Nylon brushes lining the sides of modern escalators are specifically installed as safety devices to keep passengers' loose clothing, shoelaces, and bags from getting sucked into the machinery.

A closer look

Nylon brushes lining the sides of modern escalators are specifically installed as safety devices to keep passengers' loose clothing, shoelaces, and bags from getting sucked into the machinery. Contrary to popular belief and the behavior of basically every oblivious person at the shopping mall, these bristles were not engineered by a benevolent corporation to give your scuffed leather loafers a complimentary polish while you ride to the food court. The gap between the moving stairs and the stationary skirt panel is incredibly dangerous, and if those brushes were not there to create a psychological and physical barrier, the escalator would happily swallow your loose maxi dress and grind you into human spaghetti. So please, stop aggressively rubbing your dirty sneakers against the safety mechanism that is actively trying to prevent a horrific industrial accident from ruining everyone's casual Tuesday afternoon shopping spree