Asked to give up my seat on bus

or someone who felt fine but thought bring8pregnant entitled her to a seat. we can all make up feelings of entitlement to serve the narrative we choose.

As someone who had to travel into London numerous times for work through both of my pregnancies and I received a response similar to yours on a packed train and ended up fainting in the middle of the aisle, I think you should’ve given it up. I also second what a pp said about it taking a lot of courage to ask, it really did for me anyway.

YANBU.

Though I have been known to stand for another pregnant woman while I was slightly less pregnant, while loads of men in the carriage hid behind their newspapers.

It’s not though, because the sore throat doesn’t affect your ability to stand safely but feeling wobbly most definitely does.

It’s not easy standing while pregnant, can feel nauseated or light-headed. Good thing she didn’t throw up all over the bus.

I never asked anyone for any consideration while pregnant. This post highlights why, you just can’t expect anyone to care or help (this pregnant woman will learn this lesson).

Even with a huge tummy, I still had people charge on ahead of me in any doorway or lift. I could have fallen or been pushed into the wall, if I hadn’t gone slow and taken time and let everyone go past.

Well it doesnt trump a broken leg, it does trump a sore throat. I put a "bit wobbly" in the same category as the latter.

Priority seats are generally the ones nearest the door so they are easiest to get to. If you designate them as priority it will increase the chances that they will fill up last, so the less mobile passenger can get to them without having to ask anyone to move. Seems like a sensible system to me.

Sad age we live in when people debate whether its right to give the pregnant woman a seat.. @midsomermurderer

Being pregnant isn't a disability. There's pregnant women that work on their feet all day, run marathons, run round after small children.

So being pregnant in itself doesn't automatically entitled you to an occupied seat.

Op wasn't in a priority seat, and had physical health needs herself.
There would have been other people on the bus more able bodied to give up their seat to the pregnant woman.

Oh yes they fucking love them

Exactly

FFS.
If two people are feeling off it... does pregnancy trump any other reason?

why? the seats are for those less able to stand. why do you think op, in her 60s and having recently had a fall and in pain is more able to stand than someone who's pregnant and not even contending with a bump?

Sad age we live in when people debate whether its right to give the pregnant woman a seat...
Not sad at all when both parties have a need for the seat. Pregnancy isn't the top trump of needing to sit down.

This is why I disagree with having priority seats at all. All seats are priority seats. Everyone should have equal responsibility for giving up their seat if someone else needs it and they don't. Designating some as priority seats keans that people in other seats think they have no need to be considerate.

various organisations give them out so that you can use them while travelling on trains or buses.

in theory people ought to offer seats to pregnant women but in practice they often do not and the badges are to help make clear that this person is entitled to a priority seat.

on trains if there is a conductor he or she will often help find a seat.

Yes, specifically for the purpose of obtaining a seat on public transport. Its actually helpful if you're minded to offer a seat becuase it avoids the embarrassment of getting up for someone who doesn't want it or isn't actually pregnant

That said, I don't think early pregnancy trumps the needs of someone who's had a recent fall and is feeling shaky on their feet.

THE OP WAS NOT IN A PRIORITY SEAT!

And isn't her job to start asking others to move on behalf of someone else.

Yes, so you don't have to explain yourself on public transport and so decent people know to give you a seat. And so particularly in the early stages you dont have people complaining that you dont "look" pregnant.

Sad age we live in when people debate whether its right to give the pregnant woman a seat...

Yep, really twee ones saying "Baby on Board" that London Underground provide. Always made me cringe myself inside out so I never did.

Agree with others that neither of you were unreasonable. She was fine to ask, you were fine to politely refuse. No big deal or worth ruminating on.

OP WAS NOT IN PRIORITY SEAT!!!!!!

If she is feeling wobbly there is an increased chance she might faint or fall over, and preventing that is exactly why we have to have priority seats.

I wonder if she asked you as there was a chance you've also been pregnant so youd know how she felt.

Regardless you weren't unreasonable not to move if you would be unsteady standing.

If you have an injury, disability or condition that prevents you from safely standing then of course you were not being unreasonable.

I hope someone who was able did give her a seat.

That doesn’t mean she’s healed from any injury and pain that fall caused. Entitlement? Sure, she was indeed entitled to use the seat.

The woman wasn’t unreasonable to want a seat, but Op wasn’t unreasonable in saying no to her request.