Escalators have become a common sight at shopping malls, metro stations, airports and commercial complexes, making it easier for people to move between floors. But have you ever wondered why there are black brush-like strips installed along both sides of an escalator? While many people mistakenly use them to clean their shoes, that is not what they are designed for.
The side brushes are actually an important safety feature. They help reduce the risk of clothing, shoelaces, bags or other loose items getting caught between the moving steps and the side panels of the escalator.
If objects such as a scarf, dupatta, saree pallu, backpack strap or untied shoelaces drift too close to the edge, the flexible brushes gently push them away, helping prevent dangerous entanglement.
Modern escalators are equipped with several additional safety features, including emergency stop buttons, speed-monitoring sensors, yellow boundary lines that indicate where passengers should stand, and regular maintenance checks to ensure safe operation.
Every year, hundreds of escalator-related accidents are reported worldwide, many of them caused by loose clothing, trapped objects, falls or lack of supervision. While the side brushes cannot prevent every incident, they play a significant role in improving the overall passenger safety.
When using an escalator, always face forward, hold children’s hands, secure scarves and loose clothing, avoid placing bags near the edges, and ensure shoelaces are properly tied before stepping on.
