The Moving Walkway Is Ending

This episode of 99% Invisible explores the history of moving walkways, from their initial conception as a form of mass urban transportation in the late 19th century to their current, more limited use in airports. The podcast traces the evolution of the moving walkway through various iterations and failed implementations, highlighting key figures like Alfred Speer and companies like Goodyear, and also examines the reasons for their decline, including the changing nature of airports as retail spaces and the inherent limitations of the technology. The episode concludes with a discussion of science fiction depictions of moving walkways and ongoing efforts to create faster, more efficient versions of this technology.