Passengers sigh when they remove bag off neighbouring seat on PT

Next time, sigh back, louder.

I used to be a regular commuter on crowded trains. If I was unlucky enough to get a manspreader next to me, I would start to gently scratch myself. Never had to do it for long, they went away

How is sighing not making a fuss. That comment makes me want to sigh.

i always make men move their bags if i have the choice, and i put the middle armrest down and push their manspreading legs out of the way if necessary. With my hand, so it is very clear what I'm doing.

But i can't get worked up about people sighing.

I actually think that public transport needs more storage options.

UK trains should have carriages you can only put bikes and big luggage in like other places have. Buses should have more rack space.

What's the reason you can't ask?

But if you always put your bag on the table then it's never been on the floor.

they sigh? but they move the bag? get over yourself.

If they are sighing because they’d hoped not to have to sit next to someone but, as the train is now busy, they are a bit disappointed .

It’s a sigh, not a personal attack. I just ignore it and sit down.

Does your daughter have a pass for a priority seat? On my train line you can get a pass if you need it and if anyone questions it you can show them the pass. You can also use the pass to make someone move from a priority seat.

But you are still putting a bag, that has been on the dirty floor, on a seat next to you, just for convenience! And then you say that if someone gets on, and needs that seat, you will put your bag on the floor, or „”table”? But then your bag is making the table dirty. Can you not do what the majority of people do and just keep your bags on the floor or in the over head hanger?

I agree. People who leave their bag on the seat are banking on not being asked to move it.

I just want to say, as someone who cannot ask for a bag to be moved, I really appreciate those who do it when empty seats are still available.

If the train is quiet enough I put my bag on a seat, it's easier to reach into and lift up. It's rare though. I usually look out the window as we pull in to stations and move my bag to the floor or table as soon as it looks like it's going to get busy. I'm more than happy to as people have paid to travel .

I prefer an aisle seat so I can't be squashed- I need to wriggle a lot- or trapped in next to a man. I know people will want to sit, so again, look around at stations and will happily stand aside to let someone in. I never move over to a window seat though.

As someone who does move stuff or springs aside happily I don't understand the goldilocks "but I want that seat next to youuuuuuuuuu" mentality when there are other seats available and everyone can sit more comfortably. It's a bit petty and pathetic to me. We all know what you're doing. Bravo you, striking a serious blow for justice. Nearly everyone moves stuff when asked when it's busy anyway and the ones that don't quickly realise they look like pricks ime, certainly round my way goldilocksing seems pretty rare and looks a bit precious when seen in the wild. I also get very suspicious when men do it in otherwise almost empty carriages. On a mn thread agreeing that this behaviour is absurd a woman said she now says no and directs them elsewhere when empty two and four seaters are available. She's my hero.

I once chased a man out of a four seater with a table on the way from Hull to London; he's the reason I take aisle seats only now. Nice empty carriage, another couple of empty four seaters available, I was the only one sat at mine and he asked if he could sit there too and sat next to me. When I asked if he wouldn't like to sit opposite and enjoy the room he said he gets travel sick and when I asked if he'd let me out to move opposite then as I didn't want to be cooped up with room available the precious little pet said something about how he felt unwanted or something and flounced. Boo hoo, waaaaa good riddance. That service - at least my carriage- stayed mostly empty the whole way. There had been absolutely no need to sit right next to me and he'd actually to walk a way down the carriage to get there. It's simply a weird thing to do.

I travel on a train at least four times a week and have no issues asking someone to remove their bag; I am polite. However, I also get travel sick when travelling backwards weirdly. Therefore, there might be other empty seats, but if they are facing backwards, I will ask someone to move their bag for a forward-facing seat.

True, I always respond with a bright smile and "Thank you SO much." Makes me feel better anyway.

@Loopytiles

Often when carriages are moderately full with just a few remaining seats people ‘bagsy’ seats with their bags. I ask to sit on a bagsied one rather than take an empty one.

This is just bitchy and unpleasant - and inevitably provokes sighing because everyone knows you are just doing this to be bloody minded and you have no idea why someone has put a bag there. Why not sit in an empty seat.

For medical reasons (immuno), I need to avoid getting coughs colds Covid and I generally avoid public transport for this reason. If absolutely have to travel on public transport which happens occassionally, I will put my bag on the seat next to me precisely because I do not want someone sitting next to me for my own safety. My preferred choice of seat is a single seat next to a vertical plastic barrier and near the door for fresh air circulation but often this isnt possible as not all trains are configured the same way. If it's a very full train, I will move it but I typically travel off-peak hours for the same reason so it is rarely the case.

I would be very upset if there were other seats available and someone asked me to move my bag to sit next to me just because they were trying to make a stupid point. and no I am not going to get into a discussion about my private medical issues on a public train.

maybe have a think about other people and why they might be doing something and the general effect on you and on them of your behaviour.

It's not bullying to ask for a seat. The bag doesn't need the seat.

I happily target men with bags/manspreaders to ask them to move.

I have a cane now due to my neurological condition and it is very helpful for stopping men manspreading. Strongly recommend it!

I mean, he had a point.
Obviously throwing wasn't acceptable but the bag shouldn't have been on a seat

If that’s aimed at me as I said that’s what I do, I’m neither a bully or passive aggressive! And I actually do ask the men to move too, probably more than women.

I also only do it where I know the train will be full either at my stop or by the next one, never on a quiet train where I would like space myself!

Once some man got on the train and my 8 year old stepsons bag was on the chair so he just picked it up and threw it at him, saying g ",sorry but your bag doesn't pay for a seat"

I'm not able to ask and I wish people would be less selfish and just move their shit when the train is filling up. I am autistic and just don't have the voice or ability for confrontation but I also have breathing difficulties and balance problems so I really do need the seat. People are utter twats thinking their bag is more deserving than a human. In busy services the guard (or whatever each toc calls them these days) if there is one, should walk through and charge each person who has a bag placed in a seat when others are standing; they would soon move their stuff.

May I ask why you do that? Not being goady just have always wondered.

I believe it's selfish as I imagine that person plonking their bag on the seat next to them does it to try and make sure no one sits next to them.

To be honest if I have a choice of sitting next to someone who's got a bag on their seat or one who hasn't, I'll always choose the bag seat. As it annoys me so much.

So would be interested to know why people do it.

I personally always try to sit on the outside seat, so I don't get stuck by the window. Obviously I'll always move to let another sit down but will keep my outside seat.

Often when carriages are moderately full with just a few remaining seats people ‘bagsy’ seats with their bags. I ask to sit on a bagsied one rather than take an empty one.

worse is men manspreading with their body or being loud/rude/drunk in what feels like could become aggression.

Wear ear plugs/ear phones /ear defenders then you won't hear them