We’ve all experienced standing on an escalator, glancing down, and wondering about the purpose of those brushes.
I remember once being misled into thinking they were meant for shoe cleaning, only to end up with an oily, dirty mark on my sneakers—a lesson in gullibility I’ll not forget.
Despite the frequent use of escalators, there are several less commonly known aspects about them. Questions often arise about the grooves on the steps, the speed of the handrail, and the purpose of those black nylon bristles.
Let’s clarify the first two mysteries.
YouTuber Zack D. Films created a simulation to illustrate the function of the grooves on escalator steps. In his video, he notes: “As the steps circulate, the grooves sync up with a comb plate at the top.”
“This comb plate gets locked in by the grooves, which blocks items from getting sucked in.”
The grooves are designed to prevent anything from getting through and damaging the machinery, while the slightly faster handrail serves a safety purpose.
According to Deysse, a company that manufactures spare parts for escalators, the handrail is intentionally faster than the steps to ‘bring the body’s center of gravity forward when getting on the escalator, and it can prevent the body from falling down due to the sudden increase of the speed under the feet’.
Though it is logical, it can still be a bit annoying!
Now, addressing the main question: what function do those side brushes have on escalators?
One might think they’re there to shield the machine from damage, but that’s not the case. These ‘safety brushes’ are intended to prevent accidents.
Their role is to keep shoes and clothing from getting ensnared between the moving steps and the balustrade skirt.
However, the design primarily acts as a psychological deterrent. When individuals brush against them, their instinct is to move away, thus preventing clothing and shoes from being caught.
“One of the biggest reasons for escalator mishaps is people getting their clothes and bags stuck in them when they stand too close to the sides,” explained the TikTok account ‘Untold Facts’.
In response, a user shared: “I got my floor-length dress caught in an escalator and it left oil/grease stains on it that I could never remove.”