked all over the Metro site (at the Rules and FAQ) and nothing

says taking photos is illegal, even though they discuss all kinds of stuff in detail.

Weird that they don't publicize it.

I'll be in DC in 2 weeks and will ask a Metro Security person about it. Now I'm curious.

[Zavulon]

42. Sorry, I decided

to let the arrogant, mouthy one find the .pdf himself. Can't remember his or her name because I have a policy of putting anyone who answers me with unwarranted snottiness on ignore immediately. I apparently got another response from Der Snotmeister, but can't read it without undoing the ignore, and I'm not motivated to do that. If I point you to the .pdf, I do the same for Der Snotmeister.

The WMATA site has a phone number - if you are that curious, give them a ring. If for any reason they claim there is no such policy, then you can tell him you know a guy who wants to talk about getting his sister's Nikon back :)

This is, by the way, the same Metro system who took a twelve year-old girl off a train in handcuffs for eating a cheeseburger - it was a case ruled on by John Roberts on the district court before Bush stuck us with him as SCOTUS chief justice.

Roberts, predictably, ruled that Metro had done nothing wrong.

When the Nicole Kidman movie "The Invasion" was made, they needed written permission not only to film the escalators and platforms, but even needed written permission for her to run through the stations. The cars that you see in later scenes are from another system (Baltimore's, maybe) because they were denied permission to film in the tunnels. This was explained to us in the Washington Post, which tells us all about new rules, arrests and so on more efficiently than WMATA does. It isn't readily visible on their site? Big surprise.

[electricmonk]

44. Metro photography is legal

From www.wmata.com/about_metro/docs/UseRegulations.pdf

Still photography that does not require a tripod, special lighting, film
crews, models, impair the normal ingress/egress or operation of WMATA
services and can be accomplished by a hand- held camera by one person
is not regulated. Requests for photographic access that involve a camera
crew of three (3) or less, two (2) pieces of lighting equipment or less,
does not involve the use of a tripod, does not require assistance of
WMATA technical personnel or significantly impair the normal
ingress/egress or operations will be allowed. Requests for a permit must
be made two (2) working days prior to the requested date of
photography. Photography and filming that requires the use of models,
special lighting equipment beyond two (2) pieces, tripods, assistance and
supervision from WMATA staff, crews of more than three (3), or that impairs ingress/egress or normal system operations shall be governed by
Section 100.8(a)(i). Television and newspaper press crews of five (5) or
fewer individuals and without any "plug-in" equipment are not subject to
this Use Regulation.

Of course just because it's legal doesn't mean a person won't get stopped and harassed about it. Not to mention the whole thing of Metro and other agencies trying to turn every photographer into a terrorist in the eyes of their customers. "Metro would like to remind you that customers play an important role in keeping our system safe. Please remember to be watchful for...
* Unusual persons or activities
* Unattended bags, packages, boxes, backpacks, etc.
* Persons photographing, sketching or documenting activity at or around Metro stations"

There's plenty of discussions on Flickr about it. http://www.flickr.com/groups/dcphotorights/

[Lex]

45. Thank you for that info. and the links.

Very helpful. :hi:

[arcadian]

47. I was just about to post this.

Thank you. And I'm the one that get's called names. Okay, I called that particular poster "W." but that was light-hearted and fun. :D

[arcadian]

46. I'm not even going to alert on your personal attacks.

I'm gonna let them stand so that everybody knows what kind of poster you are. Please cite the U.S code, or statute which states that photography is a crime. If it's a D.C. thing, then the D.C. statute. You are the one claiming these things so it's your job to prove them, not mine. And I love how your "no evidence on their website" is false proof in your mind.

[arcadian]

49. *chirp**chirp* *crickets**crickets*

Comments?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=8604534&mesg_id=8607568

[arcadian]

39. As a matter of fact, I do.

If your sister handed her camera over to a cop or rent-a-cop without a proper warrant then she is ignorant of her Constitutional rights. Rent-a-cops and cops alike will often try to tell you it's illegal to take pictures here or illegal to take pictures there, but they themselves are unaware of the legalities. So you think you know so much? Please provide citation for photography being illegal in D.C. Metro stations. You can't. Because it's not illegal. Keep spreadin' that terra, terra, terra meme there though W.

[no name no slogan]

35. I got yelled at by the cops for taking pics in the London Underground. In 1991.

So no, it's NOT always legal in any public space. Many places are restricted for security reasons-- in London it was because of the IRA.

Best to ask first before you take pictures, and end up getting in trouble.

[arcadian]

48. The UK is an entirely different story.

They just made it a crime to take a photograph of a police officer there. Fascism is on the march in Jolly Olde England, pip, pip.

[Lyric]

43. I didn't take any pictures inside the Metro.

The one posted was from Wikipedia--I did mention that in my OP. I didn't know for sure if it was illegal or not, and I wasn't about to take any chances.

[arcadian]

50. Don't worry Lyric, it's not illegal to take pictures in a D.C. Metro station.

Click away! :-)

[zanne]

28. I love it!

I have an elevator phobia. If the escalator stops dead in its tracks, at least you can walk up the stairs and get out.

[Sanity Claws]

30. What fear do you feel?

Fear of falling? Or do you feel dizzy?
I have developed a fear of driving over bridges. I really don't like it but can manage by driving in the middle lane and keeping my eyes straight ahead or lowered to following the lane stripes.
One day I got onto a bridge but found that I had ended up on the outer most lane and couldn't move into a inner lane. To keep myself calm, I had to breath consciously and say aloud to myself, "Eyes down and to the right."
If I looked over the right I would see I was right over the water, with only a small bar keeping me driving off and going into the East River.

[seemunkee]

32. Bethesda Metro is my morning workout

I've been doing it for over a year now. Its only been out once. There were a lot of people huffing and taking rests on the way up, my thighs were burning when I got to the top.

[alphafemale]

38. I'm a stairs kinda girl myself. Escalators twerk me off because they move so slowly. nt