Are people on public transport just generally rude in London?

[ThatFridayFeeling11]

I live in Essex and went on the train to London last weekend. Dh and I took our two children aged 1 and 4. We go up to London quite a lot to see friends, visit places and we normally drive and just take advantage of any free weekend parking outside the congestion zone. But last weekend we thought we'd give thr trains a go. The vibe on trains really changes once you get into London and there's a general rudeness and indifference. I'm not saying that people should give you any special treatment because you've got a baby and young child but a little consideration would have been nice. On the dlr, nobody offered their seat even though i was holding a baby and very obviously wobbling all over the place.

One of the lifts was broken at a station so dh carried the pram down some steps and I took the children down the escalator. I had dd in my arms and ds holding my hand. A man pushed past to overtake us and walk down the escalator and nearly made ds topple over. Ok, I get people do that on busy working days, but on a Saturday afternoon?!

And when we did manage to get into another lift at a different station, 3 men got out and said to us to give the lift a few minutes airing time as they'd been smoking substances in there.

There were many moments similar to this during our day out. Maybe we were just unlucky but it really put me off going on public transport in London with young children. It has left me with the impression that it's just every man/woman for him/her self. We're from SE Essex so not exactly a sheltered, rural place. AIBU over this or can anyone relate?

Except for the Queen

Never noticed it in London. People just keep to themselves, which is fine.

I used to get the tube every day when I lived in London. There is a lot of indifference but it is just how people cope when they are using a mass transit system every day. The London Underground moves millions of people and takes getting used to. I do not think it it is necessarily rude, being quiet and keeping to yourself can be the politest thing to do in a crowded situation. It is certainly how many people cope with the highly stressfully experience of commuting in London. Often visitors and day trippers do not get it. The local bus where I live now is far more pleasant but is rarely packed out, you do not have to walk in crowded tunnels to get to it, totally different experience and not worth comparing.

I lived there for over 10 years with kids and had the opposite experience- helpful people carrying buggy, seats given when I was pregnant, doors held open. Never saw anyone smoking drugs in a station!
compared to most cities Londoners are actually very helpful on public transport - the whole waiting til people or off the tube before you try to get on still astonishes my US relatives.

I had to get the tube every day in London when pregnant with both of my DC and would be offered a seat most days to be honest. There are so many people there are bound to be a few A holes so they stand out but most people are OK.

Some people are total dickheads. A man made me cry the other day on the overground - I was feeling a bit fragile and unwell, he was sitting in the aisle seat of two seats, I asked to sit down and he shouted at me and was horrible. No one said anything. I was disappointed in everyone then. It was horrible.

But there are wankers the world over.

I live in Essex also

I would say the majority of the time on the tube there are people willing to give up their seat but not all of the time

I remember taking my Nan on the tube and I was holding her up and she was holding the hand rail and someone offered up their seat for her which was lovely

I’ve also seen heavily pregnant woman struggling or elderly people struggle whilst no one gives up their seat

I do agree with some of the other posters that actually it might just be easier to ask if you do need a seat, it would be great if everyone offered their seat for less able but being honest most people are in their own little world and do not really think

Personally as someone young and able I always offer my seat for someone who looks like they need it

I've lived in london with two young kids (teenagers now) and never found this using public transport. People always offered to carry the buggy for me when I had two little DC with me. And my local station had stairs and no lift.

Public transport is busy and some people are in a rush. 🤷🏻‍♀️

What about in Essex? Is everyone always kind and helpful there? No, didn't think so.

Yes during the queens funeral weekend there was a dog on the tube and it was shocking how friendly everyone was! That period in london was odd as people were actually being nice to each other! I’m from the north but live in the south east for 20 odd years now so I’ve got used to the non friendly nature on the tube but now and then I get surprised!

I 100% agree with this. Manners if we call them that are much worse in tourist areas and at weekends than they are in commuter areas in the week.

I think Londoners follow the rules. The tourists are more annoying unaware.

Of course some people are rude, especially on the tube. Lots of people aren’t. However, you’ll going to get attacked by all the hardcore Londoners who cannot stand it when someone is slightly critical.

I broke my finger a few years ago and it strapped together. I was amazed to be offered seats on the train. Always by women but it was really nice. I never accepted though.

And when I was having a very bloated day I was offered a seat by a young man. It was embarrassing for both of us.

PMSL at ‘hardcore Londoners’! 😂😂😂

Shout going out to my fellow hardcore Londoners!!! London massive!

Whenever I've been to London I've always thought how bloody miserable everybody on the trains looks

And then you come to Australia where it’s the norm to stand on the left so if you stand on the right on escalators you will get lots of eye rolls as “bloody tourists” 😂

‘What about in Essex? Is everyone always kind and helpful there? No, didn't think so.’

….Gemma Collins leaves the chat…

I always found people ruder on the weekends (when it was mostly tourists) than during rush hour on London transport. I remember my first day going to work on the tube and my new shoes were cutting into the backs of my feet making me bleed, a woman ran up beside me and gave me a plaster.

On public transport most people keep to themselves so have their head in their phone etc. You are trapped with a bunch of strangers on a train in a tunnel far underground, so most people retreat into themselves. If you wanted or needed a seat you should have just said out loud 'please may I have a seat for me and my baby' and someone would have stood up for you, probably several in fact. No one is scanning the car waiting to notice you and your child.

Rule is on escalators is stand on the right, walk on the left. If your boy was standing next to you, he was in the way. The person should not have pushed past as you clearly didn't have a clue but next time know that you should not block the left side of the escalator.

And yes, people work on the weekend and have places to go so will not want to stand on the escalators but walk to get where they are going faster.

And when we did manage to get into another lift at a different station, 3 men got out and said to us to give the lift a few minutes airing time as they'd been smoking substances in there.

I've lived in London 14 years and have never experienced anything like that, you were really unlucky

I have a different experience, to the point I’m a bit embarrassed to be offered a sit for me and my six yr old for a few stops when we can stand just fine. I went in the tube with 3 5 and older the other day and all four of us were offered seats (no chat, just people move).

I guess the escalator thing though is a bit London. I’ve always stood on one side, even with 3 under 5. When I had the buggy though men would always offer to take it down. People will still walk past, unless you take the buggy on the escalator- then people will hold it happily and give space.

The substance smoking was probably just a friendly heads up

Whenever I've been to London I've always thought how bloody miserable everybody on the trains looks

Don't worry, they all cheer up once you get off.

At the weekend the vast majority of people using the tube in the central zone are out of towners. Mainly from Essex. Compared to weekdays where it's pretty much all Londoners commuting.

There's your answer.
Londoners are generally lovely to people who need help/seats.

Definitely ruder in London. A man shoved me with his rolled up newspaper the last time I went.

God you should try public transport in Paris. I haven’t really noticed this about London, mostly found people keep to themselves. They’re a lot less likely to try to strike up a conversation with you than on public transport in the NE where I’m from, but I’m completely ok with that! Agree step free access is appalling in London though.

@Zingy123 Why did he do that?