High Rise Life: Elevator Etiquette

Good elevator etiquette is abstaining from wearing cologne or perfume, or at least not applying it within a half hour of riding. You may not be able to smell it, but your elevator mates can!

I was once in the elevator when a couple got in and, rather than turn around to face the doors and watch the floor numbers change as is typical elevator procedure, they simply stood with their backs to the closing doors and looked at everyone else already in the elevator for the entire ride.

The most important rule is, don’t take the elevator if you’re only going one floor (especially DOWN one floor!) unless you are visibly burdened or handicapped.

Most of the other elevator rules are simply matters of applying the usual American social customs to the elevator setting. There’s no “elevator” rule about strong cologne, or facing the wrong way, or letting your dog jump on strangers. These are social rules that you should be following everywhere, anytime you’re around unfamiliar people.

I don’t initiate conversation with neighbors, even ones I know quite well, if they are playing with their smart phones. At best, depending on the person, I give the wave and the mimed “hi”. My personal rule is if they aren’t too distracted to talk they’ll initiate…

I’d say that if someone in the elevator offers to press the button for you (as in asking you “What floor?”), the correct reponse should be the floor number, followed by a please or thanks. It’s surprising how many people forget their manners.

I don’t mind smelling all the nice cologne and perfume out there but…

…Please don’t take the elvator immediately after running 20 miles or working out. If you’re that motivated to exercise, then you should be smart enough to save some energy at the end to take the stairs back to your floor.

Can I get an AMEN?!!

If I just ran 20 miles you bet I’m going to be taking the elevator up 7 floors… maybe you should be the one taking the stairs with your donuts and coffee.

In my building we can’t take the stairs up or down between floors. So we can’t, like, take the stairs from floor 5 to floor 3, or from the lobby up to 6. We can only take them down to the lobby.

DO NOT board the car unless you are sure no one is getting off on your floor.

This is probably my biggest pet peeve when riding an elevator. There is a maintenance guy in my building who stands right in the door and immediately boards the elevator the moment the doors open. One of these days I’m going to walk right into him. Idiots!

If I just ran 20 miles you bet I’m going to be taking the elevator up 7 floors… maybe you should be the one taking the stairs with your donuts and coffee.

a little full of ourselves, aren’t we? I guess you don’t have any older people or children in your building – or something.

When I come in all sweaty from running or working out, I at least have the common courtesy to wait for the next elevator if the first one is crowded. Somewhere along the way someone (who I’m sure doesn’t live in DC) must have taught me the very silly idea that it *all* isn’t about me

My biggest issue is when people on other floors start walking into the elevator before they let anyone else exit it. Its very similar to the Metro experience where basic courtesies have been forgotten in regards to boarding the train.

“a little full of ourselves, aren’t we? I guess you don’t have any older people or children in your building – or something.”

Actually Andy, I thought this person was a little full of themselves: “Please don’t take the elvator immediately after running 20 miles or working out. If you’re that motivated to exercise, then you should be smart enough to save some energy at the end to take the stairs back to your floor. Can I get an AMEN?!!”

Hopefully we can ride in the same elevator together, I’ll be the sweaty guy who ran 20 miles that smells like roses.

I never realized there are all these pent up emotions about fellow elevator riders and etiquette. Chill out people… You’re almost home!

I can’t stand when people hurl themselves into a closing door so they can enter the elevator. It’s obnoxious and causes everyone in the elevator to be delayed because the person couldn’t wait for the next lift.

HA Anonymous – you’re right LOL

I see nothing in regards to breaking wind. That happened to me today. (I didn’t pass it, thank you!) An older woman entered my elevator and when she turned to press the button, a little freep escaped.

I personally wouldn’t do something like that because I believe it’s not proper etiquette. But my question is, would it be inappropriate to laugh? I sure wanted to.

Douglas: I don’t think it would be inappropriate to laugh or hold your nose.

Wow … who would have thought that those 2 minutes of your day can be so annoying.

You’re right MB.

Just shows that there are an abundance of people that complain about nearly anything.

Come on, people! Nobody breaks wind on an elevator on purpose. Yes, some people are just lazy and won’t walk stairs (if they are allowed per building rules) – but many people can’t do things that they outwardly seem to be able to do. Nobody stinks so much after exercising that they impact the others on an elevator ride. If they do, they stunk BEFORE they broke a sweat! Chill everyone, Chill!

I’ve often wondered if the elevator could be calibrated to go to the top floor requested first, and then downwards, so that the lazy people taking the elevator to the second floor would be discouraged. But I guess that would be unfair to handicapped or disabled persons living on those floors.