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.

Caprisunorange, you're one of the lucky people who haven't been sexually harassed or assaulted on public transport, lucky you.

Those of us who have know it isn't bullshit.

One of my train journeys there’s over half an hour between two of the stops. I have balance and leg issues. And a foot issue. But apparently I’m expected to stand?

"I sit in the aisle seat to deter men who like to sit next to a lone woman to intimidate her even when the bus is almost empty."

Yep that too.

Really how difficult is it to ask someone to move to let you in?

Good point Mardy. Everyone is just trying to get through doing their best.
So glad that when it comes to public transport my RL doesn't resemble MN on the whole.

Can I just ask. How am I supposed to indicate my disabilities? No one knows when they look at me.

Am I supposed to wear a label?

I prefer the aisle, I’ll gladly get up and let someone sit at the window if they wish but I won’t shift over.

I got there first and chose the seat I wished to sit in.

I feel claustrophobic and previously I’d often be squashed by someone larger/unpleasant smelling sitting in the aisle seat so I choose to sit in the aisle so I can get up if I want to get away.

I’m also very pregnant right now and if nausea hits I need to get up quickly.

i've been sexually harrassed on a crowded bus when trapped in a window seat (nobody helped) so if the bus looks like it will get busy i choose aisle. i do try and remain alert to the needs of other passengers though and am quick to move out of the way or give my seat up.

To avoid the difficulty, when wishing to get off, of getting past someone with various accoutrements scattered about their person and table. I also find some men try to squash you up against the window and you feel taken advantage of. That I don’t like.

I am quite happy to get up to allow them and anyone else to sit by the window. I will not encroach on their space.

I must have been in a taxi the day that memo was sent out.

One of my train journeys there’s over half an hour between two of the stops. I have balance and leg issues. And a foot issue. But apparently I’m expected to stand?

Noone's talking about you being expected to stand though are they dippledorus? That would be a different issue - not enough seats on the train. OP is just asking why people choose to sit in the aisle seat.

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

MilkTwoSugarsThanks - And?

Because they may not even respond - some people are rude - and even if they do, they have to get up and stand while you shuffle past. It's a faff that could be avoided if they sat next to the window.

Surely this is a non-issue.

If I am selfish for choosing my preferred seat, possibly subjecting you to the torture of having to ask me to let you into the window seat - aren't you selfish for expecting me to sit in the (hated!) window seat so you can have the aisle and I will have to ask you move to let me off?

It doesn’t bother me at all, but what does is when you politely ask to get through to get to the window seat as there are no other seats- and get shot daggers and a rude reply! Unless you’ve paid for 2 seats, the divine right for a double on an over crowded train is unfortunately, non existent. Btw this is not withstanding of those who evidently need both seats, and if it’s something else requiring an aisle seat, someone in the window seat shouldn’t affect that too much? I know there could be anxiety etc, but in reality you can’t never sit down in case.

What a load of selfish people! Why take up 2 seats and require someone to ask you to move, when you only need the one? I hate the "bag on the spare seat" on trains, drives me up the wall and means people stand which means they are less safe

No, they are not selfish. They have spent two pages explaining why they are not at all selfish. They have explained that they are not "taking up" two seats.

I always choose an aisle seat, if I can, because I hate being trapped in, and I loathe being physically squashed and jostled by larger people.

I don't want to be hemmed in, potentially by someone smelly or weird. I'll happily stand up to let someone else in to the window seat, but I want the aisle seat to be able to "escape" someone I don't want to sit next to.

I actively prefer the window side and I don't mind sitting next to somebody to get it. As it happens, I haven't got claustrophobia or a hidden disability and I haven't been assaulted. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate how it feels for those who have. It seems to me that for someone like me to take a window seat if possible is a win-win situation - I get what I want and people who prefer or need an aisle seat have more chance of getting one.

I get claustrophobic and have had panic attacks on public transport. If it's very busy standing doesn't help as then I'm crushed up against other people which exacerbates the anxiety.

I would never be difficult about allowing someone to sit down.

DryIce I'm not saying you are selfish, just that having to ask someone top move so you can get to a free seat is a faff I could do without.

Puggles123 Yes, posters on this thread may be happy to move but not everyone is.

It’s fine to sit in the aisle seat. It’s not fine to refuse to let anyone sit down or ignore their polite request.

No it's not all about wanting a seat to themselves.

I sit outside for leg room as I'm really tall, but always move if it starts getting busy.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed yes but I often sit in the aisle because having to ask someone to move for me to get off is a faff I could do without. So in my view since neither irritating faff trumps the other, since in this scenario I was there first, I can choose my seat accordingly!

Birdsgottafly I have been sexually harassed lots of times in public transport, as have the vast majority of women. I won’t be told where to sit to prevent being sexually hasrrassd and what’s more they’ll do it regardless of where you sit.

I would do it because I have long legs and feel claustrophobic if I'm stuck in the window seat. Thankfully I rarely, if ever, use the bus because it's more expensive than taking the car.

@time40. If they are able bodied and not pregnant, then IMO they are being selfish. If people are infirm, or elderly (or pregnant) and need to sit down, fine sit where you like. These people in greater need should have priority, especially over someone like me who is able bodied, etc.

The people who occupy 2 seats (one for their oh so important bag) or sit oblivious with bag on seat with headphones on are being selfish. Everyone needs to get on, and as many people as physically can need to be sat down.