Elevator Etiquette

So much thought goes into an elevator ride. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?

Let’s take a glimpse into the elevators at the Cathedral of Learning or Alumni Hall at the University of Pittsburgh – unfortunately two examples of “no thought”. No one waits for riders to disembark; they simply stand in front of the elevator blocking the way. Students, carrying ridiculously large backpacks, take up three people spaces. No one moves when the elevator stops to let those in the back get off. Seldom does anyone offer to push buttons for those who can’t reach. This is BAD elevator etiquette.

Now let’s visit the elevators at the USX Tower or 2 PNC Plaza. Orderly, organized, with a freestanding hand sanitizer dispenser! Certain elevators go only to blocks of floors like 1-14 or 34-55 – Imagine a rocket ride to the 52nd floor at 8:10 a.m. Who needs Starbucks after that experience? People waiting for an elevator form a line so that those who need to get off of the newly arrived elevator have room to do so. While the elevator could certainly hold more, only six people get on giving each person space. (I squeezed in as number seven this morning and was given quite a glare.) AND men wait for women to get on first and get off first - imagine that!

Naturally, there is room for improvement in both elevator illustrations. In each model of elevator etiquette, I found one thing to be true: No one talks to each other. What is up with that?! At Pitt, whenever I found myself in the elevators with prospective students and their parents, I simply started asking questions of the group: Where are you from? What do you like about Pitt? Do you have your dorm assignment? Before the ride was over, everyone had participated and people were smiling. If the elevator was filled with current students, I’d simply start asking about mid terms or finals or I’d resort to the tried and true “What about this rain” statement. With little effort, people responded.

Downtown elevator riders are slightly more advanced socially. They will smile shyly, or nod to those they know. They will talk to the person immediately next to them. However, they could improve … and that’s my mission. I vow to talk to an elevator group at least once a day. It should be a very interesting experiment. Either I will make new friends… or people will avoid the “crazy lady who talks to people” in the elevator. Bets anyone?