Escalators in Valparaiso, Chile

unesco 2003

Transport to a city, same like breakfast to a person. That means transport system is very significant for a city. Most of cities around the world have some common transport system, such as public bus, metro lines, light rails. However, as the city icon of Valparaiso, escalators play the important role for Valparaiso. 

unesco 2003

Before introducing these escalators, I should talk about the background of why Valparaiso need escalators. Valparaiso is city with more high level hillsides than plain. With increasing population trend, narrow plain area cannot offer enough extra space for new born people. Also, last post has already mentioned that after the earthquake in 1730, people decided to move on the hills to avoid harms from earthquake. However, the slope of hills is very steep, people cannot get their homes from hill foot easily. At the same time, not many cars appear. Therefore, local government planned to build some public transport system for residents from Hills. After that, the escalators formed in Valparaiso in order to help people get home from city centre beyond steep and dangerous stairways.  

Valparaiso used to have 30 escalators during previous time. By contrast, 15 keep remain. The ownership of escalators should be separated by public owned and private owned. During present day, escalators are not only for local people transport from the hill foot to their houses, also the tourist point for visitors to feel the real Valparaiso.

chilevalparaiso 2014

Concepcion Elevator is the oldest escalator in Valparaiso, which was inaugurated in 1883. Generally. escalators have two wooden or metal cars, moving simultaneously in opposite directions. They are mounted on a platform to which are attached the wheels.

In my opinion, escalators are very useful in Valparaiso, it can overcome the problems from hills for people. However, local government has to maintain these systems regularly and upgrade the speed of escalators to become more efficient for people. 

unesco 2003