A little bit of a rant about bus courtesy.

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Our last 2 trips to Disney, we have not rented a car, and relied on bus transportation, and 1 cab ride.

One thing that irks me, is the number of able bodied, young adults that will not under any circumstances give up ther seat for a small child, or pregnant woman, or elderly, or whatever.


I know I have the option of wiating for the next bus, which we have done. My DH and I gave up seats for young ones many times our last trip, and found others doing the same. I just don't know how people can sit, watching a 3-4 year old child, falling forward, or backward, every time the bus moves.

 

[punkin]

My sister solved this problem by asking a young woman (about 22 or so) to hold my 4 yr old niece on her lap. The woman was so stunned, she didn't refuse and my niece was comfortable for the rest of the ride. I just think that some younger adults do not realize how hard it is for a toddler or preschooler (or for someone elderly) to stand after a long day in the parks. Maybe you just need to gently remind them of their manners.

 

[pnelson]

I guess I don't understand why these parents don't have the common sense to wait for the next bus if they want to be able to sit with their kids. We have waited many times for the next bus so I could sit with my son on my lap rather than crowd onto a bus that is already full. I would rather do that than assume I am ENTITLED to someone else's seat-someone who obviously got there and waited in line before I did. And, no, if someone asked me to hold their child, I would not. We are humans and are also hot and tired after a long day. We don't like crowding on a bus at the end of the day, so we will always wait for the next bus. I can't help it if the people getting on after us don't have the common sense or patience to do the same.

 

[TinkHappy]

From a mother of two young DD's...I would not expect someone to give up their seats for my DD's. They know they are going to stand, I explain to them, "we can leave now from the parks before you get too tired or we can stay, but you will have to stand on the bus" They know the drill.
It seems it is usually the parents who stay too long and the kids are so tired...so my suggestion is to leave earlier or hold your child on the bus.
As far as pregnant women and the elderly...my husband or myself (whoever is not holding the kids) will always give up our seats.

 

[punkin]

Ah yes...who indeed is entitled to that seat, a young and ablebodied person with no children hanging off him/her or an exausted mother with 3 children under the age of 4? I'm sorry I guess she shouldn't have come to the parks with her whiny children at all. Right? I guess it all depends on how you were brought up doesn't it? I personally give up my seat for anyone who looks more tired than I am.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Well, I don't see how anyone can say for certainty that another person is "able bodied". How do you know they don't have a problem- with their body in some way- back problem/pain, knee problems, you name it. You can't just look at a person and go they are young and able-bodied and always be 100% accurate. If you can- you need to channel that ability in some way to make some money off of it because that's incredible!

Ah yes...who indeed is entitled to that seat, a young and ablebodied person with no children hanging off him/her or an exausted mother with 3 children under the age of 4?

I'm a mother of 3 young children and I'll answer that question- the answer is BOTH are entitled- but the one more entitled is the one that got there first and sat down. If you don't want to stand- wait for another bus. It's that simple.

I personally give up my seat for anyone who looks more tired than I am.

So do I, even when I'm with the kids- and so does/did my DH. But we don't feel we should EXPECT or demand this of others. It's their choice if they want to get up or not- just as it's our choice to stand or wait for another bus we can sit in.

 

[pnelson]

Actually, I was also brought up to believe that I had to work and sometimes wait for the things in life that I wanted-not expect them to be handed to me. Sorry, I guess I just don't have that "entitled" welfare mentality. My husband has a bad back-You wouldn't know it by looking at him. So, yes, we are more than glad to wait for another bus and often do. I'm just sorry most people don't have the common sense to make this choice for themselves.

 

[tjmw2727]

While I will give my seat for someone who appears to need it I would never expect someone to give up a seat for me or my kids. Often the three of us will squeeze into a two seater if a bus is crowded. If I am not comfortable with my kids standing then I wait for the next bus.

One interesting experience I had was on a bus exiting after Epcot, I had my 4yo on my lap and it was very crowded. Beside me was a women of approximately 60 who offered her seat to a mom and her young son. The mom thanked the women and said her son was actually looking forward to standing so they stood. In about an instant a boy of about 15 decided he would take the seat. Yea for the original woman who said "I did not offer my seat to you - is there a reason why you can't stand? The other thing that surprised me is that that the teen was not in the least embarrased.

TJ

 

[crzy4dsny]

As a man it is just proper to give up your seat to a woman or child no matter where you are or what you were doing all day. I don't even bother to sit down unless the bus is practially empty. I guess it just depends on what type of a man you are.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by crzy4dsny
As a man it is just proper to give up your seat to a woman or child no matter where you are or what you were doing all day. I don't even bother to sit down unless the bus is practially empty. I guess it just depends on what type of a man you are.

Yes - Crzy - and my DH is just like you, so thanks for all the times you have done this. However, I would never expect it of you (or anyone else) or feel slighted on the evening when you just had to take a seat, the for me is the difference.

Tj

 

[DisneyHumbug]

That person not giving up her seat might be anemic and about to pass out!

 

[ASFCurly]

On my trip in May the bus was really crowded, I got up and offered my seat to someone else, I don't remember exactly, they were either elderly or parent with young child, and a middle age man did the same for someone else at the same time, I am 24, though lots of people think I am a couple of years younger, and the people I gave the seat to probably thanked me half a dozen times, they seemed shocked that I would give up my seat for them, even the man that had gotten up said something, I was surprised, they all seemed shocked that someone my age would do something like that, and it really got to me, I mean it is a simple courtesy that anyone who is physically able should do, just because someone is in their teens or early 20s doesn't mean that they aren't just as capable of doing something for others, it should be appreciated, but not a total shock, just because some people my age and younger don't think of others doesn't mean noone has.

