Ettiquete on public transport

When everyone used public transport, customs were more easily passed on and taken up by all passenger, young and old.

Customs have become more muddled over time and irregular travellers are unfamiliar with unwritten codes (that we may call good manners).

Yesterday when walking the dog on the pathway, I stood to one side to allow a young person on a scooter coming at speed in the opposite direction, to have unobstructed use of the path. She whizzed along with a total absence of words or sign of thanks.

I also couldn’t help thinking that when I was a child on my small scooter, it was good manners for the child to give way, stand aside and grant use of the whole pavement to older people.

There are bad mannered people of all ages I find, from kids to old people.
I don’t think anyone needs etiquette to be explained to them it’s all about being considerate when out and about.

I used to constantly correct my daughter (must have been fun for her!)
Feet down please, people have to sit there.
Stop ahouting, shhh!
Let that lady on first because she was before us .stand up and ask that man if he would like your seat.

Of course it doesn’t help when people, after being offered a seat choose to decline it.

Hello MissAdventure good to see a post from you.

Oreo

Of course it doesn’t help when people, after being offered a seat choose to decline it.

Yes. I always accept and say thank you.

Ilovecheese

Hello MissAdventure good to see a post from you.

Thank you

I had a similar experience when a woman thought her cake tin, presumably with cake, needed a seat, she was sitting in a priority seat at the front of the bus so I asked nicely if she would move the tin so my disabled husband could sit next to her, she huffed and puffed and indicated that there were seats further down the bus to which I replied that if my husband attempted to walk down the bus as it set off he would fall down because a stroke had left him with no balance and impaired eyesight. She moved the tin. Most people are very understanding and kind.

I have always used buses a lot. I think some things are better, some worse. Most of the time my journeys are uneventful and everybody behaves themselves.

I remember when smoking was allowed in all areas, it was most unpleasant for non-smokers.

I agree that rudeness is not exclusive to any particular demographic. Some children are very badly behaved on the bus but for sheer bad manners and antisocial behaviour the adults lead the field by a long way.

Most people wait for everyone to get off first before alighting but not everybody does. I once had to fight my way past a double buggy. I always say thank you to the driver when I get off.

I once got into a disagreement with an elderly couple. I was in a double seat and the woman said rather curtly "My husband and I would like to sit there." I replied jokingly "That's fine, which one of you wants to sit on my lap?" They both turned really nasty and started shouting about how rude I was. Needless to say after that I refused to budge.

As a child, I always stood if an adult needed my seat. As a young child, I would have sat on my mum's knee.

However, I suspect that there is less room between seats nowadays, as there is not room for my three year old dgc to sit on my lap (amd I am quite slim), and even when he was smaller it was almost impossible to get the two of us plus my shopping bag on one seat.

And then there is the safety issue - it is illegal to carry a child in a car without them being very firmly strapped into a seat, so I can see why parents don't expect them to stand up, totally unrestrained, on a bus. It is safer for healthy adults to stand than children, and I still give up my seat if someone clearly needs it more than I do - whatever their age.

On our local buses, children age five and over have to pay full fare too, so in that respect are as entitled to a seat as anyone else.

I always made my children and grandchildren stand for adults. But so often on the tube now the parents let the child sit and they stand.

Gymstagran

I always made my children and grandchildren stand for adults. But so often on the tube now the parents let the child sit and they stand.

the parents let the child sit and they stand. More fool them.

I was taught to give up my seat to adults and to stand and I’ve taught my DC to do the same.
I’ve experienced rudeness from all ages . I think one of the problems is that people don’t travel on public transport as much now. Plus people are in their own little world, on their phones or listening to music or a podcast . And aren’t aware of what’s going on.

Did nt you have to go upstairs if you were smoking on the bus ?
Amazing is it how we sat in theatres, restaurants, coaches, cinema etc smoking
I use buses a lot I don’t usually have any problems, except some people do smell bad

I was made to stand for adults on buses when I was a child. However, I think that it is dangerous for a child to stand if, for instance, the driver has to break suddenly, so I give my seat up for a child. I also give my seat up to anyone who needs it more than I do, someone less mobile than I am for instance.
My public transport bugbear is people talking on mobile phones with the speaker on so that the rest of us have to listen to both sides of their boring conversations. I wouldn’t mind if their conversation contained some juicy gossip, but it never does 😡

Upsatirs, or at the back if it was a single decker, Bluebelle.

As a first former at grammar school, (1960’s), we were expected to stand to allow the sixth formers to have a seat on the public service bus, never mind the general public.

I mean, these strapping six foot 18 year old lads needed to take the weight off their feet.

😒

As a child I was brought up to always give up my seat. My GC always have car journey with parents so have never learnt public transport etiquette which I think is part of the problem by these days. They love it when I take them on a bus journey and now understand that they must wait to board once everyone has got off at the bus stop, give up their seat for others and they thank the driver as they get off. They also think they have magic arms because the bus stops for them when they put their arms out.

I was travelling on a very full train in London with my 8 year old granddaughter, I got a seat next to a man about 30 years old, my granddaughter stood by my side. The young man offered my granddaughter his seat. I thanked him but declined, but what lovely manners.

If anyone offers me a seat (or to lift up or carry my case or whatever), I always accept graciously, give them a lovely smile and say, “Thank you, you’re very kind”. It leaves both sides feeling that the world is a nicer place.

When I was young in the fifties it was common for an elderly man to get up to give you a seat on a bus. I didn’t need it of course but didn’t want to suggest he was old so thanked him and took it.

You are not living in the wrong era and to be fair not all young people are rude. Unfortunatly some people young or old have been brought up lacking social skills.
It's not rocket science but some times people either don't know or grasp what being polite means.

I need a priority seat and many people give up their seat for me but they are normally able-bodied. I get cross when usually a young girl is occupying a priority seat and studiously looking at her phone. I have given up my seat if somebody comes on and appears to be in a worse state than me.

I always accept a seat graciously. It was our generation that were taught manners. The attitude now is I paid for my ticket, I deserve a seat, any seat.

Magenta8

I have always used buses a lot. I think some things are better, some worse. Most of the time my journeys are uneventful and everybody behaves themselves.

I remember when smoking was allowed in all areas, it was most unpleasant for non-smokers.

I agree that rudeness is not exclusive to any particular demographic. Some children are very badly behaved on the bus but for sheer bad manners and antisocial behaviour the adults lead the field by a long way.

Most people wait for everyone to get off first before alighting but not everybody does. I once had to fight my way past a double buggy. I always say thank you to the driver when I get off.

I once got into a disagreement with an elderly couple. I was in a double seat and the woman said rather curtly "My husband and I would like to sit there." I replied jokingly "That's fine, which one of you wants to sit on my lap?" They both turned really nasty and started shouting about how rude I was. Needless to say after that I refused to budge.

that was a good answer, I'll need to remember that one