Some commuters in the D.C. area have to factor in the time it takes just to wait on an escalator to get to their train. But, that鈥檚 because it’s the longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere, and it’s in Wheaton, Maryland.
Residents in the region have to wait roughly 2 minutes and 54 seconds when riding the escalator down to the platform of The Wheaton Metro station.
Metro said the station’s escalator is the longest in the system, measuring at a whopping 230 feet.
To give some perspective, it is a little more than half as long as the pyramid of Giza.
鈥淓very time I take this escalator I have to get here five minutes early,鈥� Jelani Blakey told 草莓传媒 as he was about to hop on.
Blakey had no idea the escalator holds the title of being the longest in the Western Hemisphere.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 crazy,鈥� he said 鈥� It鈥檚 amazing. I鈥檓 glad we do, though. It gives us something to be known for.鈥�
Gerry Champa, however, knew it was the longest in the New World. 鈥淥ther ones from Metro are also long,鈥� he said.
The second-longest escalator is at the Bethesda station 鈥� also one of the longest in America 鈥� and it stretches out to 212 feet, according to WMATA.
Some hustle up and down the escalator to get where they鈥檙e going faster, but others use the opportunity to scroll.
鈥淵ou get on your cellphone,鈥� Blakey joked.
Champa said she likes to go with the flow and either check messages or people watch.
Others, however, don鈥檛 even want to stand the whole time.
Mark Williams said he had to take a seat on the escalator during his trip. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a long ride,鈥� he said.
Williams did point out that Metro does have signs asking commuters not to sit down but, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little scary on the way up and a little scary on the way down.鈥�
Now, while it takes a long time to ride it every day, the real problem is when it stops running and you have to make that hike to the top.
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