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?

@HorseyMel I’m not trying to criticise, just where’s the humanity gone in the subject? If someone less able needs a seat you give them a seat…. You don’t just take a seat as it’s your £6 right….you’ve paid for transport, not comfort

At 11, I loved it if there was standing room only and/or I could give up my seat for someone older (not quite sure how old I considered 'older' at that age. I had great balance and loved to see what turns and bumps I could cope with, without holding on.

I'm 68 now, and my balance is not great. I don't need to have a seat offered but I am grateful when it is.

One pleasure I get in life is when I can do something for someone else ... without grossly inconveniencing myself - I consider it a win win. They win, 'cos of what I have done. I win 'cos of how it makes me feel.

Whilst nobody owes anyone anything, I think it is a shame that some people don't get to feel the pleasure of giving, especially when it has cost them nothing

When I see threads like this, I just want to weep. Age has nothing to do with this. It is about decency, manners and compassion on both sides. Is everyone only out for themselves all the time these days? What happened to the idea of community?

Not in Scotland @Blossomtoes free under 22 and.over 60, also free if not working.

@MichelleScarn because you acknowledge either has good balance yet you think your payment trumps their safety

When I was a child (a very long time ago) I was raised by my mum to give up my seat to adults on the bus. It wasn't something I whinged about. I didn't feel put upon. If anything I felt proud to be considered grown up enough to be able to help. The adults who sat down thanked me and were grateful, and I felt good about it. As far as I'm aware my friends, who were all brought up in the same way, felt the same.

I can't understand why today's children and their parents might look at things differently.

No way my kid is standing if other able bodies adults or teens can. She'd go on my lap if possible, but she'd keep the seat if not.

I was of the generation of giving up my seat,but now looking at my toddler son I'd rather he has a seat,of there's a crash who's going to go out the window first?

@Guiltridden12345 on a bus where there will almost certainly be plenty of able bodied adults able to give up a seat? Yes, I would let my 4 year old sit down on a seat if I couldn't put them on my lap because of my younger child.

If I didn't have a child on my lap and was sitting down and a 4 year old was standing, I'd offer to give up my seat for them. Young children need a seat more than able bodied adults, so if there's a bus load then the young child shouldn't be the one standing.

Young kids need to sit as do parents holding on to them. If your friend has mobility issues she needs to ask an adult without young children to give up their seat. I wouldn't offer a seat to a 70 year old as standard. I know plenty of 70 year olds who can stand on a bus no problem.

Because society has become completely selfish. I don’t know when it changed. Our kids (Gen X and millennials) were brought up the same way but they’re apparently the exception.

Ok, we'll all just fight amongst ourselves for (deliberately scarce resources - seats in this case) while the bosses take big pay packets and stuff their pensions - rather than lay on a bus with enough seats for all the tickets they've sold.

I'm sure some of you lot just love falling for all the tricks.

When I see threads like this, I just want to weep. Age has nothing to do with this. It is about decency, manners and compassion on both sides.

The thread is literally about age. OP has specifically referenced the children who didn't stand for her friend, not the parents, or any other adult on the bus.

weren’t there any priority seats? What sort of bus was this? Tbh I wouldn’t want to stand on a bus going 30 mph plus, it’s fine for short slow hops in cities.
Younger children should be on parents lap, usually they’re free because they’re not entitled to a seat.

Do, for the PP's who think IABU have I got this right..? If you were on a full bus with your 3 year old and 8 year old, each occupying your own seats, and someone got on who appeared to need a seat, NONE of you would free up a seat, or you might stand but you'd leave both children sitting in their own seats? I think this is really shitty behaviour and quite a recent change too. When I was in that situation I would have put the three year old on my lap and got the 8 year old to stand. I'm glad to know some people still think that's the decent thing to do.

@SaltyCrisps this is why.
We now have a generation of parents bringing up entitled kids who think it's someone else's duty to care, god forbid they should teach their own offspring how to have manners and respect.

I would never expect a child to stand as they are not very steady on their feet, can be slow to react and often daydreaming so may not be holding on tightly if the bus breaks suddenly. Personally I would offer my own seat if I saw any elderly or disabled person struggling. My partner would always offer his seat to a female, he’s just a bit old fashioned like that! But I don’t think it should be expected. Certainly not from children under 10.

YANBU. Smaller children (especially those that haven’t paid a fare) should sit on laps to make a seat for any adult, let alone an older person.

So you’d rather enough buses were run, that everybody got their valued seat for a of 3 miles, without a ticket price increase I guess? Run by some inept halfwit….but it’s ok, cos he’s cheap

Young children who can't reliably stand shouldn't give up their seats as they need them for safety but older children & adults (assuming able bodied) should.

I have a 7yo and a 5yo. On an average bus journey the 7yo would most likely fall over once or twice if standing. The 5yo would fall over every time the bus jolted. I'll happily give up my seat to someone who needs it more but my dc's need to sit down, they can share a seat if need be.

I would put the three year old on my lap, but I don't particularly understand why you think that's more "decent" than the parent themselves offering to stand. The seat gets given up either way.

Unless she’s in Scotland. All under 21’s and over 60’s are free on all buses.

Have small children changed in the last couple of decades? There never used to be kids falling over like skittles when it was the norm for them to stand so adults could sit down. Presumably they have to stand if the bus is full when they get on.