Comments for 降りる

Is 降りる actually not tranistive? Because in the textbook I am using to learn Japanese, 降りる is used as a transitive verb; for example: 階段 を 降りる ("kaidan o oriru", to go down the stairs). Can anyone explain as to why 降りる is listed here as intransitive?

It is intransitive.  The thing to think about in that case is what object is descending the stairs.  Is it the person descending the stairs, or the person causing the stairs to descend?

For some verbs (usually involving self-movement), you can use the を particle to indicate the object that you are moving in or on. 泳ぐ is another verb that you often see this with.