Debate over bus rules as Aussies torn by elderly man’s seat request
A Melbourne commuter who copped the brunt of a man’s odd request on a bus has caused divide as Aussies argue over who is in the wrong.
Aussies are torn after a commuter’s bizarre interaction on a Melbourne bus went viral.
An image taken inside the public bus shows an elderly man sat at the front of the vehicle, accompanied by a lengthy post explaining the unusual situation.
“The bus is 90 per cent empty [and even the] priority seats are empty,” the transport user wrote on Reddit.
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“This elderly person you see in the front came on the bus and [tapped me on the shoulder, because] he wants my seat.”
They went on to explain that just moments earlier, they had been sat in that front seat near the driver, before the older gentleman asked if he could sit there.
After surrendering their spot, the busgoer was left wondering whether they were in the wrong for sitting there in the first place – or if the elderly man was in the wrong for asking.
“Sure, it’s no biggie, but at the same time I question their right of entitlement... What are your thoughts?” they added, opening the conversation to commenters.
People were quick to suggest the seat at the front of the bus was not, in fact, a priority seat.
This is confirmed by Transport Victoria’s guidelines, noting that these special seats have “priority seating” stickers above them, or markings on the floor in front of them.
“Low-floor buses have allocated spaces for passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids. This area is marked on the floor with a wheelchair symbol. Most local buses in Victoria are low-floor,” the website reads.
Though, if the person were in a priority seat, the older man would have been justified in asking them to move.
“If you are sitting in a priority seat, please offer it to someone who may need it,” Transport urges.
“If you do not give up your seat upon request, you can be fined by an Authorised Officer.”
As for whether or not the man’s request was justified in this case, Aussies were torn.
Many said that he should have been more polite, or used one of the empty priority seats instead.
“That seat’s usually taken by our local bus chatters. It’s not a priority seat,” one person said.
“I hate that seat. I’ve never sat in it or had the urge to sit there. I can’t understand why anyone would want to sit in this sea,” another agreed.
“I think that man could have at least spoken to you and asked for the seat. Rude,” said a third.
But, others said the man may have had his reasons, noting that it can be better for those dealing with motion sickness or poor vision.
“That is the seat I take when I have never been on a particular bus route and I need to see the stops really well. Some buses have stupid crap covering the windows and at night it can make seeing any landmarks or names of stops really really hard,” one commenter pointed out.
“I like that seat because I’m often travelling with a large backpack. I can put it on one of those shelves and have quick access to retrieve it, without hogging an actual priority seat,” another shared.
“I’m very clumsy (dyspraxia), and have vertigo, so those front seats are the best for me to avoid car sickness and falls,” said another person.
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Originally published as Debate over bus rules as Aussies torn by elderly man’s seat request
