25 replies to this topic

[Kwag_Myers]

I ride the elevators (lifts) at work throughout the day. Sometimes (thankfully) I get an empty one. Other times there are too many people, so I pass and call for another one. But many times I get one with one to three people on it. Here's my dilemma: should I

• go in forward and stay facing the back (which seems weird).
  
• go in forward and try to turn around without tagging someone's shin with my foot rest.
  
• back in and hope they all get out of my way.

[Ches]

Depends how much room there is, dont ya think. I tend to roll in go to back and turn around. If the elevator is small but with room enough for me I will just back in or announce that Im a horrible driver, thats how I got this way in the first place, and to watch out. No one ever cares.. Its an elevator, not a formal dinner. Who cares about etiquette.

[Califanna]

Kwag_Myers, on Apr 18 2008, 05:03 PM, said:

I ride the elevators (lifts) at work throughout the day. Sometimes (thankfully) I get an empty one. Other times there are too many people, so I pass and call for another one. But many times I get one with one to three people on it. Here's my dilemma: should I

• go in forward and stay facing the back (which seems weird).
  
• go in forward and try to turn around without tagging someone's shin with my foot rest.
  
• back in and hope they all get out of my way.

I agree with you that their is a certain etiquette when entering elevators. Further, I look at like the able-bodied walk forward then turn around, why shouldn't I be allowed to do the same. I usually just speak up and say excuse me when I make the turn.

[KarenFerguson]

Interesting poll, I never really though how other would do the whole "elevator thing".

I voted 'Forward and turn around' - although it really depends on how many people are in it. On crowded elevators I've found that I usually have to cram myself in the corner. But, if there's a bank of elevators I usually pass up the crowded ones for the next one that's empty or with very few people.

I always hate being in crowded elevators. There's always that thing where you might acknowledge another person with a little nod or a smile - but when to do that or even if you should? Or if you're far away from the buttons and someone is blocking them ... that's really annoying - then there's the whole "could you please press 3?" And you can't tell if they're annoyed they have to stop on their way to the lobby?

Meh ... Oh, I have a great elevator story! Well it's kind of annoying, but whatever:

My art building in college had one elevator. It was a clunky thing that was always breaking. The only classrooms on the second story were the interior design classes - which I needed to get to every day. Ug.

So, one day the elevator breaks and I have a project due and a presentation. I'm sitting in front of it stewing about my crappy situation while dialing the campus maintenance (they are on speed dial on my cell phone). They answer, and I'm panicked. "I need you guys to come and fix the elevator in the art building! I have a project due with a presentation." Their reply? "We have an elevator in the art building?" What the F? I thought, you guys are campus maintenance and you have no idea there's an elevator in the art building!?! I finally convince them that yes an elevator needs repairing. But man, I suppose I know whey the elevator kept breaking.

[Trinity]

Definatley forward and turn around if possible, i also like to be by the doors at the front, it's nasty being in a crowded elevator with your face at ass height, unless it was Daniel Craig's, then maybe not so bad!

[nomis]

I can't vote on this cos I do different things at different times. I usually manage a quick assessment of what is the less trouble - do I want that happening going in or out. If I'm backing in I'll usually say so. If I'm backing out it's more obvious what I'm doing. Mostly my preference is to back in cos it's easy to do a quick spin into position to block the door from closing.

[E-DOG]

[quote name='Kwag_Myers' date='Apr 18 2008, 05:03 PM' post='57651']
I ride the elevators (lifts) at work throughout the day. Sometimes (thankfully) I get an empty one. Other times there are too many people, so I pass and call for another one. But many times I get one with one to three people on it. Here's my dilemma: should I

• go in forward and stay facing the back (which seems weird).
  
• go in forward and try to turn around without tagging someone's shin with my foot rest.
  
• back in and hope they all get out of my way.

If the door opens and I find it too crowded I simply yell "fire in the building, everyone to the stairs!"
wait a sec' and roll on in, foreward n' turn around at my leisure. Works every time.
Otherwise I'll go in foreward, turn around if there arn't many passengers. Depends on each situation. Nothing worse than a loaded elevator, all them butts in yer face. Don't know about Daniel Craig, but a little flatulence from Pam Anderson might be O.K.
HEY! I'm sick, I need help, O.K.?
E-dog

[Kwag_Myers]

KarenFerguson, on Apr 19 2008, 09:09 PM, said:

Interesting poll, I never really though how other would do the whole "elevator thing".

I guess I'm still trying to get used to using a wheel chair in public. Everything I do seems awkward.

And I knew you'd have a story. The elevator at the fitness center where I do my rehab is a hydraulic. I didn't know about the bump thing that is common to hydraulic elevators. The first time I...um...well...um...almost didn't need to do my program that day.

Edited by Kwag_Myers, 21 April 2008 - 10:31 AM.

[Tim13]

One of the first two, depending on the elevator/number of people already in it/whether there's a window in back. Don't recall ever backing in, saw one too many horror movies involving elevators i guess.

[Tinbasher]

Tim13, on Apr 21 2008, 11:40 AM, said:

One of the first two, depending on the elevator/number of people already in it/whether there's a window in back. Don't recall ever backing in, saw one too many horror movies involving elevators i guess.

