Elevator Common Sense

I work in downtown Oakland, in a high-rise building. Don't know if you consider 27 stories a high-rise, but it probably is by Oakland standards. Being in such a structure, I take the elevator twice every single day, at the very least. Once going up to my office in the morning, and once going down at the end of the day. I lived in Manhattan, too, many years ago, and that place is a concrete jungle, with as many elevators as you can imagine.

Because riding an elevator is more on an exception rather than a norm in Oakland, compared to NYC, I guess some people do not really understand the dynamics or etiquette (aka COMMON SENSE) as far as elevator riding is concerned. If you are looking for a book called, Elevator Riding for Dummies, you wouldn't find one. You actually do not need one. All you need to do is use your common sense.

Why do people insist on standing at the front part of the elevator if they know they will be one of the last ones to get out? And vice versa. Why go all the way to the back if you'll be the first to get off?

Holding the door open so someone can get in quickly is fine, but to hold it long enough so your friend who's running from the rest room can make it in is a no-no. What's worse is if you don't even apologize to the rest of the passengers for holding them up.

And what about those who have these bags on wheels for their laptops and other stuff? At the very least, please retract those handles and pull in those bags closer to you so others can get in. For those that insist on getting in with hardly any space left, I suggest you wait and take the next elevator. If you're impatient, take the stairs.

Not all elevator riders left their brains somewhere else. I'd smile when someone offers to press the button when someone else's hands are full, or say "thank you" when the door is briefly held open for a passenger to get in. And there are those who'd step out of the elevator on their own to let those from the back get off.

Riding an elevator is not rocket science. All you need is plain ol' common sense.