I'm not sure they are just lazy. I'm a regular user of free off peak bus travel. In the last few journeys I have witnessed
A full on "fuck you, no fuck you" domestic row.
Dogs that smelled so badly i was almost throwing up.
Dogs above, sat on seats. God knows what they left behind for other people to sit on.
Young woman with soles of shoes in full contact with seat. See dog remark above.
Dysfunctional people attempting to engage anyone they can make eye contact with in unwanted conversion.
Horrendous body odour.
People, not me personally (yet) unable to get a seat but clearly not really up to be standing on a moving bus.
Driver who decided to move the bus forward a couple of feet jerkily after I was out of my seat and on my feet, when I have to be extremely cautious not to aggravate shoulder issues by grabbing a pole to hold myself up.)
Mothers who block the aisle with a pushchair because the wheel/pushchair space is full. They should be told to leave the bus, but what bus driver wants to do that to an already harassed mum?
A bus on a generally very reliable service that just didn't turn up (meaning if you have an appointment to get to you need to go for a bus earlier than the one that would get you there on time, every time, just in case).
A howling gale in my face from an open window that needs to stay open or the bus would be suffocating.
Sitting sweating on a heated bus in full outdoor clothes, needed for waiting at a cold bus stop.
Walking to and from the bus stop in pouring rain. To is worse, as then your clothes are wet for whatever you are going to.
I could think of a few more, but I think that probably illustrates why people who can afford to sit alone in their own air conditioned car would do that. I catch the bus these days for entertainment, and I used to commute happily on a train route with multiple trains with seats always available, but there's no way I'd catch a bus to work if I could drive instead.