I now prefer not to back in after backing into one at work which was about two feet below the floor

There is one in a shopping centre near me (Kendal) which is too small to turn around in but too difficult to revers into or out of. It has doors at both ends so I actually stop off on the floor below the one I want get out, turn round , get back in and then get out frontways at the next floor!!

[qbounce]

A year ago, I was getting my pressure sore flapped, and got to spin around the hopital for a few hours a day with a WC gurny! They strapped me on top, face down, and the wheels were in front. . . not the easiest thing for a quad!! The work out room was down a flight, so I had to back into the elevator to use the buttons. They made it a POINT to tell us this, as people had gotten STUCK in there, otherwise.

[Travelling Blackbird]

In the US, I generally went in forward and turned, but the elevators were generally deeper and wider than the ones over here in Europe. Here, I usually back in.

I have noticed that I've been bordering on "elevator rage" recently: I get really cranky when I see people who "don't need the elevator" using it, especially if it means that I can't get in! On a couple of occasions I actually insisted people got out and made room, telling them I was in a hurry and that they could use the escalator.

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

Travelling Blackbird, on Feb 22 2009, 04:00 PM, said:

In the US, I generally went in forward and turned, but the elevators were generally deeper and wider than the ones over here in Europe. Here, I usually back in.

I have noticed that I've been bordering on "elevator rage" recently: I get really cranky when I see people who "don't need the elevator" using it, especially if it means that I can't get in! On a couple of occasions I actually insisted people got out and made room, telling them I was in a hurry and that they could use the escalator.

LOL, ya I can really appreciate that!...There are alot of americans who have "weight issues" and although in essence, should be taking ever opportunity to use the stairs, they don't and instead insist on using the elevator...I just got to the point where I always take the escalator, it's far faster and easier.

[Travelling Blackbird]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Feb 23 2009, 01:07 AM, said:

LOL, ya I can really appreciate that!...There are alot of americans who have "weight issues" and although in essence, should be taking ever opportunity to use the stairs, they don't and instead insist on using the elevator...I just got to the point where I always take the escalator, it's far faster and easier.

I can manage an escalator if it's not too long, but some of the ones up from the underground stations here and in London are beyond me: by the time I get halfway up, the differential in the speed of the step (slower) and the handrail (faster) has pulled me half out of the chair.

I need to work on my upper body strength and balance anyway.

Right now, I have a broken wrist, so it'll be a while before I can manage one again anyway!

[AndrewB]

If im going "down".. i always use the stairs just for fun, if im going "up" i do roll in then turn around.. i always feel so akward too. its really funny.

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

LOL, ya when your at the mall and go down the escalator backwards, the looks on peoples faces are always priceless!

[twisted_ophelia]

I go in forward and turn around. If the thing is too crowded, I wait for the next one. I've done the escalator thing in my chair as well and I've had people point and stare at me while doing it. A few months ago a friend of mine who always thought I was insane for getting on the escalator like that sent me a link to a horrible youtube video where a dude in a chair takes the worst fall down the escalator EVER. I need to see if I can find the video and post it here... it's made me rethink getting on escalators in my chair unless a friend is there with me and can stand on the lower step behind my chair and prevent me from falling. Ok, found the video...

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

Ya, seen that one before...I'm astonished he did'nt break his neck on that second roll over, when I saw how hard he hit that step my back spasm'd big time!

[wheeliebear75]

I go in forward then turn around unless the elevator is to full then I tend to go in forward and face the back, I don't have enough peripheral visions to back up very well without running over toes.

[Travelling Blackbird]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Feb 23 2009, 02:25 AM, said:

LOL, ya when your at the mall and go down the escalator backwards, the looks on peoples faces are always priceless!

In Germany, they'll go so far as to come over and tell you "You can't ride the escalator, it's not safe!" and even stop you getting on. There's a big sense of social "keeping order" here - people criticize you if you cross the road when the pedestrian light is red or turning red, and so on.

wheeliebear75, on Feb 23 2009, 08:06 AM, said:

I go in forward then turn around unless the elevator is to full then I tend to go in forward and face the back, I don't have enough peripheral visions to back up very well without running over toes.

I figure people can see me backing in and get their feet out of the way.

[twisted_ophelia]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Feb 23 2009, 12:23 AM, said:

Ya, seen that one before...I'm astonished he did'nt break his neck on that second roll over, when I saw how hard he hit that step my back spasm'd big time!

Yeah, I know! I think about that video now every time I even see an escalator. Seriously. That guy was so lucky he didn't even knock himself out cold.

[silone74]

That guy was lucky he was already in a chair or he might have ended up in one after that LMAO

Div.

I go in and turn around i make people move so i can spin around at the end of the day they have perfectly good legs and the stairs are normally right next to the lift.


Si

[HiltonP]

Wheel in with your back to the door, and when they close behind you, look up and say
"Wouldn't it be nice if the elevator got stuck and we all had the chance to get to know
one another better". After the next stop you'll have the elevator all to yourself!

[carole338]

Go in and turn around. If I run over a toe or two, well, they should have seen me comming.

[meadow]

i wont even get in if anyone else is in it, im so emberassed.

[JustJayde]

I tend to roll in forward and just face the back, swinging around in my current chair just does not work in that tight space. I also try to wait for empty or nearly empty elevators.