Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Unexpectedly locked doors in NYC

New York Sports Clubs on 125th Street, picture of two front doors
One of these doors is locked
New York Sports Club

125th Street, New York City, NY
One poor user experience I have observed personally since moving to New York City is unexpectedly locked doors.  Many businesses have two doors but leave one of them locked.  

It's the job of the patron to guess which one is open--and there is no particular pattern.  I asked a guy who had the same problem and after living here for years he said, "You never know--you just have to try gently in case it's locked".

Sometimes the right door is locked, and sometimes the left door is locked.  Sometimes I've walked into a business on the right side, and then had a problem leaving when I try to leave on the right side (as per the custom in the United States).  That was the case on this day at New York Sports Club.

Having one locked door isn't a horrible thing, but in the case where 50ish percent of the time, someone is going to be making an error, it makes perfect sense to guide the user.  

Put a big "Use other door" sign on it.  

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