Want to live dangerously? Catch a Melbourne train while you’re pregnant

WHEN a pregnant Holly McKay recently boarded a train there wasn’t a spot to sit down. Thank goodness for priority seats. Except no one got up.

Getting on a train during peak times can be hard at the best of times. Try it when you’re pregnant. Picture: Jason Edwards.

COMMENT: WHAT is wrong with people?

Is it not common courtesy to stand up for people who are elderly, have a disability, are pregnant or have small children?

Or, in fact, anyone who looks like they need or deserve to sit down more than you?

If that’s the case, then why do so many people choose to sit in the priority seats reserved for these people? I don’t mind people sitting there, but it’s a temporary seat and should be treated as such.

When someone walks on to the train in need of a seat, these people just look down — pretending they don’t see you.

To those people, you are disgusting. You are sad and, quite frankly, I hope someone stamps on your foot.

Catching public transport is no easy task for any regular commuter. So being seven-and-a-half months pregnant makes it just that little bit more tricky.

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I catch the train every morning. One day last week I waited patiently for the train and when it turned up it was fairly full.

A handful of people pushed past me and onto the train but when I went to get on no one moved. No one.

I stood there while people just stared at me and made no attempt to move down into the aisles.

Getting on a train during peak times can be hard at the best of times. Try it when you’re pregnant. Picture: Jason Edwards.

A priority seat sign.

I backed away from the train thinking, it’s OK, I’ll just get the next one.

The next train rolled in and I got on, moving to a semi-safe place where I could at least hold on to a rail.

I was standing in front of four men — four young men all sitting in seats reserved for people in need.

And not one of them moved.

They just looked down, pretending not to see my 33-week-pregnant belly almost poking them in the face.

It’s not that I necessarily am in dire need of sitting down, but seriously, whatever happened to just being considerate?

And more to the point, it’s dangerous to be standing. What if the train stops suddenly? What if I faint? What if someone falls on me?

“When someone walks on to the train in need of a seat, these people just look down — pretending they don’t see you,” — Holly McKay

I’m about to bring a baby into this world. A world where people no longer show the respect and kindness that I’m sure has been shown to them on at least one occasion in their lives.

I’m no parenting expert but I’ll be damned if I bring my baby up the way these people seem to have been brought up.

And as for the sign that says “on request these seats should be vacated” — don’t wait for a request, just get up.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Have people been rude to you on public transport? Tell us below

Follow Holly via her blog, Mrs Knees, or on Twitter @hollyzmckay