What is up with giving up seats on the bus?

[PalmettoPrincess]

This reminds me of a situation I witnessed during my 05 trip. It was a really warm day in June at AK. We were waiting for the parade to start and were lucky enough to grab a seat while waiting. A middle aged woman had come and sat by us and then got up and left. A VERRRYYY pregnant woman (who you could tell was very tired) came and sat down, but no sooner had she done that then the other woman comes back yelling at her that was her seat and she needed to get up. The pregnant woman told her she just needed to sit for a minute, but she wouldn't listen. I was going to offer the pregnant woman my seat, but she just walked off.

As for buses, and other seating/standing waiting for parades, etc, I would give up my *seat* (no way am I moving if I'm standing... I'll make room for you if possible, but if I staked out a good spot, sorry, it's mine.) if I felt it necessary (as I tried to do for the pregnant woman or if I could a parent with a child is extremely tired etc), but I really wouldn't expect anyone to do the same. I'm a firm believer in first come, first served. But I don't have any kids, so that might change in the future when I'm lugging them back to the hotel... oh wait, that's why I drive my own car, so I can ensure that I *will* have a seat and I will make it back to my resort quickly.

 

[tinasmom8]

Last week I saw a Cheerleader taking up 2 seats, sitting sideways so she could spread her legs out. The bus was full and people were already standing. 4 parents/chaperones were around her and not one of them said a word to her. Finally, the husband of a woman carring a baby pointed at the extra seat holding the cheerleader's feet and told his wife to sit there. Finally the cheerleader moved her feet and let the woman sit down. Unbelieveable.

 

[maxiesmom]

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?

That is what I don't understand. You don't take the time or spend the money to make sure your own family is taken care of, but you expect total strangers to? To me, that is pretty darn nervy.

No one forces people onto the Disney busses. If you can't stand, then don't get on a standing room only bus. Wait for the next bus, grab a cab, or rent a car for your trip. But don't put someone on a bus that shouldn't stand and then boo hoo or glare at the other people on the bus, because all of a sudden your dear one has to have a seat. I think THAT is rude!

 

[disneyjunkie]

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.

Excellent post


I grew up in here in Brooklyn. I started taking public transportation(city buses and subways) to and from school when I was in the 3rd. grade.


I think the problem with the disney bus issue is that so many people have no idea how public transportation works. It's expected that some people will have to stand. If they didn't want anyone to stand, they would use charter buses (think magical express bus).

If you feel that you and/or your kids can't stand on a moving bus, then don't board a packed bus. Instead you should:

Rent a car
Don't travel during peak times
Hop in a cab

Don't get a crowded bus and expect people to get up for you.

Last week I saw a Cheerleader taking up 2 seats, sitting sideways so she could spread her legs out. The bus was full and people were already standing. 4 parents/chaperones were around her and not one of them said a word to her. Finally, the husband of a woman carring a baby pointed at the extra seat holding the cheerleader's feet and told his wife to sit there. Finally the cheerleader moved her feet and let the woman sit down. Unbelieveable.

The people standing arounding looking at the girl must not have wanted to sit down. If so, they would have opened their mouths and told her to move her feet.

I just don't understand why people won't speak up.

 

[babyrich]

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 pointing all of this out. I am pretty short and I can not reach the overhead bar very well to hold on to, so I generally dont give up my seat. I do for elderly folks. I am not a child and I am a bit round so it is not easy for my DH to hold on to me when the bus stops short.

My DH gives up his seat often and often is not thanked. We also had one family who expected me to get up so their teen son could sit with the family. That wasnt going to happen. We are all on vacation to have a good time, we dont know anything about each other so we shouldnt judge.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

Personally I get up for any elderly person, disabled or looking at someone who might need the seat more than I do. But I refuse to give up a seat to someone who is able bodied because of gender or race. I usually stand on buses anyways and my dd4 does not take a seat up either, my wife sits with her or with the baby.We have actually gotten off a packed bus to allow a family of 5 to get on a bus because they were running late and we ended up waiting 20 mins for another bus and got bumped out of an dining reservation. I just think it is sad that some people rely on other people because of there gender or race that they think they deserve something. An act of kindness is something someone chooses to do not something that has to be done.

 

[Coach81]

I will always give up my seat.. and I expect my boys to do the same.

 

[JUJU814]

I'm here now and I've seen lots of people offer seats, scooch over, tell their child to get on their lap etc.

On a very "laid back" 10 night trip with my little girl and trying to take time to stop and smell the roses. I have observed that *most* people are pretty courteous. It's nice!!

