Passengers sigh when they remove bag off neighbouring seat on PT

No, I didn’t say “easily” - it’s uncomfortable for my knees, but I will move it from the seat to hold it there if the bus or train gets busy.

But when the bus or train isn’t busy you think I should still be uncomfortable rather than set it in the empty seat just in case someone like you might not know whether my clean bag is in fact clean or not. Seriously?

What is your strategy if, having asked politely for the bag to be moved, the owner says NO, or is otherwise ignoring you? What if you move the bag yourself and the owner becomes violent or aggressive? I think it's the potential reaction when asked that puts people off asking!

I kind of think that most bags on seats hoarders are oblivious, and generally will move the bag when asked. But I often worry what would I do if they turned on me.

Anyway, I will always take the outside seat whether or not the inside is free. I never like being trapped in there, and it's usually by a man in the aisle seat because they like stretching their legs with their manspreading legs. Or copping a feel or playing footsie when so one is looking. They ARE out there!

If it's any relevance I'm 60+ and quite assertive, but I do fear some reactions to my poliite requests.

Yes, in an ideal world I’d rather you didn’t, because I can’t be certain where you may or may have not put it before. But like you say yourself, you can easily put the bag on your lap, if need be.

Yes, in an ideal world I’d rather you didn’t, because I can’t be certain where you may or may have not put it before. But like you say yourself, you can easily put the bag on your lap, if need be.

So, just to be clear, are you saying I’m wrong to set my bag on a seat?

I find it simple:
can you move your bag please?
if they refuse or don’t answer I go for the handle and ask:
do you want me to hand you your back or place on the floor next to you?

They always whip their bag away before my slowly lowering hand reaches it.

Given that I have seen some people put bags, that have been on dirty floors, onto train seats, how is it possible to know exactly who doesn’t do it.

I did inadvertently sigh at someone recently who made a beeline for me, when I had my case in front of the seat and backpack/handbag on the seat. I could see at least 3/4 only backpacks on seats that she had walked straight past to come to me. I know I shouldn’t block a seat but there was nowhere else for my things to go(I can’t lift the case overhead), so I had to get up and stand by the doors for the last 10 mins of my journey. One of them moved their backpack upon seeing this but I couldn’t sit there as I’d be blocking the aisle. Reading this thread and learning that people actually just do this to make a passive aggressive point to people who they think are an easy target doesn’t really bode well for society

I’ve seen this and it’s not on. Same at our local pub - people letting their dogs sit on a chair next to them, in dining area. Why? Fine to do it in your own home , but why the entitlement of doing it in a public space, where other people have to sit.

Yet I have always thought that people sitting resolutely on the outside seat are trying to ensure they don’t have to sit next to anyone! So it is interesting to read your different perspective.
Regarding putting a bag on a seat, I think one problem is that there is so little space on public transport that an empty seat becomes the only obvious place to put it. I think people should always be moving a bag though when it gets busy and you see people looking for a seat.
On the bus I go on daily, the upstairs seats are full of people stretched out with their big dirty trainers on the seats. It enrages me!

Not quite the same thing but I was on a crowded train in the evening rush hour - got on at the first stop and as we were waiting to depart, the bloke in the seat in front of me kept turning people away from the empty seat next to him because he was 'saving it for someone'.

The person he was waiting for got on two stops down the line. 🙄

I had a seat but if I'd been standing I'd have said, this isn't the school bus, pal, you don't save seats for your mate on a packed commuter train!

I just ask politely if I can sit down - and then if someone's sat on the aisle seat, they can let me sit by the window - some people want the aisle so they can stretch or use the loo, or if they're not going far. It may be that they've had a nightmare day, plonked their bag next to them and forgotten - so just asking means that CFs feel obliged to move still, but nice people don't feel told off. I do always ask and have no truck for 'I need two seats because x' - if you can't deal with having someone sat next to you, don't get on public transport. I did once guilt an entire Tube carriage into finding a seat for a heavily pregnant woman (with her permission) on the basis that while an individual might happen to have a hidden disability it was unlikely that they all did.

I agree with you OP … BUT with age I’m noticing how unintentional sounds come out when I’m doing everyday things, and I sound just like my mother did.
For example

• getting into car “oomph”
• bending down to pick large box up “arrrrh”

One morning i saw a ‘lady’ take up three seat, one got her arse, one got her bag and one did her folded coat!!!! People were standing, if I didn’t have a seat she would have bed my first target. I don’t ask either I just say ‘move your bag please!’

If you’re a woman of normal size that appears clean and not crazy, everyone makes a beeline to sit with you first when there’s no double seats left.

Try taking a tissue with you and spending your journey coughing loudly into it, with the occasional loud nose blow for good measure 😃

So because some people put their bags on the ground you don’t think anybody should put their bag on a seat? 🤔

For sure, and if course not everyone does it, but there are many people who do. Just watch people on a busy train platform quite a few of them with bags/luggage/shopping, boarding an empty train, so many will pick those bags up and put them next to the seat next to them. I have seen this many times over a life time of train and tube travel. Not nice at all.

I really like the fact that people put bags on seats as it means that I always get one as I have no issue asking people to move their bags!

I don’t put my bag on the floor and I can’t use the overhead rack. It’s on my knee or on the seat and if the seat is empty anyway and the bus/ train isn’t busy, why not use it?

Surely blocking the window seat by sitting on the aisle is no different to having your bag on the seat. Someone still has to ask you to move.

disagree. I have never felt the need to sigh in this situation but then I don’t tend to take up all the space on public transport anyway. I know sighing would make that person think they’d annoyed me and I just wouldn’t do that.

I always leave my bag on the seat until the train is getting full. I don’t sigh and will happily move it when asked.

If you’re a woman of normal size that appears clean and not crazy, everyone makes a beeline to sit with you first when there’s no double seats left. Women because you’re safe & men because you’re not taking up too much space so more for them. Men will always sit beside women before they’ll sit beside another bloke.

I set my bag on the seat beside me because it’s huge (more like a backpack) as I need to stay over at my destination, need extra clothing etc.

It’s heavy and uncomfortable on my (arthritic) knees and if the seat beside me is vacant and the bus / train isn’t busy why wouldn’t I set my bag on the seat? Obviously if it is busy I lift it onto my knee at each stop and if no one takes the empty seat I set it down there again.

I can’t get it into the overhead rack (arthritic hands).

What am I doing wrong?

*typo

I prefer a bit of space and I can’t easily reach my bag on the floor or the top rack. But I’ll move my stuff if it gets busy of course and if don’t notice just ask I won’t get huffy! Also with my grey hair ( and elderly appearance I suppose 🤨) i am nearly always offered a seat especially on the tube which I am always grateful for as I find doing the balancing act a bit tricky. And we have some big gaps to get off the train here but someone will always give me a hand or pass my luggage- in general I find that people are kind and helpful which is so nice.

If you’re having an uncomfortable journey because someone sighed when moving their stuff that’s your issue.

They aren’t sighing at you, they are sighing. It’s no big deal. I’m sure I’d like a seat to myself too but thems the breaks.