The Ups And Downs Of Prague's Paternosters

Paternosters -- continuously circulating elevators without doors which passengers hop on and off of -- were once common in Europe, but have now largely disappeared as a result of modernization or because of safety or accessibility concerns. The Czech capital Prague still has 28 working paternosters and an avid group of devotees.
Originally published at - www.rferl.org/...

[@siendbhcixisj]

Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw on of these in Prague. Im so glad they keep them and restore them.

[@perfectopubg7320]

nice

[@joeyblogsy]

I’m not they look like a liability

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

These would last three minutes in America. Because we're too stupid to get on and off. A lawsuit would be filed in four minutes.

[@teemo8247]

If you dont like these kinds of safety regulations then go to Brazil or Mexico lol

[@EriccsonVerschon]

Sad, but true.😐

[@BeefPapa]

And the obesity...

[@TheThriftyGma]

..... LOL !. Sad.. but true.

[@arcanto28]

@@teemo8247 These are in Europe, not Brazil or Mexico. But keep trying 😂

[@AngelLuisEspada1970]

I really really am intrigued and fascinated with so much of these paternosters😉

[@cherylsemrau7100]

Brilliant. I hope they keep and restore them.

[@idkwhatimdoing3387]

That seems fun lol, and somehow less scary to me than regular ones

[@rpr8]

Watched Bald and Bankrupt (9/10/2020) and had to see more. I thought you flipped upside down and downside up. Silly me. Very interesting!

[@randomcommenterphd893]

"..But in Prague, many survived." What? The paternosters or the passengers?

[@beckylawler2768]

The paternosters.

[@swampdonkey1567]

Any body know those zipper rides you see at state fairs or just me? Cause these remind me of them.

[@gordslater]

1:52 dude going up looks like a tailor's dummy until he moves I'd love to ride one naked just for shits and giggles

[@PravdaFIN]

Tommy Vercetti from Vice City

[@Hey_man1997]

That's exactly how I pictured it working

[@26151611]

I wonder if anyone has ever been handcuffed or tied to the handles inside one of the boxes naked, that would be interesting to see lol

[@adamharris5355]

🤣

[@McRocket]

Wonderful! They should make more of them. They clearly are not dangerous. And the disabled can just stop them to get on and off (so a start/stop button in every car/floor should be added to new ones). They seem far better for not-too-tall buildings than silly elevators. Thanks for this video. ☮

[@brunoais]

I think there should just be elevators for disabled people. Even if it is just a platform at the staircase. Paternosters can more way more people than elevators. But stairs (electric or not) can move more people than Paternosters.

[@McRocket]

@@thesignalnotthenoise1670 Fine. You go to a hospital and tell all those people in wheelchairs that they should 'sort out their own shit without slowing everyone down'? I guarantee that you don't have the guts. You trolling, piece of excrement. We are done here. Bye, incel.

[@Jeremy-wp4yh]

What if 2 people got stucked simulatenous. One going up and the other going down. Since the entire system is linked how do you get them out

[@swampdonkey1567]

They may have some give to those grids and also may just be able to temporarily take the grid off. Boom you put your foot back in and we help the other guy. I don't know this just a hypothesis but I feel confident in it.

[@georgethompson7391]

You have to sacrifice one of them 😂

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

@@georgethompson7391 💯😂😂

[@awatt]

The office I worked in had a few and when there was a power cut all that happened was that the power was isolated and the flaps on the floor were lifted up which enabled the people to be pulled out. Couldn't be that in a lift

[@johnnamkeh1290]

You just reverse it?

[@LottieSue]

Is there also an updated elevator for families with kids, people with disabilities, the obese, pregnant women etc.?

[@tomservo5007]

yes, there's an updated version, Otis is probably the largest maker of the upgrade, I'm sure you have been in a few of their models

[@humbertosalvagnin2717]

I saw one in Hamburg

[@dragonballz4998]

pretty cool

[@InsecurArties]

What happens if you just ride them? Like you dont get off?

[@BioIizard]

If you’re going up, it rotates over to the other side and starts going down. Vice-versa if you’re going downwards.

[@tomv3361]

Nothing

[@InsecurArties]

@@BioIizard thank you

[@TheThriftyGma]

... It would be similar to the song.. 🎵The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round, 'round and 'round, 'round and 'round🎵.... except it would be you.

[@bleepvbloop]

what if you have a wheelchair

[@JesusProtects]

You take the other elevator at the other side of the room... Probably.

[@Blasco_Snap]

You better wheel in fast

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

Take the stairs

[@whitemailprivilege2830]

@@Blasco_Snap lmao

[@gomez3357]

You put the wheelchair on and walk up

[@Allen.Fepuleai]

What happens if you step out when it’s at the very bottom??

[@Ragnar8504]

You hit a wall.

[@imranhq13]

European engineering at it's best

[@caroleast9636]

Invented in England

[@imranhq13]

@@caroleast9636 England is an European country dawg

[@jacobasnodgrass5853]

@@imranhq13 Europe is a continent.

[@imranhq13]

@@jacobasnodgrass5853 so?

[@jajakid419]

@@imranhq13 did you really just say "dawg" unironicly...

[@Nobli82]

Oh, well, functioning brain is definitely needed to use them. If we make everything idiot-proof, we are just enabling stupidity. We should not make everything idiot-proof. We should replace stupidity with common sense and discipline by education. And people also need to start to take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming (sueing) others and playing the victim all the time.

[@IvarDaigon]

what do you do when the previous person farts in the box?.

[@kyh148]

_ups and downs_

[@ThePinkHammerLA]

What if you have 2-3 small children

[@03dashaway]

You take the stairs (lol)

[@Nobli82]

Or the "regular" elevator.

[@Underground247]

Why don’t they have these in hospitals

[@TheThriftyGma]

.. Imagine getting a gurney in or out within seconds.. ha

[@Underground247]

@@TheThriftyGma they could go slower for hospitals lol. Funny thing to imagine. But I still think it would be more effective after seeing the safety mechanism. The only problem would be if you miss the first carage and need to get the second but that will still be faster than waiting for one of 4 single elevators. I see your thinking but compared to the average wait time of a normal elevator and having to say wait on average for the second cart to go past before getting on I still think it’s more efficient.

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

You'll easily see the American comments.

[@mightyobserver12]

Hadluk

[@nb3526]

Storm and silence anyone?

[@brian4407]

In communist Prague you don’t take elevator, elevator takes you! 😅

[@Geometry974]

Doors

[@OPFlyFisher304]

Comment

[@cadidiot_101]

I guess I found the second good thing communism has allowed for. The first remains the AK-47

[@goldrushjkgh]

Thank God these won't pass safety tests and remain illegal here in India lmao

[@blueberryforest3823]

"But Im told there is nothing to fear" "AAAAAAAAAAA😨😨😨🗯🗯🗯😥😐🐦💙⚰🪦...🤨😑"