It probably sounded like a civilized solution to the increasingly congested New York City of the 19th century: to ease crowded streets, “moving sidewalks” or “moving platforms” would be built underground.
The idea was first proposed in 1871, then more seriously in 1902 for the Brooklyn Bridge.
Widely debated in newspapers at the time, it went no where: Mayor Seth Low killed the project.
But it popped back up again around 1910, this time as a network of moving sidewalks at a top speed of about 10 miles per hour that would replace the new subway system.
So why didn’t the idea fly? Perhaps the subway companies had too much political clout to let it happen. Or maybe subterranean roller coaster cars didn’t move people as efficiently as a subway car could.
In the end, the idea kind of lives on—inside city airport terminals.
Tags: 19th century New York City, Brooklyn bridge, congested streets of New York City, Moving sidewalks, Seth Low, strange inventions, transportation in New York City
March 8, 2010 at 5:22 pm |
Reminds me of the underground streets of Chicago. They were pretty scary.
March 8, 2010 at 8:50 pm |
“the speed will be from 5 to 9 miles per hour.”
sounds like a pleasant activity!
March 10, 2010 at 1:22 am |
Perhaps this was where Walt Disney found his inspiration for the Peoplemover (which consequently is installed at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and an airport in Texas).
April 27, 2011 at 2:07 am |
[...] The moving sidewalks dreamed up in 1871 and then again in 1910 also never came to fruition. [...]
April 12, 2013 at 1:31 am |
[...] few examples? Moving sidewalks in Mahattan, a subway tunnel to Staten Island, a bridge spanning 125th Street to New Jersey, and 100-story [...]