Elevators, Escalators, and Those Moving Things!
Not All Vertical Transportation Is Created Equal
It's easy to lump all moving walkways together, especially when talking about moving people and cargo between floors. But there are some key differences. Many people use "elevator" to describe any vertical lift. However, the term "elevator" refers specifically to the enclosed platform, or the device that goes straight up and down.
An "escalator" is that moving staircase that takes you effortlessly between levels. It's a set of continuous steps!
So, What Do You Call the Ramp for Carts?
Those flat or slightly inclined moving surfaces designed to carry shopping carts, luggage trolleys, and even people are neither elevators nor escalators! They have their own special names:
- Moving Walkway (or Moving Sidewalk / Travelator / Autowalk): This is the most common and official term. It describes a flat, conveyor-belt-like surface that moves people and carts horizontally or on a slight incline. Think of the long stretches at airports. You might hear, "Please hold the handrail while using the moving walkway."
- Inclined Moving Walkway / Inclined Travelator: This refers to a slanted version designed to carry people and carts between floors. These often feature grooves to keep cart wheels from sliding.
Other Terms You Might Hear
- Cart Conveyor: Used when specifically emphasizing the function of transporting carts.
- Shopping Cart Escalator: A term sometimes used in the US, specifically for a separate escalator parallel to the people escalator in supermarkets, designed solely for shopping carts.
The "Travelator" in Australia
In Australia, "travelator" is a popular and easy-to-remember term that applies to both flat and inclined moving walkways.
There is also a cultural rule: if you aren't in a hurry and are standing still on an escalator or travelator, stand to the left to allow faster passengers to pass on the right!
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