An improved flexible drive assembly for escalators and moving walks is provided. The improved drive assembly includes a substantially horizontally disposed motor. The drive assembly of the present invention further includes a substantially horizontally disposed single-stage worm gear input shaft arranged perpendicularly with a main step band sprocket shaft. The worm gear input shaft, in turn, drives a horizontal output shaft disposed in parallel fashion to the main step band sprocket shaft. One or more drive chains each link corresponding output shaft gears with corresponding main drive sprocket gears disposed on the main step band sprocket shaft. Step chain sprockets of larger diameter than the main drive sprockets are disposed adjacent to and inwardly of a corresponding main drive sprocket. These step band sprockets engage the step band and drive it about its endless path.