Expected my 6 yr old to stand on the bus…

[TheViewFromTheCheapSeats]

Aibu. Bus was full with everyone at a window seat, but most aisle seats free.

Got on, I stood with the older ones but told my just six year old to sit. It’s a little jerky bus and also has few steps to fall down. She’s the kind of kid to fall, looks young so no way they thought she was older

4 women (each around age 30-50) put bags down or shooed her away from the empty seat next to them.

‘Social distancing’. Aibu to have been annoyed and spoken to them and told one to move her bag? In the end one flounced off dramatically and said she’d walk the last stop.

@funinthesun19

Children shouldn’t have to stand for adults. Not in 2021 anyway. I’m a fully grown adult and a 6 year old comes before me.

I see adults sit down while I stand, who then get up and clearly have way better balance than I have. I am in my fifties so not very old. It does stick in my craw that I am clinging on and then a child gets up from a seat and is practically skipping down the aisle. I stopped getting the bus.

Did she have a mask on? If not, I know it's not compulsory for children, but given primary aged children are in the two highest age groups for covid cases, it might be people didn't feel comfortable having someone next to them who was unable to offer any protection to others.

Some posters have spectacularly missed the point of the OP. It's not about if she should've balanced the family on her lap, ow what was done in the good old days.

Selfish cows were trying to keep 2 seats to themselves with the old handbag trick. When asked to move the bag they kicked off.

The child was not depriving anyone of a seat (unless the handbag had really tried legs?)

A lot of people just use covid to be an arsehole. If you don't want to be near people then don't go on public transport.

YANBU OP, well done for not tolerating that bollocks.

No if they were that bothered about covid they shouldn't be on a bus in the first place. Ridiculous.

I have a friend who on more than one occasion has just sat on people's bags when they haven't moved them. She says "people may not like it but they learn something".

Lots of CEV people have to get public transport to work. Why do you think people can choose to stay at home?

I stand for young children, they are much more likely to fall than me

No if they were that bothered about covid they shouldn't be on a bus in the first place. Ridiculous.

I cannot drive due to epilepsy. How else am I supposed to get to work? Grow wings?

What an ignorant comment.

@Fomofo I dont stand for them as I am more likely to fall than them. I am in my fifties. No children, even sporty teenagers never give up their seat for me.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy the rules on MN seem to be if you are cev or vulnerable, stay at home. Who cares if you need to work to pay the bills. No one gives a shit.

What vile attitudes some posters. If you a vulnerable but can’t afford a car or a taxi then it’s tough luck you should just risk serious illness.

@MyDcAreMarvel

What vile attitudes some posters. If you a vulnerable but can’t afford a car or a taxi then it’s tough luck you should just risk serious illness.

People have had 2 vaccinations, the vulnerable now have had 3. It's not going to get any safer than this. Covid isn't going anywhere.

@shouldistop of course it will get safer, don't be obtuse.

@MyDcAreMarvel

What vile attitudes some posters. If you a vulnerable but can’t afford a car or a taxi then it’s tough luck you should just risk serious illness.

Well what is the alternative? There is no requirement to socially distance currently. Another passenger on the bus is breaking no rules by sitting next to you. If you're so worried, the onus is on you to move

@BoredZelda

thanks, next time I’ll crowd in to them and sit down myself, with her on my lap. We’ll have 1.5x the seat entitlement between us so presumably everyone can move?

When a poster quotes another, it is safe to say their answer is in response to a specific question or comment made by the person quoted.

she also forgot disabled people and their free passes. Presumably they must also stand.

No, they would sit in the seats and spaces specifically assigned for them. At least, they would if so many parents didn’t think their precious children should be sitting down when they haven’t paid and leave the non assigned seats for fare paying passengers. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen kids sitting in seats with their entitled parents sitting beside them whilst elderly or disabled people struggle to stand on public transport.

The problem we have now is there are is a whole load of people who were never taught you get up and give your seat to someone who needs it more.

The problem we have now is there are is a whole load of people who were never taught you get up and give your seat to someone who needs it more.

You think a bag needed the seat more than a child did?

This thread is getting ridiculous. Surely it is a case by case question? When my children were little, they needed seats. Youngest is now 7 and perfectly able to stand. We give up seats for anyone who looks like they need them but not for a random, healthy adult.

And I don’t think it is possible to enforce social distancing on public transport if the general rules doesn’t. I can understand if some people are vulnerable (in spite of 3 jabs) but in rush hour, everyone needs to get on the bus/tube. You can’t create your own little bubble and refuse people to enter.

There should be a risk assessment from work and maybe travel at different times. And if work doesn’t offer that, contact the union.

I've had this several times with 3 of my DC. With DS 10 he has ADHD, is not safe standing up as he hangs off the pole, and is entitled to a priority seat, which I tell people unless they need it more than him.

@TheViewFromTheCheapSeatsWhy did you not sit down in one of the empty seats? I used to sit in one seat then sit in the nearest one to them. Did you ask if your little one could sit next to them before having a word?

Now that I'm an adult, I'm damned if I will stand for children to sit

But that’s not what OP was expecting anyone to do.

@cadburyegg

YANBU my eldest is 6 and i would be annoyed if he was made to stand

When my ds was 6 he sat on my knee. I would not have expected him to sit while adults were standing.

Julieca, I don't consider 50s old and I don't consider teenagers young, I am talking young children who are more likely to have bad balance, people in their 50s can have great balance

But agree that if bus is full you can't social distance. If that bothers you, you walk or take a taxi. The "flouncer" decided to walk - her choice.

On what OP calls a busy bus (so no one was 6 feet apart), with presumably either shut windows or those little ones that don’t open far, does it really make any difference, infection-wise, whether a child is sitting next to you or standing a few feet in front of you? Is it actually riskier? Or are they just difficult people who, pre-covid, probably found some other excuse to prevent anyone sitting next to them.

YANBU even social distancing/full bus a kid should take priority. When I was young kids were expected to stand for adults and it was scary and dangerous. Children are far less able to stand on a moving bus but some adults are just pricks and treat kids as lesser people. You stood up for her, good.
Bus priority=

1. Disabled
2. Pregnant
3. Child
4. Everyone else

@Fomofo I dont consider 50 old, but I have poor balance. Just means I don't bother taking buses any more.

@Chocolatewheatos I used to have to stand as a kid on a bus. It was always fine. But we were expected to be more robust than kids today.