Should children who travel free on buses, sit while fare payers stand?

Question

In London, children travel free on buses. Yet they seem to expect to get a seat even when the bus is full. I've actually seen adults get up and let the kids sit down (and I mean school age children)! My feeling on this is that people who travel free and are able to stand should give up their seats for fare payers.

Thoughts anyone?

Answer 1

I was always taught to give up my seat to standings adults, but, the person who taught me, my mother, also said adults shouldn't expect it as a given rule, her mantra was "If you see a bus is crowded and you don't want to stand, don't get on it"

Answer 2

When I was a child and paying half fare, it was made a condition that I should give up my seat to full fare passenger.

It is extremely annoying to see a bus full of inconsiderate school children spreading themselves all over the seats, whilst watching, a elderly person, or pregnant woman struggling to stay upright.

I thought kids were taught in schools to be considerate and tolerant, what happened?

Answer 3

yeah i agree seeing as they arent paying... In aus we have signs saying that if no seats children should give to adults... not sure if i agree with that though, we pay, although its concession fees ... yet we can't drive or anything and very often have to use the bus.

Lol... anyway i feel as if they dont pay they should stand

Answer 4

Pensioners travel free on Public Transport - so according to you they should be made to stand for the whole or part of a journey, while children/young people who are perfectly capabale of standing have paid and therefore by allowed to sit down?

Answer 5

I'm all for children getting inexpensive bus travel that gives them good freedom of movement and instils a life long public transport using habit into them. But I don't understand

why they get totally free travel; many come from very affluent homes. Similarly giving the over 60s free travel is  also ridiculous ; many are very affluent too while the young wage earner for example, just starting out on their professional life at a very low wage, has to spend a sizeable amount of their weekly pay

on their fares to work. A flat fare of 40 pence on buses  for

kids and the over 60s would be affordable for them with those on Supplementary benefits still getting free travel, and would allow

ordinary adult fares to be reduced.

Answer 6

I don't think wether you pay or not decides if you sit or stand.

You could just be curtious and let them sit down, after all their only kids right?

Answer 7

I believe that smaller children (under the age of 10 - 12), should be seated, regardless of whether they have paid the fare, since due to their height and arm span, it is much more difficult for them to reach the hand holds to stay upright on a crowded bus.  They also have less experience keeping their balance, and it's better off for everyone if they are seated.

Answer 8

Children are children. They can be easily hurt in case of an accident. Let them enjoy their life healthy when they grow. They will too give seats for youngsters when they get matured.

Why, didn't you got seats when you were young?

Answer 9

Then don't give up your seat..  I dont think anyone makes you give up your seat to children.  Some people are just more polite, and dont think the world is out to get them so they have no problem letting a child sit.    I wouldnt hold it against anyone for not giving up their seat, and vice versa, I would hold it against somone if they wanted to make a big deal about it and force children to stand.

Answer 10

Why should children travel free in the first place. They still take up the same space as adults, so why not pay the same fare?

Answer 11

its not free its government funded,but if someone was in need of a seat more say pregnant or with an injury then i would agree.Kids are all to often shunned and ignored as part of society,i dont feel its a very curtious way to deal with them.

Answer 12

Does that mean that the little old lady with the season ticket should stand up for anyone, just because she's only paid for half her ticket? You wouldn't do that, so why should a child have to give up their seat for the same reason?

I think everyone (not just children) should stand up for elderly, pregnant mothers, and those less-abled than themselves. But other than that, first come; first served.

I think you should be asking whether it's right to buy a train ticket in England, only to find out there's no seats left anywhere on the train. Then you go and sit in first class, and the inspector boots you out. Hello; I paid for a service and you're not providing me with the seat!

Answer 13

its mainly very young kids who dont have to pay bus fair an no they should not give up there seats as they are unable or strong enough to support themselves.let able bodied adults standup for mothers of young kids an oaps.i once was on a train with no seats holding a very young baby an no one offered me a seat, another time got on a bus with a young baby an a 2 year old an yet again no one offed me a seat,the bus driver was furious an refused to move till someone offered me a seat still no one budged so he turned his engine off an we were there for 5 mins till someone finally stood up

Answer 14

They should know their manners in any event.

Answer 15

Why should the kids sit down ?

Make em stand up they're younger than me.

Answer 16

Maybe it is not a matter of fare paying!!   Maybe it is about safety. What if there is an accident? People standing will have it worst than people seating, so .... it's up to you to decide if you should give up your seat for children.

Answer 17

no its first come first serve when i was 9 months pregnant on buses no1 gave me a seat so i dont now