Going Up?
Learning Elevator Etiquette
Anna Hindman
Issue date: 1/21/10 Section: Opinion
Kansas Wesleyan University has several buildings with more than three floors in at least two of them. Peter Science Hall has five floors that the elevator ascends to and Pioneer Hall has four floors with three floors that the elevator ascends. Elevators are sufficient for many reasons and convenience is only one of them. Here are some common-courtesy rules that I found on elevator etiquette, as well as some personal tid-bits and stories of my own experiences.
First, elevators are essential, especially for a campus that has multiple floors. It not only is convenient, but is a must for someone carrying something with their arms full and also for a disabled person like myself that cannot climb several flights of stairs in a limited amount of time. Before I get into the details of elevator etiquette, I would like to share a few of my own mishaps with elevators.
Now for Elevator Experience Theatre! The experiences I have had with getting on and riding the elevator are somewhat strange and also quite rude. In case anyone did not know, I have a black lab service dog that you will see me with on and around campus. I am very grateful that KWU has elevators because I am not able to utilize several flights of stairs quickly. Also having one arm already used with the dog, I only have one arm free anyway. Well, I had ten minutes to get from one class to another and the elevator was and is the fastest and best way to get to another floor. I normally make pretty good time, but happening often, I get to the elevator and push the down button and when the door opens, the person inside either does not come out or keeps me from coming inside. More than once when I got into the elevator, the person who had just come out had pushed all of the buttons and the elevator took me to every floor before returning me to the floor I needed. Another issue is getting out of the elevator, which one would not think that to be very difficult, but it is most certainly harder than it seems. This is because getting out of the elevator when someone is standing right outside the door and will not move just a little so that it is easier to get out. Not to mention the rudeness and comments made by those standing there and not moving. However, enough of the story-telling and experiences, because the proper and most accepted rules for elevator etiquette are quite simple and are as follows.
Finally, elevator etiquette is quite easy. Disabled persons or persons with age or walking disabilities should be the first allowed on the elevator. Those carrying something heavy should also have the opportunity to use the elevator. Also, people waiting should step aside a little and let those inside out before entering the elevator. It is also rude and is accepted to refrain from comments and foolishly pushing every button.
Now, you might like to know where you can find some of these rules just in case you do not take my word for it. I did not just pull my information out of the sky, but I actually did research and found some very good websites. Here they are:
www.wisegeek.com
www.elevatorrules.com
First, elevators are essential, especially for a campus that has multiple floors. It not only is convenient, but is a must for someone carrying something with their arms full and also for a disabled person like myself that cannot climb several flights of stairs in a limited amount of time. Before I get into the details of elevator etiquette, I would like to share a few of my own mishaps with elevators.
Now for Elevator Experience Theatre! The experiences I have had with getting on and riding the elevator are somewhat strange and also quite rude. In case anyone did not know, I have a black lab service dog that you will see me with on and around campus. I am very grateful that KWU has elevators because I am not able to utilize several flights of stairs quickly. Also having one arm already used with the dog, I only have one arm free anyway. Well, I had ten minutes to get from one class to another and the elevator was and is the fastest and best way to get to another floor. I normally make pretty good time, but happening often, I get to the elevator and push the down button and when the door opens, the person inside either does not come out or keeps me from coming inside. More than once when I got into the elevator, the person who had just come out had pushed all of the buttons and the elevator took me to every floor before returning me to the floor I needed. Another issue is getting out of the elevator, which one would not think that to be very difficult, but it is most certainly harder than it seems. This is because getting out of the elevator when someone is standing right outside the door and will not move just a little so that it is easier to get out. Not to mention the rudeness and comments made by those standing there and not moving. However, enough of the story-telling and experiences, because the proper and most accepted rules for elevator etiquette are quite simple and are as follows.
Finally, elevator etiquette is quite easy. Disabled persons or persons with age or walking disabilities should be the first allowed on the elevator. Those carrying something heavy should also have the opportunity to use the elevator. Also, people waiting should step aside a little and let those inside out before entering the elevator. It is also rude and is accepted to refrain from comments and foolishly pushing every button.
Now, you might like to know where you can find some of these rules just in case you do not take my word for it. I did not just pull my information out of the sky, but I actually did research and found some very good websites. Here they are:
www.wisegeek.com
www.elevatorrules.com
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