What is up with giving up seats on the bus?

[tawasdave]

I was reading another thread and it made me think of my recent trip back in Jan/Feb. alone to the World. I am going back end of April/beginning of May and hope I see things differently.
Years ago when riding Disney buses, men and even younger people in general got up to offer their seats to older people and/or women with young children in their arms.
I rarely saw that at all on my 14 day trip. Is it me or has this just about gone to the waste side?
I taught my 2 sons, now grown, at about 10 years old to give their seats up. I must have given my seat up half the time on my recent trip, and I didn't mind doing it, I just was in disbelief of the grown men who just stared and didn't offer their seats to older guest or women toting heavy kids.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned, maybe this doesn't go on anymore?
Would be nice to start a trend and the next time you go to Disney if you ride a bus or even the monorail, if you don't already, offer your seat to someone older or who may need it more than you.
It's how it used to be but maybe I'm just old, lol....

Hey Tiggergirl..long time no see...and yes, my grandfather would come down from heaven and boot me in the backside if I did not give up my seat..and I do it without question...

 

[kaligal]

Are you kidding? We just had a thread complaining that no one got up for her children. Heck I have a hard time figuring out who is supposed to get up for who anymore. I don't expect it and will wait for the next bus so that we have seats.

Men get up for women, children and the elderly.

Women get up for elderly women and discreetly get up for old men in an "I think I lost my sunglasses and have to go look for them" kind of way.

Children who are old enough to hold on and stand get up for the elderly. It not only helps out the old people, it also teaches the kids how to be the kind of people who get up.

Men, women and children who are old enough can get up for women with babies and toddlers.

But many times, Disney busses fill up when they stop. Nobody has to get up. All they have to do is look around and see if someone else can use the seat and not sit down.

Waiting for the next bus does no good. If you wait for thirty busses and an 80 year old woman is there, she should get the seat instead of an able-bodied younger person.

Now you will not have to plead ignorance. You can still sit if you want, but there you have it.

 

[erikawolf2004]

there was recently a l o n g thread on this subject. a few salient points that were brought up (and will be brought up here.. again.)
: you do not know what someone else is going through, someone may look able bodied, but have a heart condeition, or a bad knee or (as my hubby, 5 foot surgeries, although he still gives up his seat, anyway)
: if you want to be assured of a seat, don't get on a crowded bus. let people ahead of you. be the first on the next bus.
: if you get on a bus and all the seats are filled, maybe some of those seated took the above advice. they wanted to be assured of a seat, and waited for the next bus. because they chose to wait, they do not feel obligated to give up a seat for someone on the next bus (even though my hubby always does)
I have often given up my seat to moms holding kids, little kids, people older than me (although that "pool" of people keeps dwindling every year)
should people waiting in line for a ride/attraction, let a lady go ahead, so she has less time on her feet waiting/ how about a woman holding a child in line? they are on their feet/ or an elderly person?

If you give up your place at every occasion, you will never have a place.

just like; should adults give up their places for the parades/illuninations for children? even if you "staked out that spot for a long time? (Just FYI, my answer is, your little kids can stand in front of me, your teens or you cannot)

yes, there are many able bodied people who take up seats on the bus while moms OR dads are holding sleeping children. bad manners. or little kids are being bounced around while the bus is moving.

there are also many bad mannered people talking up 2 seats when their child could easily sit on their lap. or taking up a seat with a huge backpack.

in summation, people should be considerate, and give up a seat, if they can. and those standing have to try not to judge. maybe the person seated chose to wait, in order to sit.

Thank you for making these points, my husband has had 5 back surgeries, but you would never know it by looking at him, he bearly eats to keep his weight way down and works out to help keep his back strong, but it really hurts him to stand for a long while, part of the reason we go in the off season...while we were there last Sept. a man asked him to give up his seat for the guys wife, which he did because he is a gentleman, but I don't feel he should be expected to give up his seat just because the guy didn't feel his able wife shouldn't have to stand.
Erika

 

[livndisney]

Men get up for women, children and the elderly.

Women get up for elderly women and discreetly get up for old men in an "I think I lost my sunglasses and have to go look for them" kind of way.

Children who are old enough to hold on and stand get up for the elderly. It not only helps out the old people, it also teaches the kids how to be the kind of people who get up.

Men, women and children who are old enough can get up for women with babies and toddlers.

But many times, Disney busses fill up when they stop. Nobody has to get up. All they have to do is look around and see if someone else can use the seat and not sit down.

Waiting for the next bus does no good. If you wait for thirty busses and an 80 year old woman is there, she should get the seat instead of an able-bodied younger person.

Now you will not have to plead ignorance. You can still sit if you want, but there you have it.

Ignorance? Not hardly.

If we wait for the next bus, it is because we need to sit.