 

[grumpeeduck]

a couple of years ago, there was a childless couple on the boat that goes from MK to Wilderness lodge (they got off there) and Ft. Wilderness who didn't even SCOOT OVER on their very long bench! Our family with 2 dd's STOOD right next to them. Talk about LAZY and INCONSIDERATE-they just stared off into space until they got off at WL.............................. Pathetic. So, no, that lazy, middle-aged man was not taught manners, either. BTW, my DH, DD's, and myself ALWAYS offer seats to mom's/young children/elderly.

 

[Charlotte!]

This is why I started renting a car!

Everybody's in a bad mood on those buses about something!

 

[appletini]

well, that's what Women's Lib did for you. ya, it's very difficult to sit on a bus (or anywhere for that matter) and not give your seat to someone who could clearly use it. Whether they be a woman, elderly, child, handicap, etc...If someone looks like they could sit or are looking to, I'll get up everytime. Shame on you busriders, you should be renting cars instead. Oh no! another Disney Transport vs. Renting rant. hey, if I'm at the POP, can I swim at the Poly?run apple run...Enjoy your trips!

 

[cinderkeli]

Not only does my husband always give up a seat for someone else so does my teenage daughter.... I recently gave up a seat myself and I was in the middle of chemo treatments to someone who really needed it more than I did....but I do say to people who tell me wow your husband and daughter are kind people for giving up their seats I alway say their mother and wife raised them well LOL

 

[babyrich]

a couple of years ago, there was a childless couple on the boat that goes from MK to Wilderness lodge (they got off there) and Ft. Wilderness who didn't even SCOOT OVER on their very long bench! Our family with 2 dd's STOOD right next to them. Talk about LAZY and INCONSIDERATE-they just stared off into space until they got off at WL.............................. Pathetic. So, no, that lazy, middle-aged man was not taught manners, either. BTW, my DH, DD's, and myself ALWAYS offer seats to mom's/young children/elderly.

Did you ask them to move? Sometime people aren inconsiderate, maybe they just figured since you didnt ask, they didnt need to move. Now yes, lots of people would have just moved automatically; but no everyone was raised the same way. If you dont ask for the person to slide over or move their feet, than dont be upset cause they dont. If you want to sit, ask nicely for them to scootch over.

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

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.

Oh goodie! Someone got appointed to make up rules for the rest of us. Isn't that sweet of them?

I prefer standing to sitting. and have stood on a bus where there was sitting room but I don't need someone making rules for me.

 

[si-am]

a couple of years ago, there was a childless couple on the boat that goes from MK to Wilderness lodge (they got off there) and Ft. Wilderness who didn't even SCOOT OVER on their very long bench! Our family with 2 dd's STOOD right next to them. Talk about LAZY and INCONSIDERATE-they just stared off into space until they got off at WL.............................. Pathetic. So, no, that lazy, middle-aged man was not taught manners, either. BTW, my DH, DD's, and myself ALWAYS offer seats to mom's/young children/elderly.

What does the couple being childless have to do with it?

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

What does the couple being childless have to do with it?

You didn't get the memo? People without children at Disney don't have the same privileges as those with kids. <end sarcasm>

 

[webstah]

Did you ask them to move? Sometime people aren inconsiderate, maybe they just figured since you didnt ask, they didnt need to move. Now yes, lots of people would have just moved automatically; but no everyone was raised the same way. If you dont ask for the person to slide over or move their feet, than dont be upset cause they dont. If you want to sit, ask nicely for them to scootch over.

Or even better, if there was room for the couple to slide down, why didn't the PPs family sit on the other side instead of expecting them to move?

 

[LilMommyBug]

I agree with the "you never know what they are going through" thing. I never assume someone will give up a seat for me - even if i'm holding my sleeping child. Now, my DH is polite but sometimes at the end of a day he's just tired & spaced out and doesn't even think to offer someone his seat. That's when I nudge him and remind him & he offers.

One trip though, we got on a packed bus at night and DH had one sleeping kid & I had the other. A teenage girl actually got up & let me sit in her spot and her mom offered to take my other kid from DH and hold her until we got to Pop. VERY nice gesture that made our night.

 

[JUS915]

You didn't get the memo? People without children at Disney don't have the same privileges as those with kids. <end sarcasm>

Sweet. I can't wait to go in May with our little one. I better always have a seat when I am carrying her and her stroller or I am going to start a new thread on how inconsiderate the seated elderly and women were when I needed a seat.

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

Sweet. I can't wait to go in May with our little one. I better always have a seat when I am carrying her and her stroller or I am going to start a new thread on how inconsiderate the seated elderly and women were when I needed a seat.

hahahaha