Train etiquette

Sorry if I have not rtft!

There is a thread about a person who needs to get on public transport at a certain time not to be late for work. In rush hour there will be many people like that- with or without children to take to school etc

If you rtft it’s more enlightening. You’ll see OP keeps changing her mind about what the problem actually was. At the end of the day, people rush to get on and off trains, she felt pushed, but actually maybe it was just the hustle and bustle of a train 🤷‍♀️ She mentioned the bikes sounding like a problem, but later said they weren’t, so why mention them? She got a seat, but still moaned about it 🤷‍♀️ She faffed with the buggy getting in peoples way 🤷‍♀️ She was cross with others because they left her to carry her ‘heavy’ toddler 🤷‍♀️ She said people don’t work on Saturday’s 😵‍💫 That’s just to name a few things. In all of this, her dh was somewhere, not really helping much 🤷‍♀️
I think she should have been more annoyed with dh than other travellers tbh 🤷‍♀️

There were two adults in this situation and one child

A seat was given up.

A complaint by the OP that it had a table. Because her child likes to bang on tables.

I got to page 7 and had read enough. Why do people think it's acceptable for people to push past someone holding a baby? Of course the op will need a seat most people I know would gladly offer a seat . Plus a baby drumming isn't so bad, it's not like it's a teenager with a full on. drum kit . How did people get so intolerant? OP Im sorry this happened to you.

That really doesn’t mean you have to martyr yourself. Lots of people rely on public transport. Why the shame?

I’ll hold my child like I said. Or help them stand. My financial issues and reliance on public transport are my own damn fault

I used to make infrequent train journeys with my toddler. I would always have another adult with me and he would push me to the front of the Que, and then stand behind me stopping anyone pushing. I always found it was the youngsters who’d offer to help while the older people would try to push.

I now need a stick to get about so have to watch my child and balance. The above system still works as people still push into me.

And me! My three year old is rather partial to a lively Crystal Palace crowd.

To be fair similar happened to me yesterday down south

But just saying ‘it’s public transport’ is silly. If it was purely a level playing field just because it’s simply public transport then why bother to have ramps, priority seating, luggage racks, designated areas for bikes/prams/wheelchairs/disabled toilets/seats with more legroom at all? Of course some people should have more priority than others. that’s life in a civilised society.

Not always safer to fold and hold either. You have to weigh it up for each situation. When a baby is small and not standing, you can’t do both unless a random person holds them or you lay them on the floor, which is obviously not safe to do. Especially when the bus/train/tram has already started moving- they don’t wait.

Was thinking this- maybe don't travel busy times i sympathise that it can be hard but other people have needs too, places to go, might be rushing to get to their kids. If you travel a lot on London I am surprised your reaction about rush hour.

Someone gave you their seat. What else do you want?

We'll have to disagree on that. It's public transport.

I once saw a massive crowd trying to push onto a train as there was space- there was a pram with a baby and it was getting dangerous the crush around it.

It is always safer to take your kid out and collapse the pram.

The op was able to get on and her husband and get a seat. People do like to complain.

yeah, then you always get a couple if buffoons who try to leap on a crowded train because they think they can see a space if only people would make room, when in fact it’s a pram or buggy.

A pram IS more entitled to space than a bike though in my opinion. A baby or toddler really doesn’t have the option of deciding not to use their pram that day, their options for transportation are limited. Presumably if you choose to travel with a huge, uncollapsible cumbersome bike as many of them are then you need to fully prepare for the fact that there may not be space for it. The tram and bus network where I am doesn’t even allow them for that very reason.

Wheelchairs have first priority, then prams and buggies.

I have travelled on the tube with child in buggy & always wheel it on. Its safer as baby/ toddler is strapped in & sitting down
Not necessarily safer.If you're in the mosh pit of the vestibule. Surrounded by standing passengers. Being crushed round the buggy. Safer to take your child out collapse the buggy and ask for a seat and put the child in your lap. Which is what she was able to do despite complaining so much.

Why do you think you re more entitled to get on with a pram than somebody with a bike. It is public transport No one has any more right than anyone else.

Oh, I've been there too! Late morning at the weekend, so no reason the train was absolutely rammed! People pushed infront of me with the buggy (which really annoyed me!), and we had to stand until I loudly asked if anyone was going to give up their space for a wobbly 3 year old! 2 men did thankfully, I was not going to let her stand all the way to London (about an hour!).
OP - people can be horrible, and don't worry if your baby makes noise (though, I can be quite bolshy and don't mind telling strangers to bog off 🤣)

Wow 😮 this thread is certainly eye opening!

OP sounds horrific. That pushing & shoving is awful.

I have travelled on the tube with child in buggy & always wheel it on. Its safer as baby/ toddler is strapped in & sitting down.

It's a sad day when people are ok to wheel bikes into trains (without being expected to dismantle them before embarking to ensure they take up the minimum room possible) but a mother with a baby is pushed & shoved out of the way!

But truly the attitudes of so many posters here is what's really disturbing.

Well it appears from this thread that people north of London have more manners and are more helpful on trains towards parents with small children

You need to come up north. Last time I went on a train in a similar situation a group of lads going day drinking gave up their seat for me and entertained my toddler. The guys where loving it / singing etc

I live in the north and no you and (we) are not any better than anyone or anywhere else.

Only down South.....

There would be no way I would push a women holding a baby out of the way to get on a train. What has happened to common decency! Looks like most of the posters on here believe that's ok but I think its really sad.

Actually down to the Dept of Transport who control the railways. Even with the few remaining private train operating companies, it's the DOT who decide train length, train frequency, timetables, type of train, etc.

Probably yes, trains were generally longer, there were more trains, etc., so not the same rush/stress to get on and get a seat.

That doesn't make sense.