By Katy Hallam Rahima Miah
Securing a decent seat on a bustling train, particularly during peak times, can often feel like a race. However, many passengers adhere to the unwritten rule of offering their seat to those who may need it more – such as the elderly, disabled or expectant mothers. Most public transport services have priority seating for these individuals. Yet, despite these measures, there are instances when things don’t go according to plan. A recent incident involving a commuter and a pregnant woman on a London train serves as a stark reminder of this. Read more Woman gets ‘last laugh’ on ‘entitled tradesman’ who blocked in her car on shared driveway The commuter shared his experience on Reddit, recounting how he had offered his seat to a pregnant woman on the London Underground, only for another man to swoop in and “steal” the seat. He explained: “This morning [I] was heading into London on the Jubilee line from Stanmore. After a few stops I saw a pregnant woman get on and the people in the priority seats just ignored her so I offered her mine.”, reports the Mirror . “As soon as I stood up a man pushed her away and took the seat I had just vacated. “It was bad enough seeing people not give up priority seats but then to see that and he just sat there obstinately as I told him it was for a pregnant woman.” Adding insult to injury, the considerate commuter noticed the man’s work uniform and looked up his employer. Shockingly, he found out that the man works for a company that “makes products to help people with mobility and health issues”. The Reddit thread detailing a public transport dispute has attracted over 600 comments, catching the attention of the pregnant woman at the centre of the story and her husband. She expressed her gratitude: “Firstly, to the kind man who offered your seat, thank you so much for doing the right thing and I think we were both gobsmacked by this other man’s behaviour.” Further shedding light on the incident, the expectant mother shared: “To clarify the situation, I got on the tube this morning and since I am 8 months pregnant I usually ask for a seat if someone isn’t offering it, since I know people can be in their own world or on their phones.” She recounted the morning’s events: “However, this morning, I didn’t have to as this kind man stood up and then this other 2 metre tall, well built man pushed in front of me to grab the seat. “I said ‘excuse me, I think this seat was meant for me’ and the kind man said the same thing. He just looked us both in the eye, didn’t say anything but remained seated.” Shocked by the lack of courtesy, she said: “The kind man said ‘I can’t believe you just took a pregnant woman’s seat’ but nothing from him, he shortly after pretended to sleep, probably not to face the looks of the rest of the carriage.” The woman reported that she was eventually given a priority seat by another passenger, preferring not to cause further commotion but left feeling uneasy about what the unyielding commuter might do subsequently. She rounded off her remarks with a jab, noting: “I would have understood if he also had a disability but he had clearly been capable to stand until that point, didn’t wear a badge or say anything in his defence. “I think he was just lazy and rude. My main thought was: I wonder what his mum would have said if she saw his behaviour..” Backing up his wife’s sentiments, her husband voiced his gratitude to those who noticed and remarked on the post: “So this was my wife! Thank you for noticing as not many do.” A heartfelt thanks went out to the fellow passenger who offered his seat, before turning to chastise the indifferent man: “Thanks to the other person who stood up to give her a seat. To the guy that just ignored my wife you’re an a******!”. The online community echoed their indignation at the man’s conduct. One commenter blasted: “That’s absolutely ridiculous. I would have shamed him loudly in front of everyone.” Someone else chimed in with disbelief at the individual’s actions given his profession: “The irony of working in health support and doing that… unreal. Hope karma catches him fast.” Taking it a step further, another suggested a plan of action: “Contact his work company and shame him. Even if they do nothing, at least you’ve done what you can. What a t*****.”