Children should be told to give up their seat on a bus if there's an adult who finds it harder to stand.

[DesolationRow]

I was on a packed bus today with my friend who's in her late seventies. She's not frail but is clearly an older woman who walks quite slowly and hasn't got the best balance. We were going to the seaside and as it's the first day of the school holidays there were lots of families with young children on the bus. Many of the seats were occupied by children from toddlers to early teens and absolutely none of them offered her their seat and their parents neither told them to nor offered their own seats.

Do most people now really think a child should have a seat of their own when there's someone who needs it more? If so, why?

I realise there will be some children with disabilities/ conditions that mean they do need a seat of their own but most preschool children can sit on their parents lap and most children over five can stand for a bus journey can't they?

Old people pay tax too. My council tax easily exceeds the cost of a few bus rides. Your children - if you have them - are being educated from the tax I pay.

The elderly find it harder to move, stand, and need the toilet more often. Do you think people are only worth how much money they make?

I have a 2 and 4 year old and if anyone elderly gets on then I will immediately stand up and hold a child so that they can sit. But please remember very small children are quite vulnerable too I can't hold
Both of them without falling over myself. I actually have the opposite where I live and everyone bends over backwards to help each other which is lovely. Someone today held my buggy as the brake had gone so I could sit safely with my son.

Not if the parent already has a baby or toddler on their knee. Or I would have chosen to stand and give my child the seat from age three as three year olds are not at all comfortable to have on a lap for any length of time.

Absolutely agree. Just basic manners, my 2yr old would sit on my knee and my 5yr old would stand next to me holding on.
The same people letting healthy children have seats whole elderly people stand are the same type who are still "baby wearing" 5 and 6 year olds on the way to school. Absolute madness.

So if I have a three year old on my knee I should stay seated but if just my three year old has a seat they should have to get up and stand with me? It's still one seat being occupied whether I am with the child or not.

Toddlers and young children shouldn't be giving up their seat for an older adult that's ridiculous. The adults on the bus should give their seats. Teenagers should give up their seats too.

Far less dangerous for a child to fall over then an elderly person. Stop wrapping kids up in cotton wool they are stronger than you think and the lessons of respect and manners they will learn will serve them well.

Shouldn’t the same be said about elderly people? The assumption that elderly people are all fragile is disrespectful and many would have an issue with that. My in-laws are in their late 70s and are not frail in the slightest as are many of their friends who are in the same age bracket.

I'd like to think if someone was struggling someone would offer them their street, but not really sure why you feel it should be a child. Why not a parent, computer, shopper or just that woman in the denim jacket. Why a child?

If I was going on a bus trip to the seaside (ie not 15 min ride), I'd stay in my seat with my children. If I was making a short journey and one of my children was small (up to 3?) I might put them on my knee to release a seat for someone. If I felt someone should give up their seat for someone else, I'd make sure it was me, not my children. I'd no more tell my kids to give up their seat than my sister or the bloke behind me.

The fact remains that regardless of whether you or they think they’re frail, they’re far more likely to break a bone - hips are particularly vulnerable - if they fall than a younger person.

I remember there used to be signs on buses saying 'Children must not occupy seats whilst adult passengers are standing.' Which was possibly a bit inflexible, but I do think children who are small enough to sit on a parent's lap should do so if the bus (or train) is full.

I can't see much wrong with expecting older children (disabilities/health/height issues aside) to give up their seat either. Nothing wrong with modelling a bit of consideration for others imo, though no doubt this will be greeted with howls of derision by some.

I guess I'd never stand while my 3 year old sat on the seat So I assumed if your child was seated you would be too hence two seats with one to give up

Why? I don't need a seat, just the small child. If they were younger I'd want to be holding onto them, but at three I could give up my seat and stand next to them. I don't want a three year old bony bum sat on me, it hurts!

Disagree with your logic in terms of "I paid this much and got here first." Everyone else paid as well...sounds like an excuse for bad manners.

I grew up in a city and have taken the bus my whole life. I've given up my seat to the elderly since I was a kid - it's common bus courtesy. Part of it is respecting your elders, but it's also about recognizing that you are more able-bodied than they are. They're doing the responsible thing by taking the bus rather than trying to drive themselves. Their children and grandchildren are probably busy during the day, so the bus is their best way is getting around.

I wish more people would be aware of their surroundings and have some empathy. One day that elderly person on the bus might be you, and if somebody was like, "I paid $6 for this seat, too bad for you," how would you feel then? If you were sat in a handicap seat, would you not give it up if someone in a wheelchair got on? If you saw a pregnant woman standing on the bus, you'd just let her stand?

They shouldn't be forced!
If they've been brought up with respect they would offer 👍🏻

It does annoy me seeing small children having a seat each side by side when they could for example share a seat. I do also think parents should balance children on their knees if young enough. Otherwise, I think normal bus etiquette rules and children are under no more obligation to move! Why didn't one of the healthy adults stand? Tbh I would think pretty poorly of any parent who made their child stand while they sat down

What I cannot abide mind is people putting dogs on seats and leaving the dog to occupy a seat whole the bus is standing room only!

I personally find it absolutely appalling that you would get on this thread and tell us that children should have to give up their seats to accommodate an elderly woman when you were likely sitting and didn't do that. She should be sitting in your seat but I'm assuming she wasn't. You're entitlement to other children. Behaving the way you want them to just ain't it. This gives Boomer energy. Any of the adults could have given up their seats. Why do you specifically think children should have to do that? Children and a young age are naturally supposed to be thinking about just themselves. They are built with a strong ego for survival. They shouldn't be expected to have any attention on whether or not an elderly person can sit nor should they be expected to know that elderly people are fragile! They barely understand that glass is fragile. Get up out of your seat and let her sit down and stop expecting so much from literal children. Expect this from adults, not kids.

Up to 7 or 8 they can perch on a parents knee. That's what we did and everyone coped. After that they're old enough to stand.

Are all these 9 and 10 year olds who couldn't possibly balance on a bus the ones I see climbing up and scrambling across all kinds of equipment in playgrounds?

@Toomanythalias Up to 7 or 8 they can perch on a parents knee. That's what we did and everyone coped. After that they're old enough to stand.

So is an adult though. A 9 year old isn’t any less worthy of a seat than a healthy 40 year old.

Are you honestly that thick to think the OP was seated and then made this post? You have also completely missed the point that it’s not aimed at the kids it’s aimed at the entitled parents who take up multiple seats when kids could easily sit on laps/parents should stand.

How to tell me you didn't read the OP without telling me you didn't read the OP...

I'd say under 5s should go on knees, 6-10 should remain seated, 11+ should stand. I'm assuming all able bodied.

Ok boomer. Boomers can't comprehend sacrifice and discomfort for themselves, but will say a 10 year old should stand in pain on a bus ride so they don't have 2. This was always debatable. It was not always done. Adults should take care of kids more then the other way around. There's often reserved seating 4 Elderly and disabled on certain busses and even that is not always fair

The healthy 40 year old will be more likely to have paid than the healthy 9 year old though