I always thought people exiting a door always have the right of way?

Question

Be it on a bus, train or building, I have noticed people entering often try to push their way past people exiting. I was trying to get off the subway train, and this woman getting on blocked my exit, saying EXCUSE ME!!, assuming she had the right of way. What do you think- doesn't ettiquite dictate that people waiting to enter should *WAIT* until all people have finished exiting, rather than push by them?

Answer 1

That lady is an idiot! How is there going to be room for new passengers if the old ones haven't gotten off? You could say "I'm trying to leave ma'am" and leave it at that. She sounds incredibly stupid.

Answer 2

People exiting a bus, train, or elevator have the right of way. Since time is of the essence (doors will be closing) and room is limited, this is the most efficient way to get everyone off and make room for those waiting to get on. Neither of these conditions exists when exiting a building, however, so etiquette would dictate holding a door for a less agile older person or someone whose arms are full even if she is entering and you are exiting. In this case you were in the right and the woman was literally 'pushy'.

Answer 3

Exiting people *should* have the right of way, but it is just a good rule of thumb to always give the other person the right of way in situations where there is that little "dance" of who goes first. It's just polite.

As far as what happened on the train goes, sometimes people are in a rush, or had a bad day and you just happened to have been the one she ended up rude to. Not nice and not fair, but still the same, at least you only spent a few seconds with her. If she really is horrible all the time, just think about those that spend more time with her on a daily basis.

Try to enjoy the rest of your day!

Answer 4

Well those exiting have the right of way 99% of the time. If there is like a fire on the bus and a firefighter is trying to get on, that may be an exception. But normally, no, the people getting off the bus or going out have the right of way. This is like people who walk on the left side of the sidewalk in the US. STOOOOPID. It works the same way traffic flows people! Drive on the right = walk on the right.

Answer 5

I'd never heard of it in a building, but for trains and busses it's just common sense. If the people entering would get on first, often there just wouldn't be any room at all, and even when it's not rush hour we'd have to pass eachother in the narrow pathway in between the seats rather than on the platform where there's much more open space.

Answer 6

I agree that people exiting have the right of way and should be allowed to go first. Also, that way they can then in turn hold the door they just exited out of for the person that is going to enter.

Answer 7

I was never taught this but I reasoned it like a crowded restaurant. You can;t get a table until people finish and leave. People can't get off the train, if people are pushing them back in.

Answer 8

I was also taught that the person exiting has the right of way. The lady was out of line.

Answer 9

I don't know if it's etiquette, but it certainly is common sense to wait for people to get off a train or an elevator before you get on, because there's then more room for you.

Answer 10

The woman was being rude she should wait until those people on the train get off. I would have said yes mam I will if you would please excuse me first so that I can remove my self off this train.