Pilot Snapshot
The Beltways M5 accelerator was piloted at First Financial Center in Cincinnati, bringing faster pedestrian movement to an existing building without structural modifications. The 120-foot system was installed and commissioned in just 2.5 days.
Four Key Takeaways
Passenger satisfaction
Pilot survey
Speed profile
Entry
Accelerate
Top Speed
Decelerate
Exit
Beltways speed
Up to five times faster than a conventional moving walkway
Operating speed
5 mph in private demos
2.5 days
Install time
Installation and commissioning
0
Recorded incidents
No incidents were recorded as venue employees and event visitors used the M5.
From Site to Passenger Rides
The pilot occupied the convention center’s Level 2 skybridge, connecting the south Fifth Street lobbies with the meeting rooms.
01 · Site Evaluation
Beltways surveyed the floor, confirmed power, and checked the route from the loading dock to the skybridge. The evaluation accounted for changes in floor elevation along and across the installation.
02 · Unloading
The M5 arrived in modules on three trucks. The team unloaded the modules and moved them to the Level 2 skybridge, where they were staged for installation.
03 · Roll & Connect
The team connected and leveled the modules above the existing carpeted floor, then commissioned the system and completed operational checks. Unloading, installation, and commissioning took 2.5 days, without a pit or structural modifications.
04 · Approval
For the First Financial Center pilot, Beltways submitted an alternative design approach to Ohio’s elevator inspector, with documentation covering the M5’s design and safety features. Following visits by the elevator and electrical inspectors, the installation was soon approved for operation and public access.
05 · Open to the Public
The M5 served venue employees and event visitors. Entry LED pillars displayed “Walk on to start system” for motion-activated entry, while display content could be tailored to each event.
Rider Experience
Children, working-age adults, and older visitors rode the M5, in everything from business attire to costumes. Their reactions and feedback gave Beltways a view of the rider experience alongside the operating data, helping inform future installations.
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From Novelty to Utility
This installation of America’s first accelerator served as a major step from novelty to utility. The pilot at First Financial Center gave Beltways experience with installation and operation in a public space, as well as first-hand rider feedback – a practical starting point for bringing accelerating walkway travel to other existing spaces.
