Is standing up for children on public transport now the norm?

FizzleSticks · 15-04-2016 05:20PM

This post has been deleted.

pickarooney · 15-04-2016 05:35PM

Cathy.C wrote: »

There's a sign on the Luas, beside the two double seats that face each other, which is an outlined silhouette of two adults and two kids (of around ten or eleven) and it says something along the lines of 'Please vacate these seats for families'.

On your bike. Would give up my seat for adults with children of around five or below, but not fecking ten or eleven year olds.

You can tell the age of a silhouette? That's some profiling skill.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 16-04-2016 09:24AM

FizzleSticks wrote: »

If they're too young to stand they can sit on their guardians lap.

If they're too old to sit on their guardians lap they can stand.

This issue of children standing and holding onto the rail reminds me of other things like learning how to cross the road on your own as a child and minding the gap getting onto a train. You can't keep lifting the child up onto the train until they're 8, at some point children have to learn how to mind their own safety under supervision.

I agree. I know it's a different world now but I think you can go too far in protecting kids. I know teenagers, living in Dublin who have never been on a bus on their own.

uck51js9zml2yt · 16-04-2016 09:31AM

Kenny Putrid Tux wrote: »

I agree. I know it's a different world now but I think you can go too far in protecting kids. I know teenagers, living in Dublin who have never been on a bus on their own.

And rightly so. They'd probably end up throwing bottles out of the top window at pedestrians!

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 16-04-2016 10:01AM

Does anyone remember the days of bus conductors? They were brilliant at putting manners on kids, making them stand up for adults etc.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 16-04-2016 10:39AM

Oh stop if they did it now they'd have their faces splashed on social media and shared around by mummy's to special snowflakes

Mint Sauce · 16-04-2016 10:47AM

I was taught from a young age to stand for the elderly and pregnant mothers.

As an adult I will still of course stand for elderly and anyone appearing to be stuggling, and if they appear pregnant. The are the pregnant or just obese, is a bit of a tightrope though.

Kids, if able to walk without wobbling, then no. Unless the parent asks me.

Parky2 · 16-04-2016 10:54AM

These kids who need seats, do they sit somewhere when they are waiting for the bus?

wokingvoter · 16-04-2016 11:35AM

Parky2 wrote: »

These kids who need seats, do they sit somewhere when they are waiting for the bus?

I think that the idea is that the bus/tram lurches about so badly that for safety reasons some parents feel they should be seated.
As a child in London we travelled on the tube quite regularly from the second last stop on the District line all the way into the city centre. I think it was about 23 stops
There were always seats when we got on but it was absolutely hammered into us that we had to get up at every stop just in case an adult either wanted or needed our seats. We could sit down again if the didn't
We were all 3 of us nearly always clinging to a bar by the time we got to Bromley by Bow
We weren't allowed to lurch around either, in case we barged into somebody. We had to cling to the bar.
Punishment for lurching was swift and severe!
Happy days!

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 29-11-2016 02:07PM

Digs wrote: »

I'm confused by this thread. Are people under the impression people offer their seats to the elderly, pregnant and otherwise less able bodied people these days? The vast vast majority of people don't, when there is a visible "disability" anymore and I'm saying that with experience. I'm 32 weeks pregnant, luas green line every morning at 8am and home at 5pm. The odd bus journey too. I can without exaggeration count on one hand the amount of times I've been offered a seat. I don't feel more entitled to a seat because I'm carrying my precious snowflake who I'd like everyone to stand back for, however, my centre of balance is off, I literally have a bump which holds a small baby and chances are if I fall from a jerk in the luas, get dug in the stomach from a bag (which people refuse to take off their backs) or get pushed into a bar or squashed up against a pole the effects on me are more than likely more serious than an able bodied person. It's just good manners and how I was raised, to give my seat up for someone who needs it more...

I was recently on the bus home, managed to get an empty seat. A man, who had to be in his 80's shuffled on with shopping bags and proceeded to stand in the centre aisle as there were no seats. I waited about a minute before I stood up and offered him my seat, he was mortified and refused point black to take it "from a lady in my condition", a lovely man, but a gentleman and refused to sit. I sat back down fully expecting someone else to jump up, but no, that poor man was left to sway and jerk in the aisle while plenty people young and middle aged didn't move a muscle. I was absolutely livid and really hated my fellow humans at that point.

