When Does an Inclined Moving Walk Make Sense?

With modern technology advancing by the minute, our devices are being continually upgraded each year, and it’s easy to become accustomed to expecting this. At the dawn of the last century, new inventions were popping up daily. For example, Alfred Speer created a system of moving “sidewalks” to revolutionize pedestrian movement. The Marvelous Moving Sidewalk of 1900 in Paris, France, was one of the most notable moving walks to exist in this era, carrying pedestrians throughout the city.

These first moving walkways traveled up and down bumps on inclined streets, which obviously required inclined moving walks. While these were initially invented for use as an outdoor application, they eventually gained popularity indoors as the commonplace solutions we see today.

There are certain moments in our commute where we expect to see a moving walk in the building to help us move to our destination quicker. While the most evident example is in an airport, there are many situations when utilizing an inclined moving walk makes sense.

When Should You Use an Inclined Moving Walk?

Moving walkways are known for easing traffic in congested areas and improving traffic flow in buildings. When North American commuters think of these machines, flat applications are what comes to mind. But overseas, the inclined moving walk is more ordinary than you may think. Pedestrians often find inclined moving walks in places like a large supermarket or their local mall.

And their popularity isn’t unfounded; there are significant advantages to adding this form of power ramp to a building or property. The only question is, in which settings does an inclined moving walk make sense?

Airports

The fan favorite for moving walk sightings is the airport. In 2021, the market for moving walkways in airports reached an astonishing value of $2.21 billion globally. This number is only expected to increase in the coming years as the demand for moving walks never ceases. Airports continue to see the benefits after installation, which is why many have opted for inclined moving walks as well.

Having an incline on a moving walk allows for passengers with more luggage or oddly shaped baggage to ride safely. Escalators are also helpful in this regard, but some may find it trickier to balance their belongings on one step. The inclined moving walk eliminates this issue and allows for the rider to easily travel with their bags.

Large Stores and Malls

You might be less likely to see it often in North America, but countries around the world utilize power ramps in their local malls and large stores.

Malls, supermarkets and department stores are progressively installing them for similar reasoning as airports. Shoppers can only carry so much, and a moving walk solution with an incline offers them the ability to take a break without concern that their bags will slip downward. In supermarkets, it also allows customers to travel to different levels of the store with their carts. These carts are made with special grooves in their wheels that keep them from sliding backwards, making it simple to transport heavy groceries.

Theme Parks

For many tourists, a theme park is the pinnacle of entertainment and delight. Traveling from near and far, attractions such as the famous parks in Florida or California can garner massive crowds. Most of these have at least one moving walk simply to ease tourist foot traffic, but a lesser-known fact is that power ramps are often integrated into the rides themselves.

To allow guests to easily enter and exit the ride vehicle, theme parks will install inclined moving walks on the ride platform. This allows for each rider to enter their vehicle at a faster pace while remaining completely safe. At the end of the ride, the guest takes the power ramp down into the gift shop where they can purchase a novelty item. This has also been a great help for families using strollers.

Ski Resorts

Ski resorts hold a prominent place in the hospitality industry. In a routine setting, most visitors will have snowboards or skis attached to their feet, which can make it near impossible to travel uphill.

Ski lifts make it simpler to travel up a large hill, but the visitors that aren’t comfortable with the steep mountains will elect for a smaller slope. In this case, power ramps are the best choice.

Is an Inclined Moving Walkway the Right Choice for My Property?

The examples listed in this article are just a few of the many situations in which these inclined moving walks can thrive. City planners have even begun to see the benefits of integrating outdoor inclined power ramps into cities with steeper hills. There is a massive opportunity for moving walks with an incline to shine, and we are certain they will grow in notoriety as time goes on.

For more information about moving walkways, please visit our Moving Walks page or contact a local branch manager here to learn more about how they can be of service to you.