Moving walks are basically limited to horizontal movements and vertical rises of 5° or less. A moving ramp may have a vertical rise of 15° or less. The moving walk or ramp should be considered if large objects have to be moved quickly and efficiently or for wheelchair passenger movement.

These devices eliminate congestion along hallways and force larger movement between points. Moving walks and ramps can have faster movements than escalators which are limited to either 27 to 36m/minute. Some moving walks can travel at speeds of up to 54m per minute and up to 5° of rise.

Some moving walks and ramps are identical to escalator construction, with horizontal steps. Hence, all components are identical. Others are based on conveyor-belt construction techniques. These have moving walk and ramp components similar to the escalator except that steps are replaced with a continuous belt.

The belting must be grooved to move through the comb-plate assembly at the ingress and ingress points of the walkway or ramp. Debris must be continuously removed from the belt to prevent jamming at the comb-plate assemblies. Belt tension must be continuously adjusted because of belt expansion.

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When these moving walks are used outside, the introduction of soil from the environment is a continuous maintenance concern. Soil collects at the drive sheave and at the idler rollers (sheaves) and results in excessive belt and sheave wear or in slippage. This soil must be periodically removed. Belt replacement is a very expensive therefore maintenance requirements should be adopted strictly.

One has two moving walks to move potential customers from the street to the hotel; both move passengers to the hotel. Environmental soil, especially blowing sand, results in a continual maintenance cleaning requirement.

The walkway and ramp systems ware originally designed as open systems, but the system has to be enclosed to reduce the blowing sand effects. Soil is still introduced because of foot traffic to the system.