That narrow channel running alongside staircases is often a bicycle wheel ramp, designed to help cyclists roll their bikes up or down without carrying them.The grooved track guides the bicycle’s tires while the person walks beside it, making stairs easier to navigate.These ramps are commonly found near footbridges, train stations, and pedestrian paths where full-sized ramps may not fit.
However, not every narrow channel serves this purpose; some are drainage gutters, so the width and design can help reveal its true function.