Public Transport Etiquette Study (PTES)
18 December 2005, 06:43
You may remember a wee while ago, my foray into sociological research as I embarked upon an experiment that was guaranteed to shake up Melbourne public transport etiquette as we all know it. Or maybe not.
The results are now in! It must be said that of the 90 tram trips I took from the 3 October, there were only 15 occasions when the tram was so packed I needed to actually be offered a seat. Also note that all incidents took place on the 112 Tram down Brunswick St/St Georges Road, both during the morning and afternoon peak hours.
I’m not sure whether to be encouraged or alarmed by results. In an ideal world I would hope that a pregnant or elderly person be offered a seat 100% of the time, but alas, I was only offered 67%, which is still better than some preggo women who complain that no-one ever offers them a seat (which I find v. hard to believe). Perhaps they looked like Elmer Fudd. Just a guess. Of that 67%, 70% of the Offerer’s were female. And of those who offered, it was 50/50 as to whether they were a passive or decisive offerer.
% of times offered a seat
Battle of the Sexes
I don’t pretend to make any broad generalisations based on these limited set of stats (apart from confirming that, yes, I have been in touch with my Inner Nerd), but I have to say for the most part I found commuters v. sympathetic toward pregnant women.
There will always be those people who hog the priority seat pretending to be engrossed in their books/mags whatever and cling stubbornly to their right to sit when incapacitated souls are standing, or those who will happily push you out of the way to get on the tram, but those dudes are in the serious minority…
Permanent Link | - I’m curious, exactly what do you consider a passive vs active offer, though I can easily figure out what you consider an “active” offer what exactly would one have to do to be considered a passive offere.
Mostly just wondering if what I do makes me a jerk who doesn’t offer a seat or just someone who makes a “passive” offer :)
— Adam Jacob Muller Dec 18, 04:20 PM # - Adam – definitions were in the original blog:-
The Passive Offerer will not actually get up, but will tug you on the sleeve and ask “Would you like a seat?” Probably the normal response if you’re nearly 6 months preggo would be to say “Yes, thanks, very kind” but my pride responds for me and I reply “No, that’s OK”. There’s always that awkward moment where the Offerer probably feels guilty that you are still standing and you feel a bit like a chump.
The Decisive Offerer will jump up off their seat and say, “Please. Sit”. To which you have no choice but to sit with a thankful “Cheers, thanks”.
— Kinki Dec 18, 05:31 PM # - i must admit that i’m a passive offerer because i’ve seen it happen several times where someone jumps out of their seat and tries to offer it to a pregnant woman who claims that she would rather stand the one station stop that she is going and then that person loses their seat to some nut who sits down instead.
the subway here is convenient enough that you can take it one stop or just two but you may not even want to sit because then that means you have to fight to get off.
it’s nice to see that people DID give up their seats to you, though!
— gleek Dec 20, 08:36 AM # - Well… I have to say that while etiquette standards HAVE dropped, those signs on the trams/trains above the priority seating do say “Seat must be vacated UPON REQUEST…”
I am personally really sick of offering seats to people who I think may need one more than myself only be told no thanks and then watch as they stand for the next six stops. 12 years solid using trams and trains in the afternoons have taught me well.
So now it’s “ask me for a seat”, it’s not like I’m going to tell a pregnant woman or anyone who really needs a seat (to the point where they need to ask for one) “no”. LOL
My sister got into the habit of asking for seats if no one offered and she never had a problem.
— Sussy Dec 20, 01:43 PM # - Hmmm, interesting Sussy – I still stand up if someone elderly etc. gets on to the tram. I don’t like the thought of sitting while an elderly/pregnant/etc. person is standing, even if they don’t want the seat – that’s just me, particularly if I’m sitting in a priority seat (ahem, this is before I was up the duff, though).
In my opinion, those signs should read “Move your arse if you see someone who needs a seat.”
I heard a story of a pregnant woman who did ask for a seat and was told by a “gentleman”, “No, you’re not pregnant, just fat”. So it doesn’t work every time (although I would have deffo shoved my fat belly in his face and taken an eye out…)
I think I’m definitely old-fashioned about this kind of thing, and accept that others aren’t so much, but lack of etiquette on PT shits me no end. One of my pet peeves.
— Kinki Dec 20, 05:54 PM # - Oh yeah, just to clarify Kinki, I do agree with you. If I do see someone that obviously needs a seat (usually elderly or people on crutches or similar) I’m up straight away and ushering them forth. But I am also one of those people who is either a) really and truly asleep or b)really and truly engrossed in a book (it makes the long hour home on the train somewhat more bearable).
And I would have given that guy what for if I’d been sitting near him and heard that. How rude.
— Sussy Dec 23, 09:06 AM #
