One day there was an elevator repairman working in the lobby, so it was the the perfect time to ask a question that vexed me: Hey, about that close door button — does it really work?
For years I’ve watched as people furiously push the close door button on the elevators in my building. This always seemed odd, especially on the way up. Are you really in that big a hurry to get to your office? Good for you, you eager beaver!
He was happy to talk elevators. “Oh, it works — but only when the elevator is in manual mode, like when the fire department is operating it. These doors are timed, and there’s nothing you do can make them close more quickly.” He went on to explain that it assures the elevators are accessible.
This is due to rules in the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 that established standards for how long the door should stay open to accommodate folks with mobility issues. You can’t just override that and make the door shut faster, and this button does not do what many people assume it does.
Nevertheless, it’s interesting to watch people press that button. For some folks it must be satisfying to push a button and see the door shut, even if in truth they did not cause it to close. To others, it may feel like a tiny space in their lives where they can exert some control over the universe. I get that. Either way, I will keep my mouth shut. Nobody likes a know it all.