I get the pregnancy thing to a certain extent (although I completely disagree with it) some people have never been pregnant, don't want to be or won't ever be (men) so don't understand why a pregnant women would need a seat but an elderly man, I just don't get it. Most of us are going to get old and if we can't respect our elders...

What I mean from the above is if people don't consider it necessary to offer up their seat to people with a visible reason I feel for people young or old who's reason is invisible and has to ask for it.

I was on the 15 bus the other day. A gang of boys from a private school in Rathmines got on and completely ignored an elderly man on a walking stick who got on at a later stop when all the seats were full. I was about to stand up when another man told one of the kids to stand up and give his seat. The boy got up quite willingly. It just didn't seem to have occurred to him, without being prompted, that there was any reason to offer his seat.
The same boys also ignored an elderly woman standing and another woman gave up her seat.

Parents really need to start talking to their kids about manners and courtesy on public transport. They just don't seem to have a clue. It's not a question of avoiding getting up because they don't want to. They just don't seem to be aware of the fact that they should be standing up if someone elderly or infirm gets on the bus.

Maximus Alexander · 29-11-2016 02:50PM

It was a sad day when I noticed that the LUAS operators had actually felt it necessary to put up posters asking people to give up their seats to pregnant women. What the hell is wrong with people that they need to be cajoled into this.

I get the LUAS 5 days a week and never sit, because there's guaranteed to be someone who needs the seat more than a healthy 30 year old man. Easier that way too because I don't run the risk of misidentifying a woman as pregnant.

Widdershins · 29-11-2016 02:51PM

The invisible disabilities one is very tricky. I don't know what the answer is, be they man woman or child (or Other)

LLMMLL · 29-11-2016 03:26PM

Kenny Putrid Tux wrote: »

I was on the 15 bus the other day. A gang of boys from a private school in Rathmines got on and completely ignored an elderly man on a walking stick who got on at a later stop when all the seats were full. I was about to stand up when another man told one of the kids to stand up and give his seat. The boy got up quite willingly. It just didn't seem to have occurred to him, without being prompted, that there was any reason to offer his seat.
The same boys also ignored an elderly woman standing and another woman gave up her seat.

Parents really need to start talking to their kids about manners and courtesy on public transport. They just don't seem to have a clue. It's not a question of avoiding getting up because they don't want to. They just don't seem to be aware of the fact that they should be standing up if someone elderly or infirm gets on the bus.

Was the guy who told them to stand up seated or standing?

While modern kids can be pandered to a bit, Id hate to see a return to the "kids don't really matter so it's OK to inconvenience them" values of the 89s/90s.

weldoninhio · 29-11-2016 03:46PM

Kenny Putrid Tux wrote: »

I was on the 15 bus the other day. A gang of boys from a private school in Rathmines got on and completely ignored an elderly man on a walking stick who got on at a later stop when all the seats were full. I was about to stand up when another man told one of the kids to stand up and give his seat. The boy got up quite willingly. It just didn't seem to have occurred to him, without being prompted, that there was any reason to offer his seat.
The same boys also ignored an elderly woman standing and another woman gave up her seat.

Parents really need to start talking to their kids about manners and courtesy on public transport. They just don't seem to have a clue. It's not a question of avoiding getting up because they don't want to. They just don't seem to be aware of the fact that they should be standing up if someone elderly or infirm gets on the bus.

The kids paid their fare. The OAP probably paid nothing. If Irish Rail or Dublin Bus want to bring in a reduced standing rate I'll happily pay that and oAPs and pregnant ladies can pay the full seated fare.

Penny Tration · 29-11-2016 04:12PM

weldoninhio wrote: »

The kids paid their fare. The OAP probably paid nothing. If Irish Rail or Dublin Bus want to bring in a reduced standing rate I'll happily pay that and oAPs and pregnant ladies can pay the full seated fare.

Wow. It's basic courtesy to give a seat to someone who looks as though they need it more!

