I guess I just really don't understand the extremes on either side of this issue. To me, it just comes down to being aware of your surroundings, and being a decent human being. I've seen the argument that people that want a seat should just "wait for the next bus". I understand that nobody should get on the bus feeling entitled to have others get up, but I've also traveled Disney transportation enough to have been caught up numerous times in the sea of humanity pushing their way on the bus. Sometimes, by the time you realize you're not going to get a seat, 40 more people have already squished up the aisle behind you.
I'm a woman in my early 40's, and would never expect a man to give up his seat for me. If I was carrying a child, I would think it was nice, and might even take him up on the offer. We normally travel with my parents, who both have some mobility issues. DH and I normally stand (if the bus is full, and we see people that appear to need a seat more than we do), and our kids sit with my parents. If the bus fills up, the kids go on Grandma and Grandpa's laps to allow more spaces for those that might need them. I suppose we could just say "too bad" for those horrendous people that got on the bus after us, and take up the 6 full spots that our party of 6 is fully entitled to. I'm just not really sure what I would hope to prove by doing that. Maybe that old lady with a cane would think twice and drive to the parks if she fell and broke a hip because nobody offered up a seat on the bus. Maybe that young mother trying to carry a baby while keeping hold of the 3 year old clinging for dear life to her leg will just wait for the next bus next time. That would show them... and I could walk away feeling really good about myself knowing that I got there first.
We travel with my elderly parents. My dad uses a cane. Last trip, I remember a specific situation of getting on a bus, where someone did not give up a seat. There was a man on the bus with his 2 daughters. The man was sprawled out just far enough away from the end so that someone just couldn't quite fit there. The teenage daughter was sort of half laying against him, listening to her ipod (and quite spread out). The 4 year old daughter was a ways down from the teenager, (but not quite far enough away to squeeze in). They were quite easily taking up about 6 spaces. By the time we realized this dude was not going to make eye contact (clearly on purpose), and was not going to move.... the bus was already taking off. My elderly parents stood. After the bus took off, a couple of young ladies offered their seats.
Like I said, I don't expect an able bodied man to give up his seat for an able bodied woman just because..... but that guy completely had my blood boiling. I suppose I should have just said...."Hey you...do you think you could move over to the end, have your daughter sit up straight, and put the 4 year old on your lap so the old lady and the guy with the cane could have a seat?????" Instead, I just went with the death glare... along with most other people on that bus. Then again, I'm sure he was tired... he was there first... and I shouldn't feel entitled to a seat for my parents.
