Elevator Surfing - A Deadly Form of Joyriding
Elevator surfing is an activity involving moving around on top of elevators, or jumping between moving elevators where possible.
Elevator surfing is illegal in most locations and very dangerous. Several people have died elevator surfing. Surfers can be crushed between the elevator and the top, sides, or bottom of the shaft, be struck by the counterweight, or simply slip or be knocked off and fall to their deaths.
Elevator surfing typically occurs in skyscrapers or on college campuses, especially those with tall buildings. Most large buildings have groups of elevators close together, which are most commonly used.
To begin, participants will usually go into such a building early in the morning, before too many of the people with valid reasons to be in the building arrive to use the elevators. Once in an elevator, they hold the elevator between floors and open the safety hatch. They then climb on top, release the emergency switch, and pull the last person out.
Another method of entry involves opening the exterior doors on the floor above the elevator, and jumping on from there. Doors are either forced or opened with an elevator key. While easier to execute, this is uncommon unless no others are nearby. Such an entry typically occurs while the building is closed. This typically means there isn't much movement with the elevators, which lowers the risk and involvement. Accomplices will sometimes press buttons on the inside of the elevators to provide the movement. Movement can also be provided by means of service controls located on top of the elevator car. Source
Watch Elevator Surfing (full speed) on YouTube
Elevator Surfing (full speed)
I'm on the top of a relatively fast(by that, I mean about 2.8mph/4.5kph) elevator (TKE 40hp traction with MCE VFD ctrl) while my friend operates it from inside. We got bored with the slowness using the car top inspection station, so we took turns riding the top. This is what it is like to be on the top while it is moving at full speed. That thing you see briefly on the right side at 7 seconds is a counter weight that weighs like 2 tons.(a giant version of weight lifting machine weights) Elevators Tampering with elevators can create life-threatening situations if you suck at elevator surfing. Students who ride the tops of elevators or tamper with their functioning and dumb enough to get caught by RAs will be subject to well deserved severe disciplinary action. Obviously getting hit by the counter weight is harmful like getting hit by a car and I'm aware that someone will post safety blurb in my comments)
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Watch Video: How to Drive the Elevator From the Top
Elevator surfing: how to drive the elevator from the top
This video is provided for informational and entertainment purpose only. search flickr under 'elevatorsurfing' for more information Don't actually do it if you're not qualified and authorized to do so. @@@ Entering the shaft: wire trick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX-ow0nJmGs If the door is fitted with a sleeve meant to frustrate elevator surfing, you need to construct a drop key. See my elevator interlock model: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF9AqDq2LEU ***IMPORTANT*** #1 reach in and activate the stop switch. Elevator is now disabled, so you can step in and position your crew inside. #2. Turn on the light, then close the outside door behind you. Keep your self as low as you can. Keep hair, clothing and anything away from the edges, rollers and all moving parts. #3. Place the switch inspect mode. Put the stop switch back to run. #4. You can now control the elevator by holding in a "run" or "safety" button and up or down button at the same time. Yay. It will move very slow though. #5. If you want a full speed adventure, put it back in normal mode and have a friend push buttons inside the cab. #6. ****IMPORTANT***** to exit, send the elevator anywhere but the very top level. Once its stopped, put the stop switch to stop, the other switch to "normal". Lift up on the rod behind the door to open. Put the switch back to run while you/friend hold the door open. Exit the shaft and make sure the elevator functions normally
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Watch Another Elevator Surfing Video on YouTube
Elevator surfing (Montgomery KONE)
Sorry, but audio and video are out of sync for some reason :( Once you're on top of the cab in the elevator shaft, you can take control of the elevator cab using a switch box, also known as "car top inspection station" in the industry. Very useful for urban exploration.
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Elevator Surfing in the News!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byRead Blog Posts About Elevator Surfing
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Elevator Surfing Link List
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Elevator Photos on Flickr
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