Comparison of escalator strategies in models using a modified totally asymmetric simple exclusion process

Abstract

We develop a modified version of the totally asymmetric simple exclusion process (TASEP) and use it to reproduce flow on an escalator with two distinct lanes of pedestrian traffic. The model is used to compare strategies with two standing lanes and a standing lane with a walking lane, using theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. The results show that two standing lanes are better for smoother overall transportation, while a mixture of standing and walking is advantageous only in limited cases that have a small number of pedestrians. In contrast, with many pedestrians, the individual travel time of the first several entering particles is always shorter with distinct standing and walking lanes than it is with two standing lanes.