[ST] Elevator Suggestion Submitted With Minimal Comment

[SciFiFanBoston at aol.com]

This is a suggestion sent from one of the volunteers who helped so  much with 
elevators last year, it's a little whimsical but shows a lot of fun  
thoughts... perhaps useful.   This would be in addition to the stairs  signage... and 
obviously needs a fresh set of eyes to see any mis-steps in the  plan...  - 
Mary
 
- - - begin forward - - -
 
....  a "flight connection" type plan can be made. I'm thinking 2 cars  
between 1, 2, and 3, 1 local between 2-15, and one express between 2, 3, and 16.  
(express stop on 3 is to increase traffic on dealer's row). This way, 
A: people are encouraged  to utilize escalator to shorten their trip,  
leaving elevators clearer for handicapped folks and rushes to the art show  room. 
B: Makes  accessing rooms easier, because heavy traffic to the art  show is 
diverted via express. 
C: Full Elevators stopping on called floors is a  colossal waste of  time. 
Before we had the express to 14 last year, my  elevator spent at  least 30 
seconds on each floor ("Sorry, we're full"...)

To make  navigating this complexified layout easier (and possibly fun),  we 
could  print up large signs showing the designated route to certain  places. 
Since  the route you'd use would be different whether you where   
able-bodied or not, the sign could be split into sections  with specific 
instructions for each group. In addition, there should be an  aesthetically 
pleasing map  showing "lines" and "connections", like a  subway map. Each car would  
also be furnished with a map showing which  floors it stops at and  which it 
"expresses through". We could even name  the cars "N, R, W, and Q" Or 
something like that! For example, walking  instructions to Fast Track from the lobby 
would consist of: "Take  escalator to 2nd floor, board Q (art show express), 
get off at 16 and  follow green line  down 2 flights of stairs". Wheelchair 
instructions on  the same "route"  would be "Take N or R to 2nd floor, switch to W 
(local),  get off at  14". The only caveat to this is that the system will 
change  during  check in (most traffic being to local floors) and teardown  
(stuff coming down from the art show). But we can burn that bridge when  we get to 
it, probably the only thing required would be a signage  change.  One other 
utility that might be fun as well as useful is a PA  system in each elevator 
lobby, to announce that so-n-so got their  such-n-such robe stuck in  the 
elevator etc.

There was a suggestion  of having a handicapped badge that would zip  you to 
the front of the line  (thus allowing a line of chairs), but I  found that 
Arisia blurs the lines  between handicappedness and not, and  
I don't want anyone having to  make judgements involving cerebral palsy or 
too many hamburgers...   This is a tough one! 

thanks,
Demetri


In a message dated 11/28/2007 8:44:06 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
dda at dantonio.net writes:

Hi  all,

I have a problem with any kind of discrimination between who  "should"  
be taking the elevators and who shouldn't; unless we're  gonna sell  
reduced-price "no elevators" memberships, if you're in  the con, you  
can use the elevators.

I don't have a problem  with good signage pointing out where the  
stairs are, especially  given that it is a (relatively) new hotels and  
the stairs can be  somewhat hidden on lower floors. Making those signs  
humourous or  clever is always good and if some group wants to give  
out rewards  for frequent climbers, that's cool, too. Any signage that  
keeps the  elevators in service even more of a win.

I know it is late in the  Programming process but if something about  
elevators and stairs and  how to get around at a con, in general  
(going down stairs is harder  on the knees, etc.) could be added, that  
might also be a good  idea.

DDA

On Nov 28, 2007, at 8:27 AM, Bill Y  wrote:

>
>    From: "Val Grimm"  <val.grimm at gmail.com>
>
>    The sign could be a  courteous PSA reminder, rather than a rebuke as
>    some  interpret it.
>
>    My take is to have a sign like that  at the front of an MBTA bus  
> asking
>    folks  to give priority in elevator usage to patrons with  
>  disabilities
>    or health issues which limit their mobility  and/or stamina.  
> Heck, just
>    imitate that T  sign and reword as necessary. People should know  
>  this,
>    but not everyone does, or they don't always think  of it. No  
> reason for
>    people to take  offense of have an issue about it. Its a matter of
>     providing equal access to all members of the con and guests of  the
>    hotel. Boston is not a wheel-friendly city; maybe we  can try to  
> make
>    it a little friendlier in  the time and place we will have influence
>     over.
>
> I wouldn't even put it that strongly.
>
>  Just tell people where the stairs are.
>
> I would strongly object  to any "wheelchairs go to the front of
> the line"  situation.
>
> Say someone has a bad hip or a bad knee or a bad  heart- and we somehow
> coerce them to take the stairs.  They might  be able to take the
> stairs, so our coercion (or rules about who can  use the elevators)
> coerces them to take the stairs.  They get  hurt and now, who holds the
> responsibility?
>
>   - Crash (one bad knee and a slowly healing achilles  tendon)
>
>
>
>  _______________________________________________
> staff mailing  list
> staff at arisia.org
>  http://arisia.org/mailman/listinfo/staff

--
DDA


Art Show  Director, Arisia  '08




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