IrishZeus · 29-11-2016 04:15PM

weldoninhio wrote: »

The kids paid their fare. The OAP probably paid nothing. If Irish Rail or Dublin Bus want to bring in a reduced standing rate I'll happily pay that and oAPs and pregnant ladies can pay the full seated fare.

One can only assume that you are neither elderly, disabled or have never been pregrant/had a pregnant partner.

Perhaps your eyes will open a bit if any of them happen for you.

take everything · 29-11-2016 04:18PM

Samaris wrote: »

I had a rather funny experience some time ago on an intra-city bus (maybe half-hour journey). I got on (able-bodied late-twenties female), and a young man got up and offered me his seat. I tend to be quite shy, so rather than saying no and embarrassing him, I took the offer in the spirit it was intended (he looked to be from a culture where this is still a thing), smiled and thanked him.

A few stops later, an elderly man got onto the bus and I stood up and offered him the seat. He smiled and accepted it.

Next stop, a heavily pregnant woman got on and HE got up and offered her the seat.

As I recall, it ended with an elderly lady with a stick getting on and the pregnant woman gave her the seat. Talk about a well-exchanged seat by the time we were all done. Rare example of a virtuous circle and all though.

I may be off slightly on my order of events here, but it was a while ago. Still, it was quite funny at the time.

I love it.
Would have been even better if the last person gave up their seat for a stressed-looking young white male.

MilesMorales1 · 29-11-2016 04:44PM

I try to walk often as possible, can't stand public transport. On an empty or not busy bus/train, I'll sit, once it starts to fill up I'll stand otherwise you either get passive aggressive looks from people that want to sit together or want your seat, or you get landed next to some giant person stinking of sweat or a scumbag stinking of tobacco. Or people who thinks they can spread themselves all they want on a tiny seat and take the majority of the space, **** that, I got two legs i can walk.

I definitely didn't over think that.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 29-11-2016 05:33PM

weldoninhio wrote: »

The kids paid their fare. The OAP probably paid nothing. If Irish Rail or Dublin Bus want to bring in a reduced standing rate I'll happily pay that and oAPs and pregnant ladies can pay the full seated fare.

What a nasty attitude. You would seriously leave an elderly and infirm person standing because they're entitled to travel for free? Do consideration, kindness and understanding not count in your black and white world?

B.A._Baracus · 29-11-2016 05:34PM

I remember when I was around 5 years old I was on the bus with my mam. The bus was packed and my mam and I were sitting a good few rows away from each other. People were standing on the bus including a man, his young daughter and another woman holding a new born baby.

So the man asked me to get up (which I did) but even at 5 years old I was thinking to myself why did you ask me?! :pac: Of course now as a man if I saw a woman with a newborn baby jaysus i'd get up instantly. But on that day no one else was offering their seat. Not one. So your man asks a kid (me) as he was too afraid or shy to ask anyone else :pac:

When I got up the woman thanked him and didnt even look at me lol. Always annoyed me for some reason

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 29-11-2016 05:38PM

LLMMLL wrote: »

Was the guy who told them to stand up seated or standing?

While modern kids can be pandered to a bit, Id hate to see a return to the "kids don't really matter so it's OK to inconvenience them" values of the 89s/90s.

He was standing and looking after a seated elderly man who seemed to have alzheimers. Despite having his hands full, he still found time to notice another elderly man in need of a seat and do something about it.

I don't see how asking a young lad of about 12 to stand up and let a very old man sit down is taking a 'kids don't matter' stance. It's something we all did as kids, and now we expect the younger generation to take their turn.
I would have stood up myself if he hadn't intervened. But I would have been really annoyed that a load of schoolboys were ensconced comfortably in seats and letting a middle aged woman be the person to do the standing up.

weldoninhio · 29-11-2016 07:03PM

Penny Tration wrote: »

Wow. It's basic courtesy to give a seat to someone who looks as though they need it more!

Why? I've paid for my ticket from a to b. Same as everyone else. As I've said if Irish Rail or DB want to bring out a reduced price standing ticket I'll buy one of those for a short journey, but their campaign of give up your seat for someone else is not gonna get any traction from me otherwise.

