On: Medieval staircases were not built going clockwise...

[m463]

I bet there is one way to climb that is easier than the other.

Being right-footed, I can do cross-over turns while ice-skating in one direction MUCH easier than the other.

However, not sure whether that translates to clockwise or counter-clockwise stairs being easier without trying it.

maybe it would be counter-clockwise? Right foot travels further?

[kmoser → m463]

I like this theory. Since most people are right-handed, and the right leg does more work than the left when walking up a counter-clockwise spiral staircase, it makes sense that spiral staircases would be designed counter-clockwise.