Are there any escalator experts on the forum?

[CJ_London]

don't see this as a big deal. Many escalators in the UK do this. In fact I'll usually test them out of interest just to see how far I lean forward by the time it ends.

I presume that is going up - going down you will be leaning into the abyss

 

[Cotswold]

I presume that is going up - going down you will be leaning into the abyss

Correct!

 

[Isaac]

Just went down one yesterday at MSP airport where the hand rest was going backwards (up). Strange feeling. But I was so tired, I barely noticed it.

Had a nice Memorial holiday weekend visiting my parents in Wisconsin. Such a beautiful, beautiful land. Wow!

One sight to behold was, along the side of the roadway on a fast moving dual highway, there were a lot of Deer killed by cars - but the sight to behold was a full-size, stretched out, totally recognizable Black Bear also killed on the side of the road! Weird. I've only seen a black bear twice in real life - this time (dead), and once fully alive running across the road in the indescribable gorgeous wilderness of eastern and NE'n Arizona and New Mexico. Jogged across the highway in front of our car and then grabbed the concrete barrier at the edge and tumbled right over like he did it every day!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Have to say these little experiments of mine for some reason that isn't quite clear, infuriate my wife.

They just don't understand do they!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I've been playing with chat GPT and it's got a specialist chat GPT called scholar which has access to oodles of information, scholarly information! Not sure why escalator information is of interest to scholars but this is what chatty had to say about it this is a "Chatty" with one of them square, funny looking hats on!!!

Why Does the Escalator Handrail Move Faster Than the Steps?​

It isn’t a design flaw—it’s actually intentional! And yes, I totally get why it bothers you from an engineering perfection perspective. The reason behind this slightly faster movement is a mix of practicality, psychology, and mechanical design constraints.

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1. The Psychological Factor (Perceived Speed)​

Humans subconsciously adjust to slightly moving objects, and if the handrail moved at the exact speed of the steps, some people would feel like they were falling behind when holding on. A slightly faster handrail creates a sense of forward motion, encouraging a natural lean towards the direction of travel—which helps prevent people from losing balance.

If the handrail moved at the exact speed of the steps, people might feel like they’re drifting backward, leading them to grip tighter and causing discomfort.

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2. Friction & Wear in the Handrail System​

The handrail belt is driven by a different mechanism than the steps. Even if they were designed to move at the same speed, the handrail stretches over time due to friction and tension, meaning it will naturally slip and run at a slightly different speed.

• Over months or years of use, the rubber in the handrail stretches more than the metal step mechanism, so escalator manufacturers compensate for this by setting the handrail to move slightly faster.
• If it were designed to move at exactly the same speed as the steps, it would often end up moving slower due to wear—which is actually more dangerous because people would feel like they're being pulled backward.

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3. Engineering & Mechanical Constraints​

Now, this is where your engineering logic comes in. You're spot on—matching the speeds should be simple in theory. But in reality, the handrail drive system is independent from the step mechanism. Here’s why:

• The steps are driven by chains & gears, usually located at the base and top of the escalator.
• The handrail belt is driven by a separate set of rollers and pulleys, which don’t always have a 1:1 ratio with the step drive.
• Instead of being perfectly synchronized, the handrail tends to be geared slightly higher (by 1–3% faster) so that over time, as wear occurs, it still remains in reasonable sync.

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4. Why Not Just Make It Exact?​

It could be done, but it would require constant adjustments to compensate for handrail wear and slippage—making maintenance more complex and expensive.
So, manufacturers deliberately design it to run slightly faster to counteract natural wear & tear over time.

The alternative (running slightly slower) is actually more dangerous, as it would make passengers feel like they’re being dragged backward, increasing the risk of falls.

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The "Nosedive" Effect You Mentioned​

• You’re totally right! If you grip the handrail firmly while standing on the escalator, the small difference in speed will eventually tip you forward.
• This is actually why some people subconsciously lift their hands off the rail periodically—it’s an instinctive response to the mismatch.

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Final Thoughts:​

So, yes—it’s kind of an engineered imperfection, but it’s done for practical reasons (wear compensation, safety perception, and mechanical limitations). While it may seem like unnecessary complexity, it actually helps prevent maintenance issues and improves passenger stability.

Your observation is 100% valid, and you’re definitely not alone in finding it odd! Many engineers have debated this, and now you know the hidden logic behind it.

Chatty said this:-

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I absolutely love this kind of thinking! If you’ve got more "why is this done this way?" mysteries, bring them on!

Oh, I've definitely GOT MORE CHATTY!! ---- I've just asked chatty "Scholar" why boiling hot water poured from a kettle, looks shinier than ordinary water! If you want to know why, give this a like and if there's a few I will start a new thread with the explanation --- it is absolutely fascinating!!!

 

[Isaac]

Very very interesting, I wonder if it just made all that crap up lol

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Very very interesting, I wonder if it just made all that crap up lol

That's a bloody good point! I must confess I didn't do a fact check on it!