Stairs and the urge to run up them

Oh, I know!

If not run, at least take several at a time. Those little piddling steps are just so irritating. Teeny step... teeny step... teeny step... ARGHHH!

She's right, ya know. The run, rise, and depth were designed for some mythical, average person. We, of course, are not average.

There should be a club. For people who cant stand walking up stairs.

Oddly enough, I am not half as exasperated by walking down stairs.

Or perhaps its just that I dont notice running down them because that doesnt get me out of breath.

when i was a kid, i'd fly down the stairs, taking 'em two atta time... what was i thinking??

I have to take stairs two at a time on the way up...way too boring to take little steps.

I used to work in a place that had a very long, straight staircase with a bannister rail each side, just the right distance apart to lock a hand onto each one and swing (when going downwards, of course).

After a bit of practise, it was possible to actually jump from the top, lock hands in the right place, and swing enough so that every step could be avoided. Great fun!

Had a few accidents whilst trying to get it right, though.


..........AND I was in my twenties at the time.........

There's a theoretical proportion expected for rise and tread, something like 2x riser height + tread depth = 25. Some of this is coded in some places, for example, as discussed HERE. Whether one follows that or not, the idea is that the higher the riser, the shorter the step tread.

I've designed hundreds of sets of steps, and HATE tiny treads. I prefer treads to be 15" (or so) deep, and depending on circumstances, as deep as 18" - but then I design for outdoors. I want moving on steps to be more like regular walking. Hate having to aim my feet when wandering around a garden, striding and then suddenly having to stop and mince my tootsies. For several groups of those ten inch tread type steps... I'd rather put in a stainless steel slide (!) For a set of nine steps in a relatively confined space inside, it makes sense to do something like 7"/7" - 11" tread, but I don't like it - make the space bigger in the first place. For, say, a tall guy with big feet, it's a real change of pace to have to near tiptoe up a staircase, re fitting foot onto tread.

There, that's it!!

I'm not very tall but I have a big long stride, and the mincing tootsies part is exactly what I hate.

I'm going to start calling you Mannix.

One of my big gripes is the ill conceived design of some landings and steps as you come out your house's front or back door... say onto a four to eight foot terrace or landing, and then down three tiny treaded steps, just as you are now looking at the yard as a whole. F'n stupid.

You know, I've actually thought about the ergonomics of stairs before, and I've managed to convince myself (being of a naturally impatient disposition) that running up that stairs (in addition to taking them two at a time) is more efficient than muddling up them at walking pace. I always feel like I'm losing all my momentum on every step when I walk -- that if you followed the line my center of gravity took up the stairs, it would pause and settle at each step, so it moves up in a series of awkward bumps. Running, though, I can carry my center of gravity up the stairs in one smooth line, which just seems more efficient.

But, then, I'm always impatient in working against gravity, and even as a backpacking child I would rush up the hills and wait for the rest of the folks at the summit rather than make a measured trip of it. Walking uphill is work, and I'd just as soon get it over with as quickly as possible.











So there.

Well, I agree with you, so there... that running staircases actually feels (can feel) better ergonometrically, presuming you don't knock anyone else off balance, sue the city, etc.

Also, Tarzan, er, Ellpus had a point, re the swing of missing the steps entirely...

But given the majority of people walk steps, it would be nice for them to be able to plant their feet on the steps comfortably...

Exactly. I am no longer a kid but I would rather run up the steps and collapse gasping at the top then pant-per-step as I slog slowly upwards.

In our home (a townhouse), we have 4 flights of stairs from the basement to the top floor. I always take them 2 stairs at a time.

When I'm in a commercial building, I only do it if it's not busy.

So, what's your attitude about escalators? Do you walk up them even though their moving? Again, I do, so long nobody's in front of me.

Yes, I do, walk up or down escalators, depending on how crowded they are.
Hmmm, I like their treads..

I agree. Stairs and hills are for racing up.

There is a really steep hill that makes its way up to the golf course, must be a couple of hundred yards at about a 1 in 3 incline, and is at the very beginning of my morning dog walk.
Each day, I try to get up there as quickly as possible, and end up out of puff, heart pounding, only to find a totally unimpressed greyhound sitting there waiting for me.

It's a great way to start the day, as I can then stroll as fast or as slow as I like, knowing that I've done my morning aerobics.

One day though, I'll beat that smug mutt. One day...

A greyhound? I don't want to burst your bubble LordE but...probably not.

One of my favorite things on a2k is a video of Lord E's dog running...

There y'go, Osso......

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-1766299004594978346

I went greyhound racing just the other night in fact. They gave me a two hundred yard start, but still beat me!