 

[Taja]

As someone who joined the "disabled list" after an injury two years ago, I never expect anyone to give up a seat for me. I always wait for another bus, trolley or other conveyance until a seat is available.

If you were to look at me sitting, standing, or walking--most of the time!--you would never think I have a mobility problem. However, I have damaged nerves in my left leg and foot that sometimes cause intense pain and affect my balance. And you do not want to be in the vicinity if someone steps on my foot! No profanity, but I have been known to scream (involuntarily!) from intense pain (only twice--I'm pretty careful around other people!) Since I do not want to compound the problem, I always wait for a seat, regardless of the length of wait.

Everyone is tired when they leave the parks, but WDW has some of the best transportation for the number of people served. If you, or a member of your party, needs a seat on a bus (or monorail, tram or boat), wait for the next vehicle. I've never had to wait excessively, as WDW runs more buses at busy times.

Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Do you want to give up your seat (and I used to do so) because someone else is too impatient to wait for another vehicle? I wait my turn and I don't think it's too much to expect others to do the same.


Taja

 

[Alison Wonderland]

I had the same thoughts on my last trip to Disney. I chose to stand on the bus, not realizing how long the trip would be or how many stops the bus would make. I noticed a couple of older ladies and gentlemen standing, with many young men sitting in the seats and thought what a shame. I then resolved to be on the lookout in the future for someone who might need my seat. Crzy, I wish there were more like you.

 

[bearloch]

We were there in Sept and the buses were always crowded, I had my daughter and a stroller, I tried to make sure that I got on a empthy or near empth bus when ever possible, but my big pet pieve was when the bench style seats were "half full" that people did not scoot over they sat in the middle so I had to sit without my daughter or be uncomfortable for no reason. Some people are just rude on the buses

 

[TreeOfLife]

I have scooted over to sit someone's child standing at the end of a long day. This is not uncommon in our family.

But what grossed me out once was to see a child taking up three seats in the front, laying down, while the line was right up in the parent's noses. The father looked at the mother like "Are we just going to let him lay out there?" when they started to get dirty looks. The mother looked like nothing was happening, poor Junior (about 10 yrs old) was tired and he deserved to lay down and take up three seats in a crowded bus filled with standees...


...Some people came from a barn.

 

[jacksonsmom]

I too will ALWAYS offer my seat to a young child or an adult/older person who looks like they need it. When I say young child I mean anyone 6 or under. Those that are older then 6 I feel can stand, of course it I do see a 7 or 8 yr old that looks like that are ready to fall, I will offer my seat.

I have been Thanked many times. The only thing is if I am sitting next to my child, he stays seated & the other child/older person sits next to him. My child is 4 yrs old & I do not expect him to be able to stand SAFELY on a moving bus. I have an issue with that & safety. I feel a young child would not be able to 'hold' themselves if that bus were to come to a very sudden stop.

As far as waiting for the next bus. I can see why some people would not. I can see other people in the line behind them getting mad because now THEY might have to stand. I have been glared at when I have done this (waited for another bus so my child can sit)

I think the American society has lost its manners along the way. It used to be standard manners that you gave your seat up for the young & eldery (or pregnant ladies)
I don't care if I have to stand but I could not sit in a seat when I see a young child or older adult hanging on for dear life!!!
Guess it just has to do with how someone is/was raised.

 

[crisi]

Thanks to everyone who does give up their seat. We just got back, traveling with two preschoolers and two seniors. We thought that bus courtesy was great! On crowded buses, my kids only needed to stand once all week, and the seniors were always given a seat. Thanks especially to the young girl (probably around 10) who stood so my preschoolers could share a seat.

(What drives me nuts is people who have their bags on seats of crowded buses. Only saw it once, and they did move their bag for some woman carrying a small child when she asked.)

However, we believe that if you want to be guarenteed a seat, your choices are to rent a car or hire a cab. You can do some things that might increase your chances for a seat on the bus (waiting for the next bus, doing your bus travel at non-peak times, taking alternate routes on less popular buses), but the only people who are guarenteed a seat are the handicapped.

 

[punkin]

jacksonsmom, I just wanted to tell you that I agree with you wholeheartedly and your post was much more eloquent than anything I could put together (I tend to sound beligirant even when I'm trying to be nice)

Particularly, this part:

"I think the American society has lost its manners along the way. It used to be standard manners that you gave your seat up for the young & eldery (or pregnant ladies)
I don't care if I have to stand but I could not sit in a seat when I see a young child or older adult hanging on for dear life!!!
Guess it just has to do with how someone is/was raised."

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by punkin
jacksonsmom, I just wanted to tell you that I agree with you wholeheartedly and your post was much more eloquent than anything I could put together (I tend to sound beligirant even when I'm trying to be nice)

Particularly, this part:

"I think the American society has lost its manners along the way. It used to be standard manners that you gave your seat up for the young & eldery (or pregnant ladies)
I don't care if I have to stand but I could not sit in a seat when I see a young child or older adult hanging on for dear life!!!
Guess it just has to do with how someone is/was raised."

Punkin,
When I was a kid (around the time dirt was invented) I was taught to give my seat up to older people, regardless of gender.
I was NEVER instructed to give it up to a smaller child. Personally, I find it abhorant that a parent, knowing the bus is full, would subject their child to the dangers of standing and find it absurd that they would board this crowded bus with the assumption that someone, older, was going to give up their seat for this child. Most everyone leaving the parks are tired and cranky and I don't feel it poor manners to have waited for a seat, obtained a seat and remain in that seat. There are more busses.
Tired, cranky, sore, whatever, waiting is not something that is impossible.