Kids should stand on public transport?

[Loulou599]

I was on a crowded 1.5 hour train where half of the passengers were standing. There were 3 kids ( not together, each with an adult) who were sitting in a seat, I would guess they were all roughly the same age, around 6 years old.
I thought that kids that age should either stand or sit on their parents lap (I know that's not the most comfortable but standing for an hour and a half isn't either).
What do you think? I just thought it was messed up that these kids were chilling in seats while you had a lot of people in their 50s/60s (not old, not visibly in discomfort) standing, but then I wondered whether it's harder for a child to stand at that age (I don't have kids).

I'd give you my own seat before I'd give you my six year old's, as (i) they have no sense of balance and would go flying every time the train slowed down and (ii) I'd be 1000% more comfortable standing than sitting with their boney bum on my lap.

In reality I have found that people often do stand to let small children have seats.

I’m currently on a train, we all have a seat (including our toddler), the train is yet to explode as two children are safely sat down.

Probably mainly parents who realise just how vulnerable kids are. Even kids up to 11 or 12 don't really have the strength to hold on if a bus is jerking them around.

Yes some 12 yos are huge others are still quite small.

I would definitely stand for a small kid.

I am a little bit off my free travel so I would partake in a seat before I accept the luggage rack as my fate

If I was going with my 3 I would put one on my head and one on each knee. Or maybe two in the luggage rack.

I can't imagine being that much of a dick that I go up to someone with a 4 yo and insist that they get up because I have paid.

And my point is that it's the official policy that the quid pro quo for under fives going free is that they should go on laps if paying passengers are standing.

Its much harder for children to stand. They have less balance and strength, they're less likely to be seen by people moving through the crowd, they're less likely to feel comfortable in close contact with strangers and their heads are closer to people's stinky arses and genitals.

What absolute rubbish. Do OAPs need to sit on laps or forgo their seats aswell? After all they also travel free.

How do you even know who has bought a ticket for their children? We always do so that we can use our family and friends Railcard

I understand that this is official policy. But what would the 'rule'be if I chose to let ab under 5 have "my" seat? So I get on public transport with a 4 year old. Pay for me, they are free. Can I choose to stand and let them have the seat? Even if other adults then have to stand?

You can book and reserve a seat for an under 5. Certainly a toddler could go on a lap, provided there is only one. I have three what would I be expected to do?

Trains cost enough money there should be seats for everyone - or if you are that concerned at a seat reserve one.

You shouldn't have to pay an extortionate sum for a ticket and stand, or pay for your family and be expected to stow them in the luggage rack.

They don’t travel free. They can get a senior railcard which allows discounted travel, just like a young person’s railcard or family and friends railcard.

I have a child who is under 10 but over 5 and she is always on my lap on PT

They can travel for free within London if they have the correct card.

This.

Anyone over retirement age can travel free on buses.

How is it maners to put children in danger for an adults comfort?
Children are less likely to be able to hold on than a fit and healthy adult.

Honestly people on this thread have such a strange perception of children. Apparently they are all too frail to stand! Madness!

I remember I was once sitting in an aisle seat on a train and a small child with a backpack over one shoulder ran down the aisle so fast (yes, train was moving, and they could run, amazing!) that when their bag hit me in the face my glasses flew halfway down the train carriage!

Adults are much more likely to have health conditions meaning it's more difficult for them to stand than a child is. (For all those saying "my child has dyspraxia/autism etc this doesn't apply to you, so don't all pile in).

Also, this is about offering their seat - the adult can always say no if they don't feel they need it (for all those saying they are 60 and wouldn't want to sit while a child stood).

Not to frail, too young to hold on sensibly and too short to reach lots of the hand grips.

A child being daft knocking your glasses off is a prime example of why children should be safely seated safer for all concerned.

Just be grateful it was just your glasses and not a bashed nose.

@Sugarfree23 of course he bashed my nose, his bag hit me full in the face! ...I was much more worried about my glasses they cost hundreds of pounds.

And parents are perfectly capable of telling their children how to hold on. It's really not rocket science. There are usually rails that reach to the floor and on the edge of seats, or failing that they can hold onto their parent.

As i said glasses can be fixed, even if they are pricy, it could easily have been a injury to you or the child, not so easy to fix.

What makes children more able to hold on and brace themselves on a moving bus or train than an adult?

Honestly people on this thread have such a strange perception of children. Apparently they are all too frail to stand! Madness!

For the millionth bloody time, it is not about being too frail to stand; it is about their ability to grip strongly enough to stay upright when buses move or stop very suddenly, which happens all the time.

Took the bus today. It pulled up very sharply and a couple of tourists who were standing (ready to get off the bus) fell over, CRASH, like a pair of ninepins. Buses lurch about a lot in this country, especially with the increasingly potholed state of the roads. Those who can hold on strongly should be the ones to offer their seats. Those of you moaning about seated children: offer your own seats, please, like I do, instead of whinging about kids.

If they asked my children for a seat, yes, I would expect them to give it up.

If I was already standing and someone asked unless the person was visibly frail / injured I'd probably say, the chidren are safer sitting please ask someone else.