Tried one of these while I was in Berlin last year. I definitely prefer regular elevators - less guillotine-ey.
My dad's workplace had a Paternoster. Still remember the thrill of not getting off at the last stop (basement or top floor) and even after many rides being afraid that the cabin would be turned on its head :)
I'd like to try one of these one day. They do have conveyor belt type elevators all across North America but they're only used in special situations. If you happen to come across a valet working in a parking garage, you might find one. I saw one in San Francisco and man did I want to ride it:
I understand the sentiment, but I am not sure that my three year old would benefit from the freedom. Still, it's not like a subway station, or even a road is much different when you see them as things moving by somewhat close that can kill you. Crosswalks don't have doors.“Modern lifts are so idiot-proof you could use them in your sleep,” says Mr. Pfaff. “In fact, they are disenfranchising. Paternosters make you free to hurt yourself if you don’t pay attention.”
In what world would your 3-year-old be anywhere near these unwatched? If anything, they'd make you pay MORE attention when you're with your kids, as there is a bit of a false safety sense with normal elevators perhaps (see the handicapped dude in Korea who rammed the elevator doors with his motorized wheelchair and fell to his death, all because he missed his elevator). I'm all for the what-if sentiment but more so what if I didn't pay attention when I should vs. what if these elevators hurt me or someone I was responsible for.
No doubt, one must mind their 3-year-old, but have you had to watch a 3-year-old? Luckily, ours isn't a crazy adventurous one. Still, we are just now getting to the point where we can watch her approach a street several paces ahead of us, only ready to spring into action if she forgets about the 'danger of cars' thing. In contrast, her same-age cousin is still apt to play real life Frogger if he isn't physically prevented from doing so. If you knew that guillotine elevators were an environmental hazard, you'd have to adjust. I'm just glad I don't have to.
I'm the proud father of a quite internationally travelled 6-year-old, so I've definitely had my share of hazards. We lucked out on the kid lottery and have a fairly thoughtful kid, so it's been ok. I could definitely see sweating a bit on these elevators at first glance, but once you get the idea that you step in and make sure you're all the way in, it doesn't seem too bad. Although all of this might be a moot point. I'm curious where these elevators traditionally are. I'm sure they don't tend to put them into daycares and things like that. If it's an office setting, your exposure to kids is probably fairly limited.
