to think that public transport is a hotbed of violently angry people these days?

[OrmIrian]

Or so it would seem from recent posts (and Youtube).

Thugs v racists.
'Big men' v fare-dodgers.
Buggy pushers v wheelchairs users.
Old ladies v buggy pushers.

Please tell me it ain't always so!

I used to go on the bus with my granny when I was a little girl and people were quite nice. Please and thankyou and would you mind if I sat here? Only bus rage incident I remember was when Granny had to 'have a word' with the driver once when he started to move before she sat down - he apologised. Incident over.

Why are we all so angry?

overcrowding makes me narked on public transport. People are selfish and have no manners these days and old folk are amongst the worst

I use public transport all the time and ive never had any horrible incidents like those , maybe just certain areas of the country are angry , although i live semi rural so we are just pleased to see somebody else ; )

I get the bus most days. Have never seen any angry incidents.

Oh except me telling a teenage girl off for putting her dirty feet on a seat. But I was stern polite, rather than angry.

I think its the economy that is causing this hotbed of animosity. When people have less income, crime rates increase because people are more on edge and more stressed.

Personally, I think people who drive cars are way more rude than public transport commuters - speeding, running red lights, cutting other drivers up, swearing and gesticulating at people, refusing to let people out at junctions, double parking outside schools.

We don't act like this when we get out of our cars do we! (well, most normal people don't anyway - there's always an exception to prove the rule!)

I don't think it's just on public transport - it's society in general

rude people in shops/on the street
road rage
racist bigots commenting on you tube
far more rude antsy swearing posts on MN parenting websites

just few examples that spring to mind :o

I personally have not had a problem,but I use the same bus as the one where the guy a few years ago was throwing chips at agirl,and he stabbed her boyfriend to death

I use public transport every day (no car). I also live in an allegedly very rough/run-down part of London (think Del Boy) where people are notoriously rude.

I don't feel scared on PT. Yes there are those incidents - out of MILLIONS of journeys every day. 99% of us will have a trouble-free journey on any one day.

I don't have the choice to not use PT - can't afford a car, no parking where I work - so I'm not going to let anything stop me!

I do agree that people these days seem to be getting ruder in general, though. I seem to encounter the most rude people while simply walking on the pavements!

Public transport has always been full of nutters and violent drinks.

It's just that these days they get filmed and put on You Tube.

My sister's and my experiences of bus travel include indecent assault, having hair set fire to, seeing boyfriend attacked, being bothered by drunks on more occasions than we care to remember, and frequently the general stench of wee. Train travel includes overflowing toilets with no doors on, and more drunks.

I'm glad that this is being shown and talked about. Note to Government Ministers: try travelling 2nd class on a crowded Friday rush hour.

I like public transport, usually enjoy travelling by train (if not overcrowded), use local buses frequently and find people either polite or indifferent. It's common practice to thank the driver when exiting here - large Midlands town - and I think that general sense of civility pervades. I happily get buses home alone at night, up to about 11.00 though, not really late.

People who won't budge from the seat you've taken the trouble to reserve (but these bullies are not just a recent phenomenon!)

there is a bus that goes round our streets and its full of old ladies and usually me as it stops at the end of my street , i love getting on it some of those old ladies have filthy mouths but its such a laugh , i can honestly say ive had no bother on buses the odd drunk maybe . and rowdy kids sometimes but usually somebody throws them a look ,