Is this a thing on the bus now in London?

[IrritatedEarthling]

I'm in London for work this week, I don't live there. I'm visibly pregnant (shouldn't make a difference to this story)

I went to the bus stop to wait for the bus, it was only five minutes' wait (hooray, London!)

I stood near to the bus stop sign, rather than sitting inside the shelter. Whilst I was waiting, some other women - three of them - arrived separately with some small children. They looked about 5-7 years old. I realised that they were nannies as the children were addressing them by their Christian names, rather than "Mummy". The ladies knew each other as they chatted together.

One lady stood close to me.

A bus arrived, and someone got off and walked away, and as I didn't get on it, it now became clear that I was waiting for the only other bus that visits the stop.

As the bus arrived, the lady near me stepped ahead of me to get on the bus. It's hard to describe, but i had thought I was in the "getting on" position, and I had my payment hels out in my hand. The other two ladies approached too, stepping ahead of me. However as I was first, I- without pushing, touching or glaring, stepped ahead of lady number 2.

I was thinking, well I was here first.

But I heard her say to my back, "Really?!" as though I was very rude. I got on and the priority seat had been taken by lady number one, so I went and sat a few seats back.

Was I rude? Are you supposed to give priority to people with children? I do have a child of my own aged 4 and when I was with him in the evening yesterday nobody let us cut in front, and neither did I expect it.

What should I have done? How does the queue system for a bus work now in London?

It's not an example when you are citing how the world was over 70 years ago.

I'm currently 7 months pregnant and well aware of the jostling on London buses. Not sure how you surmised that I am "participating in the decline of society" from me pointing out that we are no longer living in the 1950's.

London is a busy city, with a much denser population than it had 70 years ago, as well as a much wider mix of people from all over the world with extremely different backgrounds and views on etiquette.

The only way there can be a "rule" about this is if the bus companies put up a sign and create a queuing lane.

You can't assert your own norms on the whole of London. It's just not practical in 2025.

I wear a baby on board badge and if there are no seats when I get onto the bus/ tube, I ask for one. I've never had a situation where someone didn't stand up.

Don’t ever write a book OP.

That is all completely irrelevant.

You criticised the OP simply for using the term "Christian names".

My point was that this is a completely standard term in England-English meaning, "first names". Are you aware of that?

Every single language contains words and phrases that obviously or obliquely reference the culture of where that language developed.

The OP should be free to use the words and terms of her own (presumably native) language.

Would you be so quick to criticise a speaker of any other language on the basis that the etymology of the words they are using reference their native culture and therefore shouldn't be applied to anyone outside that culture?

I actually think London drivers are more polite than when I visit my parents in the Midlands. Here drivers are happy to let you out onto busy roads if turning right, give way to you if needed and not drive 2cm behind your car in a queue of traffic so no one can pull in in front of them. Midlands drivers would rather crash their car then swear at you than do any of that.

I left London 20 years ago and it was like that then. Just a crowd of people selfishly pushing their way on. It's no way to live.

Really? /unironically

@TheFluffyTwo My point was that this is a completely standard term in England-English meaning, "first names". Are you aware of that?

You come across as rude. The term is dated.
If I asked the 4 people for their Christian names, I suspect they would say that the term was outdated and potentially offensive.
(FWIW, I am British not English, and I am a Christian).

Ignore all the snarky, nitpicking comments OP. Some people feel the need to put others down to make themselves feel superior. That’s Mumsnet sadly.

Your feelings are completely justified. 86% of voters think the same.

Go to where have to go and go home again. I never got into any arguments when I was living in London. It ain't worth the trouble.

Wouldn't explain it outside London.

Everywhere I've lived there are no signs and the informal bus queue operates in order of who turned up first - and anyone jumping would get dirty looks and maybe words pointing out others were there first.

I wouldn't dwell on it - it's one of those things.

‘Christian’ names ?? (Misses point of thread)

These days? It’s been like it for years. My grandma gave a couple of women a similar age to her a few words of her mind about 20 years ago when they pushed in front of me.

@TheFluffyTwo , you might like to be reminded that it is possible to be English and not a Christian.
The use of the term Christian name to mean first or given name could be interpreted as antisemitic.

Not a good idea with rude people, can even be dangerous.

My usual experience is that people do wait their turn. Some young kids tend to crowd around but certainly most adults understand the etiquette.

I use local buses all over the uk, and london buses are among the best, they're great - maybe it's just your local bus route that is a problem

Other cultures don’t queue they just barge on, it’s very noticeable abroad.
I tried to stand back to let a very elderly nun on the bus a couple of weeks ago and it was only the brits in the queue who followed my lead; other nationalities just pushed past.

To be fair, there could be as many as 8 different bus routes calling at a stop, making queuing difficult. If you don’t indicate you want that bus you might not get it to stop! That being said, I often find that once the doors are open people go out of their way to allow others on. Not everyone; some a dicks, but there are dicks everywhere.

It could be interpreted as Christian-centred and therefore not inclusive of atheists and other religions, but there is nothing about it that singles out Jewish people over any other religion/ethnicity.

I did also notice the term and I wouldn't consider it very PC, but it's not shocking enough to comment on.

Where's it gone?

However, I would also say that there is a spectacular queue for the 388/149 outside London Bridge every weekday morning. Truly, a thing to behold.

If you're in such a rush, why not leave more time for your journey? Its much nicer to let people on, theres no need for the argy bargy.

I live on very edge of South London. Round here most people defer to the person who has been waiting longest. I probably wouldn't expect this in central London where there are more tourists/youngsters who just don't care et cetera

I think someone already mentioned waterloo station. Go there to se how the long queues work, including multiple doors for the Holborn bus. Everyone lines up neatly per bus at the multi-stop, and queues ready per door for the single long bus. (Then random people push in once the queue starts to board, and irritate everyone.) Don't get into one bus, no bother, take the next. Same withe tubes like waterloo & city / jubilee, everyone neatly queues and isn't phased by waiting 2 trains. Unless they don't, but it does no good to get irritated 6 times per day so shrug and ignore.