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Original poster

People now wanting 2 seats to themselves on public transport

104 replies

Highheelprincessnextdoor · 30/11/2021 15:35

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?

OP posts:
Georgyporky · 30/11/2021 19:47

Even pre-covid, I'd ask/tell them to move their bag : if they didn't, I'd move it onto their lap or the floor.

turnaroundtime · 30/11/2021 19:55

@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.
if the only seat is next to someone who doesn't want someone next to them, then what do you suggest?
SixQuidGames · 30/11/2021 20:29

As a former rush hour tube commuter, I’m afraid those people would not get a choice. I will happily wear a mask and have done on public transport throughout but if you put your arm out to stop me sitting down, I will be sitting on your arm.

SixQuidGames · 30/11/2021 20:32

I was in my local supermarket recently (masked) and I wanted to get the lift down to the car park with my trolley. The woman already in the lift tried to tell me I couldn’t get in but we were both masked and the lift literally takes 5 seconds and is huge so not like I was crammed against her.

User135644 · 30/11/2021 20:39

You're lucky to even get a seat on a train in this country, let alone two.

VividGemini · 30/11/2021 20:57

[quote Highheelprincessnextdoor]@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.[/quote]
None of us want to ask other people to move - we have to though if we want to use public transport.

JudgeJ · 30/11/2021 21:07

@user1493494961

I've seen people sit on a bag before now, it was soon moved.
I did once threaten to do that and it was moved quickly!
prawntoastie · 30/11/2021 21:08

I find it so funny that people have witnessed others sit on peoples bags lol I would die if I saw that.
I don’t take public transport because of these types of things people are so entitled and angry these days

Boood · 01/12/2021 07:29

[quote Cordyceps]@Boood do you genuinely encounter oozing people who want to wipe their hands on you? Honestly in many many years of train journeys that has never once been an issue. Also move your bag or I’m sitting on it, thanks.[/quote]
You are clearly a very literal-minded person.

iloveheater · 01/12/2021 07:39

I space out, so if there are two seats, I sit on the end. If someone wants to sit on the other seat, I get up to let them in and I don't get back down again.

I really do need to sit, and I want to distance, but if someone wants to sit next to me, I can't tell them no, so I just stand instead. I think that's a reasonable compromise.

@WhenSepEnds said to drive or take a taxi. Well, I can't drive because I'm disabled, and I can't always get a taxi. Since the fuel shortage, taxis have been more reluctant to come to my neck of the woods and take me into town. Often public transport is the only option.

iloveheater · 01/12/2021 07:42

@SixQuidGames

I was in my local supermarket recently (masked) and I wanted to get the lift down to the car park with my trolley. The woman already in the lift tried to tell me I couldn’t get in but we were both masked and the lift literally takes 5 seconds and is huge so not like I was crammed against her.
It depends on the size of the lift as to whether you were unreasonable.

The lifts at my office can only fit four people in line with the Covid risk assessment. Sometimes eight people try to cram in, like old times.

If the lift has seven people in it, some kind person often tries to hold it for me. I just gesture I'll take the next lift. I'm not getting in one of those lifts with more than four people.

If the lift isn't big enough to space out, then you're being unfair.

hangrylady · 01/12/2021 09:04

@MintJulia

As long as you have a mask, you're welcome to sit beside me Smile
It's not up to you thought is it. You don't get to tell other paying customers where they can and can't sit.
MrsBison · 01/12/2021 09:06

@hangrylady

Well, now that the law requires a mask again, all passengers have a right to object to selfish maskless individuals who are breaking the rules, and not want to sit next yo them. Or better yet, kick them off the train.

hangrylady · 01/12/2021 09:09

@woodhill

I really don't want to sit next to anyone not wearing a mask now. I was not pleased recently when someone sat next to me without wearing one on the underground.

I'm not convinced they are necessarily exempt. People need to start wearing a lanyard if this is the case

Anyone can buy a lanyard for about £3 on Amazon so they're pointless
hangrylady · 01/12/2021 09:31

[quote MrsBison]@hangrylady

Well, now that the law requires a mask again, all passengers have a right to object to selfish maskless individuals who are breaking the rules, and not want to sit next yo them. Or better yet, kick them off the train.[/quote]
Yes they do, but they don't know why that person isn't wearing one and they don't have the right to stop them sitting.

Brainwave89 · 01/12/2021 10:11

If a seat is occupied by a bag, you ask politely if the person could move it so you can sit down. If the train is full, and no distancing is possible, then the first incumbent does not have the right to two seats. Sorry, but if you do not wish to sit next to people, then do not get a bus or train.

MrsBison · 01/12/2021 10:17

@hangrylady

Lets be honest, the number of people who genuinely have a medical reason for not wearing one (yet are well enough to travel by public transport), are probably only in the 1000s across the UK population of circa 60 million.

Lavender24 · 01/12/2021 10:19

@woodhill

I really don't want to sit next to anyone not wearing a mask now. I was not pleased recently when someone sat next to me without wearing one on the underground.

I'm not convinced they are necessarily exempt. People need to start wearing a lanyard if this is the case

No they do not "need" to wear a lanyard. Lanyards are optional.
MrsBison · 01/12/2021 10:20

And I agree that those with medical reasons for not wearing one, shouldnt.

But the problem is that a lot of people take the piss and use it as an excuse, even if they have no medical conditions at all.

(I have 2 actual conditions. And wearing a mask is a pain / is a bit challenging for me when walking or exerting myself or even standing in a train. But I still suck up and do it)

TomelettewithGreggs · 01/12/2021 10:21

[quote MrsBison]@hangrylady

Well, now that the law requires a mask again, all passengers have a right to object to selfish maskless individuals who are breaking the rules, and not want to sit next yo them. Or better yet, kick them off the train.[/quote]
How would this work? They will just say they are exempt, and they may be.

MrsBison · 01/12/2021 10:24

@TomelettewithGreggs

Please see my 2 following posts.

I agree that those actually exempt dont have to. But we all know/recognise the gobby types that try it on (e.g. tracksuit wearing, ponytail, argos jewellary)

Lavender24 · 01/12/2021 10:26

[quote MrsBison]@hangrylady

Well, now that the law requires a mask again, all passengers have a right to object to selfish maskless individuals who are breaking the rules, and not want to sit next yo them. Or better yet, kick them off the train.[/quote]
Passengers do not have a right to kick people off the train? And they can certainly object to sitting next to them but ultimately they can't stop them.

TomelettewithGreggs · 01/12/2021 10:32

@MrsBison I am a massive fan of masks and wear them because I take public transport daily. But I do not have the nerve to ask anyone to wear them. Always results in abuse. Also " tracksuit wearing types" may well be exempt and those who wear business suits may not. Bottom line: people will do as they please like always.

woodhill · 01/12/2021 17:38

@Lavender24

If it is a mandatory rule now to wear a mask on Underground then how do you show your exemption status. Wouldn't wearing a lanyard be a good idea?