Why does it feel weird to walk on a non-moving escalator??

Question

Has anyone else noticed that when you first step on to an escalator that is not moving you feel unbalanced. Why is this??

Answer 1

The steps aren't proportioned properly for climbing or descending, like a wooden or concrete staircase is.

Answer 2

I stand on escalators but I walk on moving sidewalks like the ones in the airport because it's fast and you can feel the wind through your hair :)

Answer 3

This is because your brain recognise the escalator and it knows it should be moving so it prepares your body for the movement, if you have never been on one in your life you would not have the problem but I have experienced the same

Answer 4

i feel the same thing every time. maybe it's because you see the escalator so your mind thinks that it should be moving. even if you know it's not working, you don't usually have many experiences with escalators where it's not working, so it feels weird.

so your mind, despite what you see, expects it to work; it doesn't, you get tripped up

Answer 5

It is human nature that it keeps resembling things from past.
So, if first time you saw a moving-escalator then you always
want to see it moving.
And, if it was non-moving when you see it first time, then its
movement will embrass you.

Answer 6

Interesting question but I did not star it because I don't feel unbalanced while doing that

Answer 7

LOL!
Turn em all off! Lazy, simply lazy. I'll take my hover round in the elevator that should have a big handy capped only sign on the doors.

Answer 8

Because you're trained to expect that jolt of momentum.

Answer 9

The treadle-rise ratio is out of whack

Answer 10

expectations