LirW · 29-11-2016 07:12PM

weldoninhio wrote: »

Why? I've paid for my ticket from a to b. Same as everyone else. As I've said if Irish Rail or DB want to bring out a reduced price standing ticket I'll buy one of those for a short journey, but their campaign of give up your seat for someone else is not gonna get any traction from me otherwise.

It'd be new to me that I'm travelling for free when I'm pregnant (which I am). Next time I'm gonna show you my full fare ticket or leap card, is that reason enough to get up for someone who's having a feckin' melon attached to the front? Because it's known that this stuff causes bad balance in women.

uck51js9zml2yt · 29-11-2016 07:20PM

weldoninhio wrote: »

Why? I've paid for my ticket from a to b. Same as everyone else. As I've said if Irish Rail or DB want to bring out a reduced price standing ticket I'll buy one of those for a short journey, but their campaign of give up your seat for someone else is not gonna get any traction from me otherwise.

I just hope you don't get old and infirm and need a seat......

....oh wait! .....you will

ash23 · 29-11-2016 07:31PM

Widdershins wrote: »

The invisible disabilities one is very tricky. I don't know what the answer is, be they man woman or child (or Other)

I had this problem on a four hour train journey recently enough. I was travelling with my daughter. I have an invisible disability which causes issues with balance and fatigue so I need a seat. My child is a bit too young to sit alone imo and we both get travel sick if we travel backwards.
I prebooked seats facing the right way.
Get on the train which is pretty packed but some seats still free and there's a woman aged about 60 sat in our double seat with her shopping bags.
She knew it too because she avoided any eye contact when I arrived at my seat.
I walked through a couple of carriages and while there were vacant seats, none were facing the right way with two together.
I then just thought "fcuk this, I'm not being put out when I booked the seats" so I went back and asked her to move. She huffed and puffed and said she'd seen our names above the seats but thought we'd sit somewhere else seeing as there was room.

She did move but when she sat at a table nearby with some women in their mid to late 20s they all started giving not so subtle digs about how annoying prebooked seats were and how some people were so rude, throwing dirty looks my way.

I personally thought she was ruder sitting in seats she knew were booked when there were other seats available but hey, she's got age on her side. I just look like a physically capable young woman with a spoiled snowflake of a child.

kittensmittens · 29-11-2016 08:43PM

weldoninhio wrote: »

The kids paid their fare. The OAP probably paid nothing. If Irish Rail or Dublin Bus want to bring in a reduced standing rate I'll happily pay that and oAPs and pregnant ladies can pay the full seated fare.

Old age comes to us all and you may very well be father to be one day when your partner/wife comes home being 8 and a half months pregnant and her centre of gravity is shot to sh1t, has had a fall on a train/bus due to someone just like you not thinking of someone else who may need a little empathy.
You may reconsider your standpoint.

the_pen_turner · 29-11-2016 08:50PM

There should be different tickets. guarenteed Seated and maybe standing. If you buy the standing you can sit until the seat is needed. . It would cut out all this crap. If all the seated tickets are sold them they can't sell anymore. If you need a seat you wait for the next one.

Most people who are going a short journey or don't need the seat would save the money

RobertKK · 29-11-2016 08:57PM

When I was 8, I and my sister were on top of trailers of square bales avoiding the branches from knocking us off the top as our father brought us home.

Are these children on buses wimps?

LordSutch · 29-11-2016 09:02PM

super_furry wrote: »

If they're old enough that they're parents don't carry them, they're old enough to stand.

Here here I totally agree, although I would always give up my seat for a pregnant woman, an old person, or anybody else who looked like they needed a seat or looked uncomfortable standing.

The flying mouse · 29-11-2016 09:05PM

the_pen_turner wrote: »

There should be different tickets. guarenteed Seated and maybe standing. If you buy the standing you can sit until the seat is needed. . It would cut out all this crap. If all the seated tickets are sold them they can't sell anymore. If you need a seat you wait for the next one.

Most people who are going a short journey or don't need the seat would save the money

I can certainly see that not working considering the mess that does be on our trains with prepaid tickets for seats when there full.

Is standing up for children on public transport now the norm?

Comments