To automatically search a given step by providing a reading means provided for an immovable escalator body for reading an identification mark provided for a step, and a searching means that searches a desired step based on the read identification signal and stops it to a given position.

Bar code labels 20 as identification marks provided for all steps 4 are read by a bar code reader 21 as a reading means arranged on an immovable escalator body. Based on the read identification signal, a searching control device 22 as a searching means searches a desired step 4 and stops it to a given position. In other words, first, an input device 26 of the searching control device 22 sets the step 4 to be searched. Then, an escalator is operated, the bar code reader 21 identifies the bar code labels 20 one by one, and it is compared with whether each of them matches with the identification signal of the desired step 4. Finally, if matching, a driving device 9 is controlled to stop the operation of the escalator.