Dad on bus 'look at all these people sitting who won't let a child have a seat'

[Pipistrelle40]

Just that really, he got on with two boys aged about 10 and 8. People looked at each other and laughed. Old enough to stand surely.

I hate buses, I cannot wait to drive. But if its just me and dd 5 we head to back of bus. If its me dd 5 ds2, ds2 (twins) and ds 8m then me and ds use pram bay with dd5 and twins in priority seats.
Luckily we haven't had the need to move yet but if they did twins would be on lap and dd would have to stay put as I wouldn't want her sat where I can't see her.

Three on two seats together btw not spread out

marnie wish I could drive to. The buses are horrible. 9 times out of 10 me 2 baby's and 6 and 9 year old go upstairs.

I'm.still on fence... I think it can swing both ways yes offer seats to people that need them more. For me that gos for children and adults. If the adult is capable of standing as much as the child is then why not? Yes children should think of others but so should adults.

I disagree that "children under 5 and the elderly are seen as the same in vulnerability" because the child will always have a parent or carer with them on a bus, someone who is looking out for their best interest and protecting them, while the older person does not.

That was a good point you made I do agree with that.

aspascia how would that work for example with a mum who is in discomfort with a child sitting on them but is OK standing, and a little child ie 4? Would they both be expected to stand in those circs as the mum can't sit? Presumably if she let the child sit people would complain.

TBH round here on my commuter train people do stand for smaller children - it gets VERY crowded and people start pushing a lot, and the places to hold on to are quite a long way up - I sometimes can't reach anywhere and I'm 5'3 so hardly short. I think it is good that people round here, when they see children who may not be tiny but are not massive either, do a quick risk assessment and let them sit. if you can't hold on and you're squashed in it is quite dangerous and people are saying kids bounce but well, not always.

I have been on threads like this before and understand that some people get quite annoyed with the idea of adults letting children sit but it's up to individuals whether to give their seat up or not.

francis I'm sure I have heard baby's refered to asee bouncy...or congratulations you have a lovely bouncy boy... maybe I dreamt it

I don't think when people talk about "bouncing babies" they mean that if you throw them onto the floor or whack them around they will boing back like silly putty I always took it to mean "chubby", like a nice round sort of a baby, a good weight, not sickly, in an olden days kind of a way.

Very much of the school of child should offer their seat to an adult: this is how I was brought up and how I brought ds up.

It was tough on dd, though, who was disabled and often in a lot of pain: somehow adults (and the elderly in particular) seem to have an attitude that a 10-12yo has no right to be disabled. However nicely we tried to explain, we did still did get some very nasty looks.

I had to sit on a parents lap or stand. And make my 6 and 9 year old do same, esp if they've travelled for free e.g tube. Mean that people didn't offer a seat or help to the lady with 3 under 5s but an 8 and 10 year old should offer their seats to adults. Outrageous Dad!

A young child unable to hold onto a support and crushed between adults does not bounce... they can and do get frightened and claustrophobic, though, squashed up against people's stomachs and arses. People just need to use a bit of intelligence to assess the situation. It is not right that 100% of the time it should be the children on a crowded bus, train or tube that give up their seats for the elderly and disabled. Sometimes, shock horror, it is more appropriate for the strapping 30 year olds to do so.

100% agree.

Pressed enter by mistake...was going to add. It gets encouraged to use public transport leave the car at home... I can see why people don't like using it.

If I get on public transport with my 4yo, I try to make sure he has a seat, I don't feel comfortable with him on my lap so I am quite happy to stand as long as he is safe in a seat. A lot of people will offer me their seat so that I can sit next to him but I usually decline, unless I'm really feeling worn out

As children, we were always taught to offer our seat up to anyone with greater need - once my sister and I both offered to stand so that a very heavily pregnant woman could sit - she politely told us she only needed the one seat and that I should put my little sister on my lap and she could sit next to us! Years later, at senior school, the bus stop I used was the last one where you could get a seat as it filled right up at the next stop...an older, rather frail, gentleman used to get on at the busy stop and often kids had barged in front of him...so I used to plant my bum in the seat right behind the driver every morning then wait to give the seat to this gentleman who smiled and thanked me every morning - years of this routine and I certainly didn't mind standing as it was worth it to do a little good turn. Nothing wrong with healthy kids standing.

70sDinner - From memory, the signs said something like "school children travelling on concession fares" so I always took that to mean older kids and teens. But I was just a commuter so I'm not really sure of the intricacies of the rules. But I do agree with OP that a ten year old can absolutely stand and I did like the rule that they were obliged to vacate their seats for adults paying full fare, which they invariably did without a fuss.

They probably wouldn't have enforced it for a little one. Gives me the heeby jeebies just thinking about it!

When buses had conductors as they got full you're hear a shout of 'All half fares stand, please!' In fact most of the children had already noticed adults without seats and stood for them or were on a parent's knee.
Not sure when this common, everyday, courtesy and consideration ceased but think it was probably in the 1970s.

Beezie - no conductors, but still the rule here (Aus). I like it.

Screenshot taken from Transperth's website.

I was on a crowded train in North London and stood up to offer my seat to a heavily pregnant lady only to be almost barged out of the way by an entitled twat with a briefcase who appeared to believe that his need was greater. I told him to fuck off, as I wasn't giving up my seat for his benefit!

Some people's behaviour is truly jaw-droppingly unbelievable.

I'm with you OP! Children should give up their seat for their elders