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One Hundred Years of Escalators: The Rise of Urban Mobility
Learn the fascinating history of the escalator, which debuted in Cologne in 1925 and continues to shape our cities today.
One Hundred Years of Escalators: The Rise of Urban Mobility
On July 11, 1925, the first escalator in Germany was put into operation in the Tietz department store in Cologne. A postcard from that time proudly shows three customers using this new type of “rolling sidewalk”. At the time, the department store advertised that the escalator saved time and money and that the 1920s in Germany brought with it a real boom for this advanced technology. A few years later, escalators in department stores in Berlin and Munich followed. In the capital, a kind of lift boy assisted customers in getting in to make it easier for them to have their first contact with this technical innovation.
From the beginning, escalators have been a symbol of the urban way of life. Originally developed in the United States, the “circulating platform” quickly found favor in Germany and spread worldwide as an efficient means of managing large crowds. Mind you, the first escalator was patented by Jesse W. Reno in 1892 and opened at the Coney Island amusement park in 1895. Since then, it has become an indispensable solution in high-traffic locations such as subway stations, airports and shopping centers.
A symbol of the economic miracle
After the Second World War, escalators became a symbol of the economic miracle in the Federal Republic of Germany. The people in the rebuilt cities experienced progress and a new lifestyle, to which the escalator made an indispensable contribution. There are now around 39,000 escalators in Germany, officially referred to as “escalators”, which make our daily lives easier.
Over time, the technologies surrounding escalators have evolved. Modern escalators are characterized by their safety and efficiency and consist of steps, a motor and a drive system that is usually operated electrically. Safety mechanisms such as obstacle detection systems and emergency brakes ensure every use is safe.
Escalators in an international context
Around the world, escalators have helped to make even remote places more accessible, as an example from Medellín in Colombia shows. Escalators were installed in Comuna 13 in 2011 to improve accessibility while reducing crime. These measures have significantly increased the quality of life of residents and show how important escalators can be for social change.
If you go back to the 1920s, you can see the children and teenagers trying to break the rules of the escalator. They often run against the direction of travel, whereas in films like “Skyfall” they are portrayed as exciting, slippery elements. You could say that escalators are not only functional means of transportation, but have also become an integral part of our culture.
As the songwriter Reinhard Mey once so vividly described it, they remain a part of our childhood memories. The transit phase on the escalator not only gives the user the opportunity to think, but also to enjoy a short break from everyday life.