People now wanting 2 seats to themselves on public transport

[Highheelprincessnextdoor]

I’m genuinely confused about what I’m meant to do as a person who uses both trains and buses daily. I work a 10 hour shift and on my way home my whole body hurts and I would love to be able to have a seat for my journey home which takes me 1.5 hours (bus & train) but it seems that no one wants to let you be because they all want a gap in the chairs. In the last month I will list below the things I have seen.

I get on and a woman puts her arm out to stop me, telling me not to sit next to her and to go somewhere else and physically blocked the seat so I couldn’t even get near it. It was so embarrassing so I just walked off. The next day two men were fighting because one tried to sit down and the other didn’t want him sitting next to him so shoved him away... which spilled his coffee everywhere. They tried to fight with each other but eventually the man moved away. And today is the best one.... one woman taking up 4 chairs with her legs spread out!! I can’t even make this up. How are these people so selfish?? The other people are the ones who leave their handbag on the next chair when there are people forced to stand up. Like your bag is so precious that it needs it’s own chair!

Im now scared to sit down for fear that someone will tell me I'm not allowed. People sit down next to me every journey and I say nothing. Is it because of social distance? Because even with a gap in chairs we aren’t a good distance apart and are all breathing each other’s germs anyway. If the government want people to follow this social distance rule then they should put no entry tape on every other chair again like they used to. I have had times where I’m literally going to pass out from being in pain and had to stand up for the whole journey. What’s everyone else doing? Sitting or no sitting?

I've seen people sit on a bag before now, it was soon moved.

Our local travel operators have posters up advising people to give other spaces where possible as well as ones reminding people to be respectful of others. I'd say if someone doesn't want anyone sitting next to them then that should be accepted and you should find someone who doesn't mind.

I ask them to move their bag and sit down. I've yet to encounter anyone saying no. Not sure how I'd deal with that tbh.

On busy public transport you have to let people sit down. You stand up if you don’t want anyone sitting beside you. (Is what I think should be said to them, not you OP)

There are no rules about not using every seat at the moment so I think the people who don't want to sit next to someone need to either stand or use transport at a quieter time/not at all.

@Hospedia should I go along the train asking people? I’m scared that if I ask they will say no. None of us want to sit next to strangers.... we have to though if we take public transport. Well clearly some people don’t have to.

Just sit on their bag. They'll soon move it. I've seen it happen often over many years of commuting.

I get on and a woman puts her arm out to stop me, telling me not to sit next to her and to go somewhere else and physically blocked the seat so I couldn’t even get near it.

Big smile. "There aren't any double seats free and I need to sit". And sit.

I'm pregnant and I don't want to sit next to anyone really, but that's my problem - so if someone does sit next to me, I get up and stand. I'd rather have some space but that shouldn't stop someone else sitting.

@NuffSaidSam

There are no rules about not using every seat at the moment so I think the people who don't want to sit next to someone need to either stand or use transport at a quieter time/not at all.

If they're so worried then they should drive or take a taxi. One ticket buys you one seat

Shoving strangers and fighting is obviously not on, but I have a lot of sympathy for people trying their best to maintain social distancing when it isn’t being particularly supported by the operators or authorities.

I don’t travel regularly but I when I do, I do not sit next to anyone else, and stand if I have to. Wear a mask the whole time except when I had to eat/drink. Avoid the sets of 4 seats as it’s easier to distance on a 2-seat.

@MrsTerryPratchett

I get on and a woman puts her arm out to stop me, telling me not to sit next to her and to go somewhere else and physically blocked the seat so I couldn’t even get near it.

Big smile. "There aren't any double seats free and I need to sit". And sit.

And if she doesn't like it - she moves!

If they want to take up two seats they should pay for two tickets.

I ask people all the time OP! Have yet to encounter resistance, just a smiley 'may I..?' whilst gesturing at bag or seat and job's a good'un.
Mind you this is in fairly central London, so maybe everyone's a bit more practiced at sharing personal space?

As long as you have a mask, you're welcome to sit beside me

@Hospedia

Our local travel operators have posters up advising people to give other spaces where possible as well as ones reminding people to be respectful of others. I'd say if someone doesn't want anyone sitting next to them then that should be accepted and you should find someone who doesn't mind.

I would say that if someone does not want someone sitting next to them then they can be the one who has to stand.

True @Nanny0gg

I come across it, its very rude of them tbh.

@MintJulia

As long as you have a mask, you're welcome to sit beside me

If they're exempt they're welcome to sit too. Who made you the arbiter of who's exempt?

Surely your ticket ensures you a seat?! I'd suggest taking it up with the driver but I'm guessing it's not their problem/, they're not paid enough for the confrontation etc etc.
I don't know the answer. I can't believe people can be so rude or unkind as to not let a fellow passenger sit down.
I feel for you OP, and I'd happily let you sit next to me! We're all masked up and double- jabbed so no reason not to.

I have a lot of sympathy for people trying their best to maintain social distancing when it isn’t being particularly supported by the operators or authorities.

It’s a bus though, how can the operator support social distancing? Schools are open, people are physically back at work, no one would get anywhere if buses tried to have social distancing. If you say every other seat must be empty, you increase the number of people standing, so they have to be crammed together. If you avoided that by not letting people on, you’d end up with huge numbers of people at the bus stop and everyone would be very late. The bus I get on to work is rammed, you’re barely 6 inches from several people at once, let alone 6 feet. What can the bus operator do? You’d need 10 times the number of buses, or for people to stop going to school/the office.

@SickAndTiredAgain brilliant points you’ve made, totally agree, not sure what we are expected to do. It’s kind of impossible to distance on public transport isn’t it

If you don’t want someone sitting on the seat next to you on public transport the options are:

1. Don’t take public transport
2. Avoid busy times
3. Stand

I don’t think people should be preventing others from using seats.

@MintJulia

As long as you have a mask, you're welcome to sit beside me

Who are you to police if they are exempt or not?

If they're exempt they're welcome to sit too. Who made you the arbiter of who's exempt?

In my well conducted study of TFL users, the largest group of 'exempt' are young, fit-looking, white men. It seems privilege and exempt status are closely linked. Who knew?