Dynamic decision-making in subway stations: A new model for stair/escalator choice and its impact on accident prevention

Frequent escalator-related incidents in subway stations have prompted the authorities to promote the use of public stairs. In daily life, however, pedestrians instinctively prefer to take escalators rather than use stairs. How to better induce pedestrians to choose stairs? It is necessary to reveal the internal mechanism of pedestrian choice. In this paper, we propose a dynamic model of pedestrian flow assignment with hierarchical choices of various facilities in the station. The route choices of facilities are at the tactical level while the path choices of walking directions are at the operational level. A case study in Beijing is conducted to verify the model. It is shown that the lengths of escalators and stairs, escalator speed, and the pedestrian distribution have significant influences on pedestrians’ choice behavior. Long and fast escalators attract more pedestrians and lead to severe crowding at the entrance. Thus, escalator segmentation is suggested for safety. This study can help prevent accidents and manage crowds in busy subway stations.