Have you ever noticed something strange about an escalator?

The steps are clearly angled while you're riding up.

But just before you reach the top, they suddenly become flat.

The same thing happens at the bottom.

Have you ever wondered:

Why don't the steps stay angled all the way to the floor?

Because those few flat steps are doing something extremely important:

They give you a safe, stable place to get on and off.

An escalator isn't a staircase that simply moves upward.

Each step is attached to a continuous chain and runs on a system of tracks.

As the steps approach the top or bottom, the track gradually changes direction.

The step therefore rotates and becomes horizontal before reaching the landing.

Then it travels flat for a short distance before turning around underneath the escalator.

Imagine reaching the top while the final step is still tilted upward.

You would have to step from an inclined, moving surface onto a flat floor.

That would make it much easier to:

Instead, escalators provide a short horizontal section.

KONE's engineering guidance specifically states that horizontal steps at each landing allow passengers to steady themselves before the incline and safely step off before reaching the comb.

Look carefully next time.

There isn't usually just one flat step.

There are several.

The exact number depends on the escalator's design, speed, and rise.

For example, KONE's planning guidance specifies a minimum of two horizontal steps in certain configurations, with three or four required in higher-rise or higher-speed installations.

This gives passengers enough time to:

Step on → stabilize → move forward → step off.

At the landing, the steps pass underneath a structure called the comb plate.

The teeth of the comb fit into the grooves of the escalator steps.

This is a critical safety area.

The comb helps bridge the small transition between the moving steps and the stationary floor.

Modern escalators also use safety devices around the comb area to detect abnormal conditions and stop the escalator when necessary.

That's why you should never stand directly on the yellow comb area.

The process works in reverse.

As the steps approach the bottom:

Inclined → gradually flatten → horizontal → passenger steps off → steps disappear underneath.

This creates a smooth transition between a moving staircase and the stationary floor.

KONE describes the horizontal sections at both ends as being specifically intended to make entry and exit smooth and safe.

The flat section isn't only for passengers.

It also gives the step mechanism enough space to change direction smoothly.

Remember, the steps are connected in a continuous loop.

After carrying you to the top, they have to travel underneath the escalator and return to the bottom.

The transition from diagonal movement to the return path is carefully controlled by the track system.

The next time you're on an escalator, watch the steps near the top.

You'll see something that looks almost magical:

angled → flatter → completely horizontal → disappearing beneath your feet.

That isn't just clever mechanical design.

It's a carefully engineered transition that gives passengers a stable surface to board and exit while allowing thousands of interconnected steps to continuously loop around.

So those flat steps aren't there because escalators need to look neat.

They're there because humans need a safe place to step.

They become horizontal so passengers can safely and comfortably get on and off the moving escalator.

It varies. Depending on the escalator's speed and height, standards and manufacturers may require two, three, or more horizontal steps at each landing.

It's the toothed plate where the moving steps meet the stationary landing. It helps create a safe transition between the two surfaces.

The grooves interact with the comb plate and help keep the transition area clear as the steps move into and out of the landing.

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Because once you start noticing these details, you'll realise something fascinating:

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