Do you give up your seat?

[aclivity]

This is quite important to me - when I am travelling with my (heavily pregnant with twins) wife on the tube she actively stops me from asking people to give up their seats for her. She even shushes me when I point out in a marked tone of voice that "PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO GIVE UP THEIR SEATS TO PREGNANT LAYDEEES DO THEY?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4325393.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/magazine/4330647.stm

Do you think these are a good idea?

[Lynne]

Originally Posted by aclivity

This is quite important to me - when I am travelling with my (heavily pregnant with twins) wife on the tube she actively stops me from asking people to give up their seats for her. She even shushes me when I point out in a marked tone of voice that "PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO GIVE UP THEIR SEATS TO PREGNANT LAYDEEES DO THEY?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4325393.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/magazine/4330647.stm

Do you think these are a good idea?

Excellent idea - Is it not just common courtesy to give up your seat (if you are fully able yourself) to someone struggling for whatever reason, be it pregnancy, age or disability (or any other reason)?

I would never wait to be asked, but I must admit some people look at you like you've offended them, when offering them your seat

[Fiona]

I don't do public transport

[Clare Gledhill]

Originally Posted by aclivity

This is quite important to me - when I am travelling with my (heavily pregnant with twins) wife on the tube she actively stops me from asking people to give up their seats for her. She even shushes me when I point out in a marked tone of voice that "PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO GIVE UP THEIR SEATS TO PREGNANT LAYDEEES DO THEY?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4325393.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/magazine/4330647.stm

Do you think these are a good idea?

Oh this makes me soooo mad.

When eight months pregnant (and the size of a house ) I was still commuting from London and rarely managed to get a seat on the train (which always filled up with tourists and day trippers before I got to it).

One journey, the train was so full I couldn't even find a bit of floor to sit on, and got so hot (it was August) I started to feel really faint. I asked the guard if he could help and was told it was nothing to do with him - he couldn't ask anyone to give up a seat and he couldn't let me sit in the guards' area either. So he STOPPED the train at an additional station so I could get off.

So 1500+ people on a 125 mph peak time express train stop at Woking to let me off - rather than help me find somewhere to sit. Useless.

Rant over

[D.D.J]

hi
during the school holiday time the buses get really busy, i know this from having to catch them to get to work, but when ever i see old or pregnant people i d definately give up my seat for them. i d just feel too nasty if i didn t. it would be like refusing your grandma to sit down. not sure if the badges would work or not, simply because i guess the people that would move for you would do so without being promoted. i know that his doesn t help much but it was just to let you know that not all young people wouldn t not move to let others sit down hope they move for her next time

[MATTBIN]

One of the advantages, and there arent many, at having commuted on and off for 25+ yrs is that I have seen how people's attitudes have changed. When I started commuting, we, the gentlemen would get up for a lady, pregnant or not, gradually this has ceased. A short while ago, gentlemen and even some ladies would get up for a pregnant lady. Now this seems to have ceased too, despite there being notices above some seats that seated customers should give up their seats for less able people. I recall also when it was the norm for adults to insist that their children gave up their seats for other adults, able or not. I am now less able than I was after a slipped disc and find it difficult to stand for a long time, so I am afraid, once I have a seat I wouldnt give it up for someone else, unless they were older or less able than me. If however she was pregnant (and it was obvious) I would give my seat up, I have in fact asked others to do so when stood next to a pregnant lady (having asked her first if that would be ok). London Underground are now producing badges (saying I'm pregnant) so that people know rather than wonder if the woman concerned is just a little overweight.
It can be embarrasing to ask a woman if she would like your sest on account of being pregnant when she isnt. However I think it very sad that women are now seen as equals in all respects and courtesy has been replaced with selfishness. Yes I know some women are perfectly able to do what I can do physically, some more so, and yes I know they can open doors etc for themselves but you know its nice to be helped and to help. It isnt a sign of weakness, it is in fact the opposite, confident in your own self to allow someone to help you and feel good in themselves for doing it.

RANT OVER 2.

Too old fashioned for my own good I suppose.

Matt

[Hoppy]

If you were dragged up proper like me OF COURSE YOU DO !

And my little one's will as well !

Nuff said.

[ahar]

I've never managed to get a seat in busy times on the underground yet...

[Dizzydiver]

Have to say it's not just a London thing. Although I agree with other people that after working there for 6 years and using the Victoria Line every day peoples attitude did stink!! It's impossible to get a seat in rush hour and I've noticed many pregnant women being treated with disdain as they are forced to stand and the men and women sitting bury their heads in their "Metro"/"Evening Standard" or book.

Same thing applies here in Milan, although strangely pregnant women are forced to stand whilst the nuns (and there are plenty of those here) are treated with concerned looks and endearing expressions and at least half the carriage will offer up their seats.

[abucksdiver]

Originally Posted by Dizzydiver

... whilst the nuns (and there are plenty of those here) are treated with concerned looks and endearing expressions and at least half the carriage will offer up their seats.

Why does this remind me of the "Penguins Office" scene from the film "The Blues Brothers"?

Andrew