People who sit on the aisle side on the bus / train

[CruCru]

There seems to be an epidemic of people choosing to sit on the aisle side of the bus or train, leaving the window seat free. Is it just me or is this quite a weird thing to do?

They probably think that people are less likely to sit next to them but once the bus / train fills up (the ones I get always have people standing), all the seats fill up so people have to squeeze past them to get on and off.

I do see that if someone is quite disabled, it might be difficult for them to shift up to the window. However, not all the people who do this can be disabled.

Leg room?

Argh. Posted too soon.

I have an invisible disability and find the window seat uncomfortable and hard and painful to get in and out of.

Some people don't like to feel hemmed in or trapped. I don't mind so always go and sit in a window seat if there is an empty one next to an aisle person, rather than stand!

If I'm only going a few stops then I'll sit in the aisles seat. Why would that stop anyone from sitting by the window?

Its all about wanting to get a seat to themselves. Just ask them to budge up.

I hate the window seat. Cramped, less leg room, boxed in, cold and rattly window.

You should always fill up from the back/ inside

What I hate is the people who take the aisle seat then refuse to budge along / stand up to let you into the window seat and instead they make you climb over them! 😡

They are mostly being selfish prats. If you watch, most people don't bother them, leaving the window side free.

The only time I've done that is middle of summer when sun is streaming in through window and it becomes unbearably hot.

I always like an aisle seat as I feel really trapped. If someone wants to sit down I get up, let them take the window seat and sit down again.

I do this on the train because I only go one stop for work and it's an absolute PITA to be on the inside when the person on the aisle has settled themselves in with all their bags, coffee etc and 15 mins later I'm asking them to move so I can get out, often when the aisle itself is rammed as well. It's nothing to do with not wanting anyone next to me, I'm just trying to minimise hassle for me and the people around me for when I want to get off.

I always keep an eye out for anyone needing a seat so they can get past me to the inside seat, and I usually check if they are getting off at my stop, if they are then I move over as it'll be no problem for either of us then when I need to get off.

Or claustrophobia. My daughter will only sit in the aisle seat. She feels hemmed in if there's someone between her and the aisle.

If I'm only going a few stops then I'll sit in the aisles seat. Why would that stop anyone from sitting by the window?

Because (on a bus) you'd have to ask them to move so you could get to it.

I do it. I prefer to be able to get out and since I broke my leg it's more comfortable.

I absolutely don't put my bag on the window seat and would happily get up and let you sit in the window seat.

I always have to have an aisle seat or front row at the theatre/cinema.

@Caprisunorange - I've had that too. They expected me to climb over them. I glowered at them and told them to forget it and hoped they felt embarrassed.

Depends on the train - ‘normal’ size seats i’ll Take a window. Those horrible new commuter trains with barely any room do they can squash more seats in - aisle. Leg room, and easy to get up out of seat on a jammed train for me. I have been squashed in a the window by a giant man spreader to many times. If it’s a train I don’t expect to be that busy and i’m Getting off at last stop i’ll Happily take a window.

I remember being told to sit in aisle seats by a policemen doing a talk on safety while at secondary school. Basically to deter any opportunist harassers who could otherwise pen you in and grope you! I must admit that I still follow this advice if the train's quiet or it's late at night.

I get really claustrophobic when in a window seat. I can generally only deal with it if I'm sitting next to someone I know who'll move the moment I ask them to and not when they are ready to I make it as visually clear as possible that I don't expect the seat to remain empty by keeping my massive work bag on my lap and I always let people straight in if they indicate they want the seat.

Perfectly happy for people to think I'm weird/selfish if it means I get unrestricted access to escaping.

As I said, I do so that people with a disability may prefer the aisle seat.

Re not wanting to feel hemmed in - the buses I get are often so full that the bus driver won’t open the doors to new passengers. It’s claustrophobic even if you are standing.

I get why some people like the aisle seat. Personally I like a window seat but what I don't like is having to ask someone to move when they are blocking the only available seat on the bus/train.
The ones that try not to make eye contact with you... I don't like being on public transport any more than them and would prefer not to have to ask to sit down or climb over their bloody legs!

Dh has an invisible disability which makes it difficult for him to be enclosed. Ds is autistic and also finds it difficult.

These people probably have really terrible anxiety or ASD which means that they don't want to be penned in by someone that they may have to talk to about moving. Or maybe they have a disability which means that they have to get off quickly and don't want to have to make you move.

So YABU. You don't know them so leave them alone.

@ArialAnna that is such bullshit! Can’t believe you still follow it as an adult