Elevator Etiquiette 101

Ok so I've been thinking of writing this post now for about 6 months, but thought I'd give people a bit of time to prove to me that they know proper elevator etiquette. But I realize it has to be written to benefit all elevator users.

RULES FOR ELEVATOR ETIQUIETTE

1. Do not shove your body (or any part thereof) between the closing elevator doors for the following reasons:

• If you are not familiar with the particular elevator, you don't know how merciless it is, and it may not stop regardless of the presence of your limb.
• Look around. There are other elevators. If you wait for another, you may even get to your floor faster.

2. Do not shove the body (or any part thereof) of another person between the closing elevator doors. *ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE PUSHING THIS PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR WITH THEIR LEG IN A CAST STICKING STRAIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF THEM. They are already injured enough. Although perhaps this is how the injury happened.

3. If you are waiting for the elevator, do not stand IMMEDIATELY in front of the doors. People may be inside the elevator wanting to get out on the floor you are waiting on, and they cannot get out if you are blocking the way. Allow people to exit before you enter. *This is especially important if you are waiting on the MAIN FLOOR for an elevator. Everyone gets out here. Please give them room.

4. Try to stifle your coughing. Use proper coughing etiquette (cough and/or sneeze into the crook of your elbow) instead of letting those puppies go airborne. Other nor particularly pleasant bodily functions are best done before or after your ride.

5. Choose ONE floor where you would like to go. Do not press the button until you are sure you're getting off there.

6. Do not press the "door open" button if you see people coming in the distance. They can get the next one. Yes, you're being courteous to them by holding the door, but you are being un-courteous to the rest of the people in the elevator who have places to go. Besides, by the time that person gets inside, there will be another one in the distance you'll have to wait for. This cycle repeats until the elevator is full.

7. Don't joke about there being "too much weight" in the elevator to a pregnant lady (the class "Manners 101" is coming soon).

8. If there is a lineup for the elevators, for heavens sake do not waltz to the front of the line. Wait like everyone else.

9. If you're not sick, and not injured, do not take the elevator ONE floor (provided the stairwells are open to the public, which they are not in my building so you get a pass on this rule in the building where I work).

10. Get off the phone before you get it. Have you not seen the commercials? Most cell phones do not work in the elevator so do not be surprised if you hear a chorus of "no duhh" when you exclaim with disgust that your cell phone dropped the call.

Stay tuned for Class 201.