Splicing lines for the illusion of order under saos

Ethan Switch - Friday, 20 June 2003 - 09:07:34 - print it raw

Observations of crowd dynamics spill over numerous valid questions and possible solutions to the planning of buildings, arenas and public spaces.

On the final whistle or clang of the bell the crowd might head all at once toward the exits or pushing back the naturally designated flow from the entrances like cramming a pen up the urethra. If this were during a high stress situation bodies would be jammed, slammed and crushed in the onslaught of the feebles fleeing the scene. A high patron flow technique involves the installation or placement of barriers. Not only do the people move out faster but safer as the people from the sides are not crushing or getting crushed from the packing of the back.

But in the world of banking, this is not the case. If anything, there is no movement at all with lines static and far from dynamic. Taking the idea of the barriers, the old Westpac building branch, dipped in a tub of vegemite, has realigned their waiting line into rows and rows of smaller barriers like the starting cage of a greyhound race.

The customers will not be fooled. They wait as long as they have previously and the added stress of trying to choose the "right lane" only fuels the ire the customers have toward the bank.