Was I a bus weirdo

[Buswonker]

This was prior to lockdown

I got on the bus to work, it was full so I had no choice but to sit next to someone

3 stops later and half the bus get off at a popular area.

My stop is the next one so I don't bother moving and stay sat next to a stranger

She asked if I was planning on moving now the bus has emptied. I said I was getting off next and she mumbled something under her breath

Am I a weirdo to stay sat next to a stranger when the bus emptied? Would you immediately move to an empty seat?

I've been thinking about this for 18 months 😂

Pre-Corona - YANBU

Post-Corona - YABU

The onus is on her to move.

In London we don't sit next to each other on the bus at the moment so I would have asked you to move as soon as you sat down, Op!

I would have stayed sitting next to her but no doubt fiddled about like a Danny making it obvious I was getting off. I'd feel like a right tit moving for one stop

I definitely wouldn't have moved. Firstly because I wouldn't want to offend her and secondly because it was only one more stop. She had no idea what was going through your mind and shouldn't have said anything. She's the one who should be embarrassed!

@TheCanyon

Another reason I didn't move, felt like it'd be even weirder to move for the sake of one stop!

Is this a British overly polite thing?

It's been a dull year. But I know what you mean. I still wake up covered in sweat thinking of something I did 20 years ago.

For it would depend on how far away the next stop was.
In the city I now live in I wouldn't move for one stop unless the person really was smelly. But I used to live rurally and in places the stops were miles apart so I would have moved.

@Weirdfan

I would have agonised over this decision, stay put and risk bus-weirdness or move and risk offending the stranger. By the time I'd arrived at a decision it would've been nearly time to get off anyway so it would have been a moot point. Does that make me a bus weirdo? Or just really indecisive

Me too! Whenever this happens, I gave a kind of internal conversation. Like “ok, you should move now” “No, don’t move, it’s completely irrational. Just stay put as though you haven’t noticed” “Or you could make it look like you had another reason to get up, go and pick up a copy of the metro or something” “Shut up man, its hardly worth bothering, I’m getting off in a minute”

I wouldn't move for one stop on a bus. Surely that's not far? Its not like on a train when it could be Birmingham to Milton Keynes!

If you had got up and moved it might have looked rude, as if she smelled bad or something.

Well, she asked OP to move, so perhaps OP smelled bad

Oh, why are you still dwelling on it?

I don’t catch buses so am assuming 1 stop generally only takes a few minutes?

I definitely would have moved as I hate sitting next to random people - I think most people my age (20s) would. It never would have occurred to me that the other person would be offended! Surely they’d be happy for the extra space. I would have stood up and waited for the bus to stop if I didn’t want to sit down again. But I’m healthy and active so no real pressing need for me to be seated at all times.

I wouldn't have moved for only one stop. You've got your seat all warm!

However more than that, then definitely. I also hate it when the bus is empty and the person next to me (by the walkway) won't move

I always move if a seat becomes free. I think you should have moved especially as she was there first and I presume in the window seat - you wouldn't have had to awkwardly ask her to move so she could get out to move seats.

She should have given it at least one stop to see if you were bus weirdo or perfectly normal woman.

She's possibly got an AIBU on Netmums - 'I asked this woman to move when the bus emptied but it turned out she was getting off at the next stop. Am I a bus weirdo?'

I'd have moved to an empty set of seats but to the aisle seat and wouldn't have settled myself down. Just kind of perched on it until the time came to get up for my stop.

I more surprised that you’ve been thinking about this for 18 months . Who cares , let it go .

I'd have moved or said I'll be off at the next stop without being prompted by her.

I think if you could have said some like "but I like sitting here, it's nice" in a Kenneth William's nasally sort of voice she might have chosen to move herself.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles 😂

I would have moved, but then I’m one of those weird people who never sit next to anyone on the bus I would rather stand! What I find weirder though is people who sit next to you when there are plenty of completely empty seats?! Like what is that about? I was on the bus not long ago and my 3 year old was sat next to me and some woman came over and asked for the seat, I don’t think she saw my 3 year old because when she noticed her she said “oh” then sat on the completely empty seat behind us

I'm not plagued by this, it's just popped up in my mind a few times and now I'm checking it in with you lot!

@Happycat1212

See, I'd consider that to be a proper bus weirdo and if someone purposely sat next to me when there are other empty seats of probably get up and move not trusting their intentions !

I doubt it would have occurred to me to move. But I don't take busses very often.

I've been thinking about this for 18 months

Well that's certainly weird!

I'd probably have shuffled to the nearest free seat at that point, yes.

I would have moved as soon as there was an empty seat (as in empty 2 seats, not moved next to someone else). However I find it quite rude that she asked you this. So I think youre a bus wierdo but at least youre not rude :)