Do you recall the first time you used an escalator?
@PatZAnthony (14749)
Charlotte, North Carolina
January 26, 2019 9:20pm CST
Escalators are common in larger cities and often found in malls as well as some office buildings. Some call these electric stairs, although that might not be a proper definition.
It seems the first time our family used an escalator was when we were in Arizona and very young. Escalators were new to us, as were the tarantulas and scorpions.
Do you have escalators where you live or shop?
28 people like this
31 responses
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
27 Jan 19
They used to freak me out, I don't like stepping off the top onto them, I am not quite sure when I went on my first one.
5 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Feb 19
It seems as long as we can be quick we will be okay but what happens when we get a little slower or a little older? Better take the elevator then.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Feb 19
We know adults who are still afraid to use one....or an elevator.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342179)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 19
@PatZAnthony Our daughter-in-law won't use them but that's more claustrophobia - at least in elevators.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
27 Jan 19
first time? um..i think it was in a department store in ohio.we were visiting my grandmother and we were shopping.
4 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
19 Feb 19
They are everywhere now, so the younger generation probably gives these no thought.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Feb 19
It seems they are everywhere now.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472078)
• Switzerland
7 Feb 19
@PatZAnthony Here we have more "no step escalators" than traditional ones. They are a lot better because disabled people can use them and we can keep our shopping cart on them.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
27 Jan 19
I remember when we were little my brothers shoe lace got caught between the grids on an escalator, he screamed because he thought it was going to eat him. Someone hit the stop button on the bottom and stopped it and they cut his shoe lace off.
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
19 Feb 19
That is really frightening.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
19 Feb 19
@PatZAnthony It really was, I am extra careful on them now.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (117146)
• Anniston, Alabama
27 Jan 19
When I was about 7 years old, a new store in the new mall had one, the store was called Brits, then Sears. Its long gone now, I have no idea what is in the store now. One of the doctor offfice buildings still have one.
4 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Feb 19
The first time I used one it must have been a bit frightening but I don't really recall being scared.
Now I noticed there are many who just do not like the idea of having to be on an escalator.
@rebelann (112983)
• El Paso, Texas
27 Jan 19
I can't recall the first time I used one but I doubt it was when I was a child. Back in the 50s I can't recall ever seeing a shopping mall, if there were any, and since dad was Army we spent the first 10 years of my life moving around from base to base including one in Germany.
As for stairs, that I do remember, I thought they were fun.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112983)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Feb 19
I do remember using an elevator once when I was a kid but mostly we used stairs @PatZAnthony I wonder if mom would have been awed by one.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Feb 19
Escalators must have seemed to be futuristic too many back in those days.
1 person likes this
@RonElFran (1214)
• Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
27 Jan 19
I don't remember my first escalator ride, but neither can I remember my last one. It's literally been years since I was on one.
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Feb 19
We used one in Gastonia in a mall recently. They work the same as the ones from my childhood!
Nice to see you here. Hope all is well.
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
27 Jan 19
Escalators are common these days in shopping malls.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Feb 19
Yes most of the larger malls do you have them.
The smaller malls ere only have a single floor so there is no need for the escalator.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Jan 19
Probably when I was a small child.
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
23 Feb 19
So many here take the stairs instead.
The stairs are great from an exercise point of view, but the escalator can be fun.
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
27 Jan 19
Yes,I took care to step out at the right time.
3 people like this
@florelway (23286)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
27 Jan 19
I could not exactly remember the first time that was more than 50 years ago lol
my only memory was that I enjoyed the ride because we were in a department store and I was so amazed of all the things inside the store.
my only memory was that I enjoyed the ride because we were in a department store and I was so amazed of all the things inside the store.2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
23 Feb 19
With the escalator, we can view all the stores and people and it can be interesting.
1 person likes this
@WiseGhots (14606)
•
27 Jan 19
Yeah, I like. But I can't remember when was my last time. 
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
22 Mar 19
They are fun and I think for me, the age was around 8 when I first saw one.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
7 Feb 19
not sure now where i live but i know there were many in Phoenix when i lived there. first time for me was in my early twenties when we moved to Cleveland and i went to the mall. scary and i kept thinking my shoe would get caught and pull me under. 
took some courage to get through the fear and get used to it
took some courage to get through the fear and get used to it1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
23 Feb 19
@PatZAnthony that is the same i remember in Phoenix. 
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
23 Feb 19
Yes, the ones in Phoenix come to mind.
The best one I can think of is the one in this photo taken in NC.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
24 Feb 19
We have them in our subways and so I use them often. If I'm not too tired, I take the stairs for the exercise.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
23 Mar 19
@PatZAnthony Montreal is a huge city and we would be in a lot of traffic troubles if we had no subways.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
22 Mar 19
We don't have subways in NC or the other states where we travel! many find that hard to believe @1hopefulman
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32747)
• Calgary, Alberta
27 Jan 19
I was 3 years old and I was screaming wee because I thought its some sort of a carnival ride, I prefered it over the stairs. I was afraid of the stairs but not of the escalator.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
23 Feb 19
Hello @CaptAlbertWhisker
They still seem like carnival rides to me.
Wonder how many times I could use the one at the mall before getting arrested for loitering.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Feb 19
No need for escalator if no huge buildings it seems.
.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Mar 19
I don't remember my first time using an escalator, but I remember taking my kids to the mall on weekends when they were little just to ride the escalators in the big department stores. We would literally spend hours at the mall doing nothing but riding up and down the escalators. It was a great way to kill time while my wife shopped.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
22 Mar 19
Ah, great entertainment without cost! Yes, the kids enjoy these @moffitjc
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Mar 19
@PatZAnthony Definitely great free entertainment! It's amazing what free things you can find to do to keep your kids busy if you just get a little creative!
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
22 Mar 19
Oh, those would make me run up or down a moving escalator too @DianneN
1 person likes this
