What age should you offer people a seat on a bus?

[smemorata]

I'm not talking about pregnant women or people with an obvious problem standing, but what about the elderly? I am asking because I am 46 and have been offered a seat three times this month. I don't think I look older than my age. Yes, I know I should accept with good grace but a bit of me is dying inside! Do I really look so frail??
Yanbu - only offer your seat if you are sure the person is an oap and a wobbly one at that.
Yabu - accept it and enjoy the sit down.

and I can still do a handstand (but not on the bus)

^^

My mum is 70 but looks much younger, more like late 50s.
She never gets offered a seat!
Yet she has a spinal fracture & bad arthritis.

The problem is for her that round here south of England there are SO many older people that on certain buses she can't even get a seat, so she is driving for as long as possible.

Ftr I wasn't out of breath or carrying heavy bags and I don't have grey hair. I must conclude that I just naturally look knackered.

I don’t agree that it’s not about age, ive never seen anyone offer someone in their 20s a seat unless they had crutches or are pregnant. Same for 30s tbh.

No particular age but anyone who appears to need it more than you. So could even be someone juggling lots of bags or who looked a bit tired if you were feeling generous / didn’t feel the need of a seat yourself.

Anyone who looks like they need it more than me.

It is not really age, it is mobility, ability to move, tiredness too.

What @SuzieSunshine said is right. Accept with thanks.

My DF said "I don't like being offered a seat by someone who looks older than I feel". He was about 90 at the time.

Probably 70 ish or younger if they look unsteady. It’s so awkward though. I offered my seat to a woman on the tube a few years ago. She must have been at least 85, very wobbly and hunched over and she yelled ‘I’m not dead yet love!’ at me and was muttering angrily for the rest of the journey.

Well,I'm 56,which I don't regard as old,but I am (visibly) disabled,and it's very hit and miss as to whether I get offered a seat on public transport.
A few years ago,a family member (who I am no longer in contact with) said that the reason I probably don't always get offered a seat on public transport is because I'm overweight! I was at this,and asked him to explain. He said that a lot of people don't feel any sympathy towards someone who is disabled and overweight,as they think it is of their own making. I just wonder how much truth there is in this 'theory'. Are people really so prejudiced towards us fatties?

Sorry OP, didn't mean to derail your thread. As to your question,I think it's an absolute minefield. I've witnessed quite elderly people get rather offended when they're offered a seat,but on the other hand,I've witnessed them getting narky because they HAVEN'T been offered a seat!

You might be right thinking along those lines @ALongHardWinter I have 2 friends that both use sticks and/or mobility scooters. The overweight one seems to rarely be treated with courtesy, while the average weight one is almost all the time.

BitOfBirdSeed Sad isn't it?

managedmis and I can still do a handstand (but not on the bus)

I was first offered a seat on the tube at about 55, by a lovely young woman. To be honest, I was puzzled and it took a moment to register what she was doing! I link it to stopping dyeing my hair. 😄

I took the seat at my DD's nudging. As she said, later, it would have been churlish to refuse such a lovely gesture.

I'm ancient but fit and often give up my seat on the bus/tube to pregnant women, women struggling with children, elderly men etc. Angel, me. However on overcrowded trains I find people more selfish and never get offered a seat so tend to end up sitting on my rucksack with Ddog. That hasn't changed much - I remember getting on as a commuter aged 20 having sliced my knee falling on an escalator. No one gave me a seat (all men) and I was taken off an hour later by ambulance.

I find that I am rarely,if ever,offered a seat on the tube,although I am slightly luckier on buses. I think one of the biggest factors is that so many people have their nose buried in their phones these days that they wouldn't even notice if someone passed out on the floor in front of them.

I had my first proper train experience this week. Got seats but made sure my 3 year old was aware we were going to stand up for any one else who needed it as that was the right thing to do. But very shocked how many people sat with their bag on the seat blocking anyone sitting next to them who needed it or not. We weren't sure who at that to offer a seat to without looking rude but can't believe how many people stood like sardines by the doors when seats were reserved for bags

Maybe you look pregnant and not old

I’m 58. I don’t think I look my age and I’ve been told this (or were they just being kind?) I was offered a seat on the tube. Honestly I was upset. My husband tried to mitigate saying I might have limped. I don’t think I did but I can sometimes. It was a shock as I don’t think I’m there yet. Perversely when I was pregnant with my children I never got offered a seat despite being huge. In life there is no fairness or justice.

Maybe someone saw you sprinting and thought you could do with a seat after that! :)