Escalators everywhere. It’s a much-needed facility that helps make life easier. Especially for the elderly and anyone that has difficulty walking, escalators will help them commute from one place to the other with less fuss.
In shopping malls, escalators should always work well and be maintained. And speaking of shopping malls, while you’re on the escalator, excitedly wanting to go to another boutique, do you catch a glimpse of the brush along the sides?
If you think it’s to clean your shoes, well… it can be. But the real motive for installing the brush on the escalator will shock you!
Do escalator brushes have a name?
Sadly, there are no fancy names for the brush (yet). It’s commonly known as an escalator brush. But some say it is skirt deflectors. Why? Well, if you look closely, the brush kind of resembles a skirt! If the escalator has an outfit, the brush would be the lower gear, and wow, did it brush us off our feet!
Why do escalators have these brushes?
Let’s get serious. A lot of us thought that the brush was to clean dirt off our shoes, no?
Actually, the brush is where the gap between the stairs and the side is! It’s for our safety!
The brush keeps away our shoes, feet, loose clothing or anything possible from the gap. It’s a safety precaution or more like a buffer.
Additionally, the yellow border is an indication not to be too close to the edges. This warning applies not only to kids but adults too. Sometimes we miss these little details as we’re busy with other things while on the escalator. Therefore, always be aware of the yellow line.
Now we know that the brush is not only for cleaning our shoes but also for our safety! Today, we learned!
Sources: Siakap Keli, Reader’s Digest