Social Etiquette Tip of the Week - Going Up?

[Maria Brady]

Who would have thought that the simple act of riding an elevator would actually require rules?

Good elevator etiquette is mostly common sense, but being aware of it will make your elevator rides more pleasant. If you work or live in a building with an elevator, you're bound to run into the same people all the time…and you certainly don't want to make elevator enemies.

There are three separate components to elevator etiquette: boarding, riding, and disembarking.

Boarding
I live in a building with elevators and it never ceases to astound me how often people stand right in front of the doors to board and rush forward as soon as the doors open, oblivious that there are people who need to exit. The polite thing to do is to stand to the right of the door and allow the passengers to exit before you enter. DO NOT board the car unless you are sure no one is getting off on your floor. If there is someone exiting, allow them to clear the door before attempting to board.

If the building is very busy, with long waits for the elevator, consider whether or not you should really be riding the elevator. If you are only traveling one or two floors, taking the stairs is more polite, unless of course you are handicapped, pushing a stroller, or carrying heavy packages.

Riding
Once on the elevator, always stand facing the door. Some etiquette experts strongly recommend standing as close to a wall or corner as possible to make room for other riders. You should stand near the back of the elevator if you are going to a higher floor, and stay toward the front if you plan to get off soon. If you choose to stand near the buttons, be prepared to be asked to push buttons for other elevator riders.

Step aside for people getting off the elevator, and be sure not to block the door when the elevator stops.

You'll undoubtedly encounter a crowded elevator where it's all you can do to find a spot to stand let alone get near the button to choose your floor. It's perfectly acceptable to ask someone to press the button for your floor.

Disembarking
If you are trapped in the back of a crowded elevator and you need to get off, call out “my floor” to alert other riders to the fact that you wish to get off, and move slowly through the crowd. If you see someone struggling to get off an elevator, you may want to step out to make room, and then step back in.

The bottom line is that courtesy is king and as long as you are friendly and polite, and treat others the way you would want to be treated, you will never breach elevator etiquette.

[Val Filipski]

Amen, Maria!
I think we can simply sum it up as "treat others as you wish to be treated". Even something as simple as a smile when you step onto an elevator can change the mood of everyone there.

Please, thanks, excuse me, sorry are words that folks sometimes forget to say in "cattle car" conditions.