What is the etiquette of offering your seat to the disabled, elderly, or people with small children?

[FrankDIS72]

I was wondering when you should offer your seat on pulic transportation to the elderly, disabled, or the handicapped? I have problems standing due to foot issues. I ask this because I noticed in the ferryboats at MK there are signs that clearly state you should offer your seat to the elderly or disabled. Yet, every time I ride the ferryboat, I am never offered a seat. I remember when night when MK closed and I got on the ferryboat. Several young, able-bodied men were sitting on the seats, but I did not see any of them offering their seats to the disabled or elderly. I saw an elderly woman with a cane standing by the seat, yet none of these men gave up their seats for her. I ended up leaning against the window. When the ferryboat ride was over, my knees were hurting so much that I had to sit down as soon as I got off the boat.


I get it – it’s the end of the night and we’re all tired. But I know that as far back as I can remember, I was taught to always give up your seat on a bus or public transportation to the elderly, disabled, or those with small children. I know other guests offer their seat to me on the monorail and the bus, but it never happens on the ferryboat. What is the etiquette these das to offer your seat to those who may need it?

 

[wilkeliza]

These always get hotly debated. Basically if you need a seat and all are taken then you either have to wait, speak up and ask, or deal. The biggest reason being that while you may think that person is able bodied you really have no clue if they are or not.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

These always get hotly debated. Basically if you need a seat and all are taken then you either have to wait, speak up and ask, or deal. The biggest reason being that while you may think that person is able bodied you really have no clue if they are or not.

Yep. So many people aren't able bodied, but may look it.

If you can't stand while riding, don't get on a bus or ferry that is full.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Are you really old?

 

[gap2368]

no one know for sure is someone is disabled or not if one person is more deserving of a set then another. ( and I am not trying to be mean to you, but I do now people that are disabled that really do not look like it at all)

if you need to sit then you can use a wheel chair for the fairy boat this way you will know you have a set ( I have sat on the ground when I needed too, this could be another option for you)


I have had people get up to give me a set and I have seen others do this too. So people still do give up there sets to others that they feel need it more.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I was wondering when you should offer your seat on pulic transportation to the elderly, disabled, or the handicapped?

1) You should offer
. . . if they look old
. . . if they have a device like a cane or walker
. . . I they are holding a baby (not a child, but a baby) *
. . . if they look lie they are having trouble getting onto the bus or walking down the aisle
2) Usually, if the person doesn't need the seat, they will politely decline the offer.

 

[maxiesmom]

OP I have to ask, how would anyone know by looking at you that you have foot issues? Do you walk with a cane? Just wondering how it would be obvious to others that you needed a seat.

At any rate, I am a big believer in doing what you can to look out for yourself. If you can't stand on a boat or bus, don't get on one that is full. You simply can't depend on others to take care of you, and you cannot tell by looking at someone if they need their seat or not. Looking at me you wouldn't know that I have days where my knee pops out and if I don't catch myself I fall to the ground.

 

[Earstou]

My dh and ds offer their seats to others. I don't, as I'm one that absolutely needs a seat. One hundred and seventy pounds of me flying through the air is a danger to everyone around!

One bus trip, we were one of the first on the bus. It ended up being a full bus, and a mother holding a baby got on and was standing. As we took off, she nearly fell, so I pointed her out to dh (who hadn't seen her due to someone standing in his line of sight) and he worked his way over to her and gave her his seat. She was SO grateful! So there are still kind strangers in this world!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

OP I have to ask, how would anyone know by looking at you that you have food issues? Do you walk with a cane? Just wondering how it would be obvious to others that you needed a seat.

That's the only thing I can think of-that you don't look like you need a seat. Because I do (I guess I'm really old, or at least look it). Before I had to use an ECV, people were always offering me seats on buses at WDW. I always said, and still say, that I've met some of the kindest, most helpful people at WDW. Come to think of it, does that mean I look really needy?

 

[shh]

I was wondering when you should offer your seat on pulic transportation to the elderly, disabled, or the handicapped?

My DH and I always volunteer to give up our seats for any of the above people or for any parent holding a baby or trying to juggle multiple kids. On occasion, I've done it for anyone that looks super tired - no matter what their age. I'm blessed to be in great health (for now anyway!) able to exercise daily and am so grateful for that, I feel like I need to pay it forward, so to speak. It just makes me feel so sad to see someone struggling or in pain.

Besides, it's just the way we were brought up by our parents.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I was wondering when you should offer your seat on pulic transportation to the elderly, disabled, or the handicapped?

My DH and I always volunteer to give up our seats for any of the above people or for any parent holding a baby or trying to juggle multiple kids. On occasion, I've done it for anyone that looks super tired - no matter what their age. I'm blessed to be in great health (for now anyway!) able to exercise daily and am so grateful for that, I feel like I need to pay it forward, so to speak. It just makes me feel so sad to see someone struggling or in pain.

Besides, it's just the way we were brought up by our parents.

The problem is that the OP isn't visibly disabled.

When I get on Disney transportation, people know I am disabled. If I am not riding my scooter, I am either using a cane or a walker. But in daily life, many people seem shocked that I won't give up my seat for someone. And these are people that actually know me. They just don't know all of the implications of my disability.