 

[ShannonMB]

Thank you for making these points, my husband has had 5 back surgeries, but you would never know it by looking at him, he bearly eats to keep his weight way down and works out to help keep his back strong, but it really hurts him to stand for a long while, part of the reason we go in the off season...while we were there last Sept. a man asked him to give up his seat for the guys wife, which he did because he is a gentleman, but I don't feel he should be expected to give up his seat just because the guy didn't feel his able wife shouldn't have to stand.
Erika

Wow, I'm really surprised the guy asked your DH for his seat for his wife.

I posted something similar on the stroller/ecv thread that's going on, now, too. Most of us know how the busses are. You very well may not get a seat each and every time you approach a bus stop. If you are so elderly or have so much baggage with the sleeping kids/strollers/etc, or for any other reason are not prepared to stand on a bus or wait for the next one, then why on Earth would you put yourself in that position multiple times during the length of your vacation? I have been given a seat by several gentlemen (totally unnecessary but very appreciated), and I've also given up a seat to someone needing it more than I did. But I will never understand why those who are so in need of a seat that they complain about others not giving up theirs would possibly tempt fate 20 or more times during a trip just to save the $ of a rental car??

 

[AussiePJ]

I used to do it all the time, but after getting repeated snide and sarcastic comments as well as a lecture or two I am pretty picky about when I do and whom I offer it to.

 

[lllGurulll]

I used to do it all the time, but after getting repeated snide and sarcastic comments as well as a lecture or two I am pretty picky about when I do and whom I offer it to.

Snide and sarcastic comments because you gave up your seat?

 

[luvthemouse71]

Oh boy.. Lately there seem to be a lot of posts that just do this... Oh well, gives me an excuse to use my favorite smiley..

 

[AussiePJ]

Snide and sarcastic comments because you gave up your seat?

Yep. along the lines of don't you think I can stand by myself, bet you wouldn't offer if I was a man, my legs work just fine thank you etc etc

 

[Disneyadore]

there was recently a l o n g thread on this subject. a few salient points that were brought up (and will be brought up here.. again.)
: you do not know what someone else is going through, someone may look able bodied, but have a heart condeition, or a bad knee or (as my hubby, 5 foot surgeries, although he still gives up his seat, anyway)
: if you want to be assured of a seat, don't get on a crowded bus. let people ahead of you. be the first on the next bus.
: if you get on a bus and all the seats are filled, maybe some of those seated took the above advice. they wanted to be assured of a seat, and waited for the next bus. because they chose to wait, they do not feel obligated to give up a seat for someone on the next bus (even though my hubby always does)
I have often given up my seat to moms holding kids, little kids, people older than me (although that "pool" of people keeps dwindling every year)
should people waiting in line for a ride/attraction, let a lady go ahead, so she has less time on her feet waiting/ how about a woman holding a child in line? they are on their feet/ or an elderly person?

If you give up your place at every occasion, you will never have a place.

just like; should adults give up their places for the parades/illuninations for children? even if you "staked out that spot for a long time? (Just FYI, my answer is, your little kids can stand in front of me, your teens or you cannot)

yes, there are many able bodied people who take up seats on the bus while moms OR dads are holding sleeping children. bad manners. or little kids are being bounced around while the bus is moving.

there are also many bad mannered people talking up 2 seats when their child could easily sit on their lap. or taking up a seat with a huge backpack.

in summation, people should be considerate, and give up a seat, if they can. and those standing have to try not to judge. maybe the person seated chose to wait, in order to sit.

I think you forgot to mention: I payed a fortune to Disney,they ow me this chair.

 

[lllGurulll]

Oh boy.. Lately there seem to be a lot of posts that just do this... Oh well, gives me an excuse to use my favorite smiley..

See I disagree. I really appreciate threads like this because I get a good idea of where my thoughts stand with everyone else. I find it very informative and helpful.

 

[smidgy]

I will not teach my son to indiscriminately get up for women. Men and women are considered equal everywhere now and that includes buses. If they can be on his sports team then they can stand on the bus the same as he. If I wait on another bus to get a seat you better believe I'm not getting up for anyone.

as a soccer mom, I can feel for hannathy. my sons, years ago, played "travel" soccer . each of my sons had a girl on their team. could have played on the "girls" team. chose to try out for the guys team. GREAT soccer players. great asset to both teams! NEITHER girls on either teams wanted special "props". nor got special "props" competed with the guys. BEAT the guys!!!
the poster had honesty. but, nothing wrong with her attitude, either.nowadyas girls compete with guys

Props for honesty. Boo-hiss for attitude.

But you're in the majority. Most men don't get up. Most parents don't teach their kids to get up.

actually , ALL young kids should get up, male OR female. I grew up in chicago. everyone rode the buses. to work.. to school. (NOT "school buses", CTA busses) you had school kids, workers, maids, laborers, high schoolers, secretaries, etc. etc, riding the same busses. you walked 2 blocks, in dec. in the cold, to the CTA bus stop. crap! jsut missed the bus! waited another 20 minutes. brrr!!! 20 degrees. another bus yay! took the bus to the transfer. took the next bus to school. got off. walked 3 blocks to school.

