09/16/2025
The Sideways Escalator Phenomenon
You’ve seen escalators. You’ve ridden them. But did you know the first patent for a sideways-moving escalator came from the 1920s — not for airports, but for department stores?
The idea was to let shoppers glide past displays like sushi on a conveyor belt. It never quite caught on — but fast-forward to today’s moving walkways, and it turns out retail was just a few decades early.
Sometimes invention is about timing. Other times, it’s just about where you’re standing.
