why do escalator handrails move faster

Escalator handrails often move a bit faster than the escalator steps mainly due to the differences in their drive mechanisms and materials. Steps are driven by metal gears and chains that maintain very stable and accurate speeds. In contrast, handrails are made of rubber with some elasticity and rely on friction with tension mechanisms to move, which causes slight stretching, deformation, and occasional slipping. These factors make it difficult to keep the handrails perfectly synchronized with the steps, so handrails are intentionally adjusted to run slightly faster (usually within a tolerance of 0% to +2%) to ensure safety. The reason for making handrails slightly faster is to prevent passengers from falling backward if they rely on the handrail. If the handrail were slower than the steps, holding on to it could be dangerous. A slightly faster handrail creates a safer redundancy. Over time, friction between the handrail and drive wheels wears the wheels down, slowing the handrail slightly. Newer handrails move faster to compensate and maintain this safety margin. In summary, the speed difference arises from mechanical and safety reasons: handrails have a friction-based, elastic drive system prone to slip and wear, while steps have a more stable metal gear drive. The handrails are designed to run a bit faster than steps to reduce accident risk and compensate for natural wear and stretch in the handrail material.