Priority seats on trains!!!!

[MarcelineTheVampire]

I was on a busy train this morning and an elderly disabled lady boarded the train, there were no seats and she was tentatively looking around, so I asked if anyone could let this lady sit down (I was stood up) - everyone looked away and a bloke actually said 'well, I'm playing cards so I can't- these young boys could get up'.

Another man did get up in the end but AIBU to expect common decency to remove yourself from a seat if a disabled person gets on the train? And playing cards isn't a valid reason not to get up? In addition he was a bit ageist in suggesting that the young boys could get up but he couldn't possibly?

Btw I didn't aim it at anyone in particular as some people may have really needed their seat but if it was me I would have been the first person to get up- maybe I have too high expectations.

Those with type 1 diabetes can go hypo for no fault of their own - stress, fear, excitement and just hormones all can cause a sudden crash - T1D hypos can end in coma or death - dear god why don't people have some compassion !!

Seryph I assume your friends have Type 2 - otherwise trust me you know nothing
Especially telling the poster that she reall should carry insulin when the poster talked about her DN being hypo - Insulin could kill him at that point! Please do not attempt to minimise a condition you know nothing about ...

Marcel
I love being right

Ignorance as a word is seen as an insult.
However the reality is many of us are ignorant.
I know a lot about my particular disability.
I know some about other disabilities.
However there's a lot I don't know.

On these threads or any thread which refers to disability I see a lot of assumptions made.

Then judgements are made based on assumptions.

I'm not aware personally of any people with disabilities who try to pull a fast one on others over priority seats.

Well I love you xxx wish everyone had that attitude Need.
Quite often disability related threads get very defensive, someone will explain how a disability affects them and another poster will minimise it and get snippy if their ignorance is pointed out,
Entitlement often rears its head rather than lets just all learn something new and help one another instead of competing.
People state why they shouldn't offer help and so on.

I don't love you. I'm sure you are very nice but my phone is being naughty and inserting unusual autocorrects...

Excellently affectionate post Candy!

Don't forget the confetti.

I love your autocorrects candy

PersianCatLady only one train company issues priority seat cards, and that's in the south east. It looks like they were introduced by this specific train company in 2009, and no other train companies have followed suit since then. It's really not as simple as saying that disabled passengers should get a priority seat card, as they are not available in the rest of the country.

only one train company issues priority seat cards
That's not strictly true. The following train companies issue priority seat cards -

1. Southern
2. Southeastern
3. Great Northern
4. ThamesLink
5. Gatwick Express
6. First Capital Connect
7. First Great Western

So although not as many as there should be, there is significantly more than one company running the scheme.

I've twice had to ask for a seat on a southern train, right by the conductor, and a) not had anyone move and b) not had the conductor intervene.

Someone up thread said that noone watches the doors just incase. Actually, I do, after commuting over several pregnancies, and with a broken foot, I would rather stand than have someone else need a seat and not have one.

Ah! But you see the overweight people brought it on themselves by scoffing doughnuts. Yes I'm being ironic of course...

Really someone should have got up. But mind you, throughout my pregnancy people never stood up for me.
Once I was on a train heading home from my mums with my dh (it was actually PAST my due date), and a woman was talking to me, she was sat down and I was standing. I had a causal knee length dress on (it was August), and though I was never big, it was still clear I was pregnant). The woman was asking when I was due and did I know the sex and similar questions (I didn't mind the casual conversation tbh). I said I was actually due Sunday just gone (this was the following Tuesday), I'm currently 2 days overdue. The woman just said oh okay, still no offer of a seat though.
There were other people nearby who must have heard, they didn't offer either. We were only going 3 stops, and by the time she thought about it, and started to offer, it was our stop.
(I know I could have asked, but I purposely don't, because I thought out of common decency someone would have stood up, but no one did).

Slinky in Prague I once saw a teenager get shouted at for not giving up his seat to a middle aged woman, let alone an elderly one

I got into an argument with some entitled idiot with a bag on a seat . It wasn't the best time for me (lots going on) and in the end I actually picked up her damn shopping bag, , placed it at her feet and sat the hell down .

She said NOTHING. Ignorance, hate it.

I love the flowers story The woman was an entitled rude twat and the man was a hero

My rule,has always been the most able to,stand should do so and children stand for older adults. I'm lucky to have reached the age where I can move people with a glare and slight cleaning of throat. I do tap people on shoulder and suggest they might like to offer a pregnant/elderly/disabled person their seat.