system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do escalators have bristles on the sides?
gpt
The bristles are called shirt brushes. The sides of escalators that the steps ride agenst are called scirts.  The scirts brushes are there to gently nudge your feet or any other part of your body away from the scirts.  That aria is varry easy to get a body part stuck in, and then sucked into the unit causing great bodily harm. in the trade escalators have a nick name of meat grinders. They do not care. They will suck you up in no time. That being said. Newer units have multiple safety switches to stop the unit wares older units do not. But they will still hurt you badly befor they stop. Always be careful and vigulant. Stay away from the sides and comb plates ( pokey thing at top and bottom the mesh with the steps usually yellow.)  Don't let you child play on them and don't take strollers walkers canes or crutches. If you are unbalanced use the elevator. If there's escalators there will be an elevator.


Tldr: the bristles are scirts brushes to kean you away from sides. They are there to help keep you safe.