I remember trying to do homework on the bus, with the yellow highlight pen...oops bus swerved, crap! yellow line where it shouldn't be!
and people complain if they have to stand for 20 minutes on a clean bus? to a fancy resort? try standing on a bus stop in chicago in january, then standing on a bus.. and 3 transfers later.
who can tell who can stand better for 30 minutes? men or women? young or old? the 10 year old boy or the 55 year old woman? the 12 year old boy or the 57 year old woman? what about the 16 year old girl cheerleader? (who, she and her teammates, WON'T shut UP??!!!)
since we can't have "big brother" (showing my age here; you youngsters don't know what I'm talking about) standing at the bus, I guess we have to count on "each other" to do the right thing.
and, if no one does what YOU think is the "right thing", well, "man up!" YOU do the right thing. sheesh. it's only a half hour out of your life, at best.
confession time: I remember this vaguely: (ever have something bother you, and you dont know why?) there was an incident on a resort bus, I'm not sure what it was, but I was tired, cranky, and this person really irritated me.
it was quite a few years ago, but I'm sure I was right. (joke here) nothing was really said between us, but we were really irritated with each other.
wouldn't you know it? I kept running into that person the whole trip .. at the pool.. at the bus stop.. at the food court.... and that person was sure they were right. who knows? she probably was right? or maybe I was? but the whole week, I hated having a person I didn't know at "my" resort who I didn't like.! (and I LOVE everyone!)
(at least , I think I do..dory)
see how it can partially ruin a trip, to be irritated with others you don't even know?

 

[Kay1]

I'm a woman and have, in the past, given up my seat for elderly women, and parents with small children, and I still will - but never on a bus. I won't let my handicapped son do it either.

I no longer stand on moving vehicles. After an expensive and painful fall, I decided it's not worth the risk. We will stand in a bus line as long as it takes to get an empty seat. If things at the bus stop were ever that crowded and severe that my plan couldn't work, I'd spend the $10 on a taxi.

 

[smidgy]

I'm a woman and have, in the past, given up my seat for elderly women, and parents with small children, and I still will - but never on a bus. I won't let my handicapped son do it either.

I no longer stand on moving vehicles. After an expensive and painful fall, I decided it's not worth the risk. We will stand in a bus line as long as it takes to get an empty seat. If things at the bus stop were ever that crowded and severe that my plan couldn't work, I'd spend the $10 on a taxi.

and this is why people should NOT judge those who do NOT give up seats on a bus


we all have our own opinions on "protocal" or "courtesy". if you want to give up your seat, do so. it is appreciated. giving up a seat is not required. do not judge anyone who does NOT give up a seat. if you want to be assured of a seat, wait for the next bus.

 

[Pats Dragon]

My 27 y/o strong looking son has a painful spine problem and needs to sit. He feels bad when he sees someone who obviously needs a seat but he can't stand. I guess its important not to judge.

 

[gooftroop22]

When we go end of April, beginning of May and are on the Disney busses, many adults will give up their seat on the bus to allow for younger children or older people. People have always been very gracious that way even offering to hold on to strollers if the parents are busy keeping the kids in their seats.

 

[DeniseinNS]

We ran into this alot during our trip, there were multiple times that very elderly people or moms with sleeping kids were left standing and I felt bad. We gave up a seat quite a few times and I would just sit one of the kids in my lap to give them a seat.

 

[dacky041208]

I will usually stand if it is a crowded bus ride, sometimes my wife will too, but if she is wiped and really wants to sit, we wait for the next bus. Why is it fair to make one of the first people on the bus to get up and stand for some of the last people on the bus? If we wait for the next bus and are among the first on it, we will be seated.

Like I said I will usually get up if it is needed, but I'm not going to judge those that won't.

 

[Schmeck]

If you saw my daughter and me on the bus, you'd think we'd be prime candidates for seat-giving-uppers. Then I'd lift my pantleg to show you the chunk of flesh removed from the back of my calf, and if my 16 year old daughter tilted her head, you'd see her eye drift and maybe you'd figure out that she doesn't have binocular vision, and balancing on a moving bus would be rather tricky for her...

I try not to judge anyone - my standard procedure at the bus stop is to only get on a bus if I know I can stand for that 15 minute ride, or wait for the next bus.

 

[2manypets]

I find it funny reading about so many people that adamantly say they get up for women, children, disabled and the elderly. I'm a 45 yo physically disabled woman and not once has anyone gotten up or even offered to give me their seat. The men and capable young women look down at their shoes, inspect their hands, or stare out the window. They look anywhere but at the women carrying sleeping children or older people swaying all over the bus. BUT I do not expect anyone to give up their seat for me. First come first served I say! If you don't want to stand, wait for another bus.