Unlike indoor mall or airport escalators, the units in the Metrorail face extreme temperatures that can cause breakdowns.
Still, the addition of Andrews, Petrus and Boothe alongside the remaining stalwarts can cause breakdowns in communication that would be unlikely to occur with the core group intact.
On busy holiday weekends, like the Fourth of July, or when there are huge gatherings on the National Mall, Metrorail's weaknesses are compounded by packed platforms and trains, which stresses escalators and can cause breakdowns.
Low wages can cause breakdowns in family life, as parents are not able to spend enough time with their children when low paid workers are having to hold down two jobs.
Meanwhile, customers are being urged to buy their monthly passes earlier in the purchase period rather than later, when heavier use of the machines tends to cause breakdowns.
Brooklyn-based artist Zach Nader has long been interested in using software to cause "breakdowns" in everyday photographic imagery and distribution, particularly of the advertising variety.
