One-way Traffic - One-way Traffic of People

One-way Traffic of People

Sometimes there is one-way walking for people, for smooth traffic flow, or in the case of entrance checks (such as ticket checks) and exit checks (e.g. the check-out in a shop). They may be outdoors, e.g. an extra exit of a zoo, or in a building, or in a vehicle, e.g. a tram.

In addition to just signs, there may be various forms and levels of enforcement, such as:

• personnel
• a turnstile; turnstile jumping is possible
• a High Entrance/Exit Turnstile (HEET)
• a door or gate that can only be opened from one side (a manual or electric lock, or simply a door that is pushed open and has no doorknob on the other side), or automatically opens from one side; with help from someone on the other side, it can usually conveniently be passed in the "wrong" direction. Examples:
  • entrance of a shop
  • an emergency exit; it may activate an alarm, useful both for proper and improper use of the door
• an escalator; the escalator can be passed in opposite direction, climbing up or down the stairs faster than it moves
• a one-way revolving door

Sometimes a "soft" traffic control system is supported by personnel keeping an eye on things.

Sometimes a door or gate can be opened freely from one side, and only with a key or by inserting a coin from the other side (house door, door with a coin slot, e.g. giving entrance to a pay toilet). The latter can be passed without paying when somebody else leaves, and by multiple persons if only one pays (as opposed to a coin-operated turnstile).