 

[Gracie09]

you have no way of knowing who is disabled or not. When DH had back issues, prior to his surgery, he was the stroller pusher all day because he used it like a walker. There was no way he could stand on a moving bus. So we waited until we were able to get him a seat even if it meant waiting for the next bus or boat. Once he was seated, he did not get up until the bus stopped. I am sure people thought he was a jerk, but we didn't care. We did what we needed to do to keep our family safe.

 

[seshat0120]

These always get hotly debated. Basically if you need a seat and all are taken then you either have to wait, speak up and ask, or deal. The biggest reason being that while you may think that person is able bodied you really have no clue if they are or not.

Thank you for saying this. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten the stink eye from people for not offering my seat on public transportation. I look able-bodied but what people don't know from looking at me is that because of a stroke I had 9 years ago I have a partial vision loss and occasionally lose my balance standing on a moving vehicle.

 

[BadPinkTink]

These always get hotly debated. Basically if you need a seat and all are taken then you either have to wait, speak up and ask, or deal. The biggest reason being that while you may think that person is able bodied you really have no clue if they are or not.

THIS ^^^^

I used public transport in my day to day life, and its ALOT more cut throat than the Disney buses, lol Dont EXPECT to be offered a seat, no matter who you are. I do offer my seat on a regular basis, BUT I am selective on who I offer my seat to and when I offer my seat to. My bus journey commute to / from work can be up to 90 minutes depending on which client I am working for, so there is no way I will offer my seat and stand for over an hour on a crowded standing room only bus.

When you use public transport in day to day life, and the journey times are over 40 minutes, most people, able bodied, elderly, disabled, pregnant etc, just deal with it and dont expect or demand special treatment. If you choose to travel or have to travel during peak times its pot luck whether you get a seat or not.

 

[FrankDIS72]

BTW, I walk with a cane and I have a medical boot on one of my feet.

 

[maxiesmom]

Ok. It could be that some people assume that if you can walk around the parks all day you can also stand on transportation. You and I and others here may know that is not always true, but many make that assumption. But no, you really can't depend on someone offering you their seat, no matter what the signs or announcement on the boats might say.

 

[LilyWDW]

There are times I can not stand on a moving vehicle like a bus or subway, but I don't have anything about me that would make it obvious to another person. As such people may think that I am being rude by not offering up my seat. Too bad. They can judge all they want, but they are the ones with problem and can just deal.

If you can't stand on a bus, then don't get on one that is SRO. Take some personal responsibility. That's what I do.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I offer to elderly, and obviously the disabled.
I also usually offer to all ladies, nothing to do with them having kids.
In fact, I would not offer to a guy who had a baby. It's a parents decision to have kids, and holding the baby goes with the territory.

MG

 

[DisneyOma]

I was wondering when you should offer your seat on pulic transportation to the elderly, disabled, or the handicapped? I have problems standing due to foot issues. I ask this because I noticed in the ferryboats at MK there are signs that clearly state you should offer your seat to the elderly or disabled. Yet, every time I ride the ferryboat, I am never offered a seat. I remember when night when MK closed and I got on the ferryboat. Several young, able-bodied men were sitting on the seats, but I did not see any of them offering their seats to the disabled or elderly. I saw an elderly woman with a cane standing by the seat, yet none of these men gave up their seats for her. I ended up leaning against the window. When the ferryboat ride was over, my knees were hurting so much that I had to sit down as soon as I got off the boat.


I get it – it’s the end of the night and we’re all tired. But I know that as far back as I can remember, I was taught to always give up your seat on a bus or public transportation to the elderly, disabled, or those with small children. I know other guests offer their seat to me on the monorail and the bus, but it never happens on the ferryboat. What is the etiquette these das to offer your seat to those who may need it?

My 'elderly' inlaws (late 70's) don't need seats - they travel worldwide, take local transportation around Mexico and South America, etc. FIL still does roof maintenance on their 3 story home. It's hard to tell when someone 'elderly' needs a seat, IMO. And as I get older, the 'elderly' tend to look younger to me

There are too many hidden disabilities to even guess who needs a seat. People with small kids - as long as the adult sits and puts the kid in his/her lap, then I'm thinking toddlers and under, but older small kids? My kids loved to stand on the buses when they were 4 years old.

I offer to elderly, and obviously the disabled.
I also usually offer to all ladies, nothing to do with them having kids.
In fact, I would not offer to a guy who had a baby. It's a parents decision to have kids, and holding the baby goes with the territory.

MG

How sexist! A 'lady' needs a seat, but a baby doesn't need to be held securely by a seated parent? Why in the world would an unencumbered woman need to sit down? Our center of gravity is lower than a male's, so it is actually easier for us to stay balanced standing up and safer for us to do so.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

My 'elderly' inlaws (late 70's) don't need seats - they travel worldwide, take local transportation around Mexico and South America, etc. FIL still does roof maintenance on their 3 story home. It's hard to tell when someone 'elderly' needs a seat, IMO. And as I get older, the 'elderly' tend to look younger to me

There are too many hidden disabilities to even guess who needs a seat. People with small kids - as long as the adult sits and puts the kid in his/her lap, then I'm thinking toddlers and under, but older small kids? My kids loved to stand on the buses when they were 4 years old.



How sexist! A 'lady' needs a seat, but a baby doesn't need to be held securely by a seated parent? Why in the world would an unencumbered woman need to sit down? Our center of gravity is lower than a male's, so it is actually easier for us to stay balanced standing up and safer for us to do so.

Whatever.... I also hold the door for ladies, and try to watch my language around them. Old fashion values I suppose.

Guess I'm a pig.

MG