Rude Seat Hoggers
It never ceases to amaze me how rude some people can be when it comes to sharing their seat on the bus. These are the people who sit on the outer half of an empty double seat, blocking what should be another available seat. Now, it might be acceptable to do this if the bus happened to be mostly empty. However, I have witnessed this inconsiderate act on rides that range from full to packed.
Just this morning, there were two offenders within arms reach of me. Both individuals were taking up an entire double seat as the bus continued to fill to capacity. I was seated in the back on one of the side benches. A man boarded close to downtown and because of the rude seat hoggers, he had only one seat option, which happened to be next to me on the side seats. Frequent bus riders probably know how snug these side benches can be, especially if you are wedged in right between the poles. Not so lovely. So while this man and I snuggled up, both of us clutching our bags in our laps so as to take up as little room possible, the seat two seat hoggers happily stretched out in their personal row.
I have seen this injustice occur on many occasions, even at times when the bus is so packed that even standing room is scarce. One person sits comfortably, taking up two seats while everyone else is packed in like sardines.
I admit, I do nothing to protest (unless quietly fuming and shooting dirty looks at the offending party counts). Like me, most people are too polite to question it and I’m not sure it would really be worth it to speak up and make a scene. I’m curious if others have see this occur. Are these people oblivious or just inconsiderate? Or could there actually be a legitimate reason for seat hogging?
Feb 6th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I used to ride the 6 and I bet I could pick both outside sitters out of a line up – I switched to the 12 not to long ago and there is an outside sitter there too! It’s very rude and those people pretend they don’t know how rude it is but deep down inside I’m sure they do. I vote they should have to pay two fares if they want both seats.
Feb 6th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Ahh, the classic tale of the courageous and oblivious outside sitter.
The best is when they grimace and scowl when people want to sit in that inside seat, and rather than just slide over, they make a huge deal about having to turn their body 90 degrees without standing up.
Not to be judgmental, but the 3-4 recurring offenders that I could identify are women between ages 45-65. Any insight to that?
Feb 6th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Not sure I can address that specific age/gender example…my primary experiences with seat hogs are young guys in the morning who need to angle their bodies so that their head nestles nicely against the window, which everyone knows is the optimal bus-sleeping position. It also takes up the entire row. I recently observed someone taking up an entire seat, but it was more girth-related. A very thin man tried to take what was the last outside seat on the bus – next to said large man – only to be met by a scowl that drove the offending thin dude to the back of the bus where he stood and clutched a pole. Not very fair – the little guy couldn’t have needed more than the four remaining inches on the seat, after all.
Feb 6th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I dislike the people who sit in the back with their feet up on the seats. I always ask them to put their feet down so I can sit (when there’s no where else). They give me this look like I just asked them to shoot themselves in the head. Drives me crazy.
Also, when there’s no where to sit and you have your purse on the seat (yeah, 40 year old business-woman with your Prada bag), hold it on your lap so others can sit down. This is fine to do when the bus is near empty or no one wants to sit by you. Otherwise, no!
Feb 7th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I hate the outside seat sitters! I’m not sure there’s anything that makes my blood boil more than when the outside seat sitter acts oblivious as people are lining the aisles and practically flowing out the door. How do you not feel like a total, total asshole at that point? Like the rest of you I never say anthing, I simply get wound up internally. Grr.
Feb 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Some people like the outside seat…..if you don’t like it speak up and ask them to move – they don’t own the bus, if you want something you need to take the initiative and and ask for it. How they respond is up to them but most will give up the extra seat.
Feb 7th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I gravitate toward those taking up two seats (unless they’re huge and actually using all the space), just because I want to force them to share the seat. I innocently say “excuse me”, and point to offending purse, backpack, leg, etc. Nobody has refused yet. If the outside seat sitters don’t move more than an inch to let me in or out, I’m not very careful to avoid bumping them.
The ones who bug me are the guys who apparently must always provide their testicles with air. They spread their legs to a 90-100 degree angle, taking up extra room, exposing their crotch for all to see. Gross. They’ve got clothes on, but still… Gross.
Feb 8th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I ride the train, but see the same situation quite a bit. What I do is tap the person on the shoulder and look them in the eye. Usually they move over right away, even if grudgingly. If not, I say politely, “I’d like to sit here.” Or something to that effect.
They move. You just have to ask. Of course, some people, I’d rather not sit by anyway . . . and standing on the train isn’t so bad. It’s just sometimes, when I’ve had a long day, it’s nice to take a load off. And why shouldn’t I, if there’s a seat available?
And sometimes I do it just because seat hoggers piss me off. But I find it you’re polite about it most people will be polite in return and move to the other seat.
Feb 9th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
As a 6′3 guy, and I can see a situation where sitting on the outside might be misinterpreted.
My legs don’t fit straight between two seats – they have to be splayed quite wide. The only way to do this when two people are sitting down is to sit on the outside, so one knee can escape into the aisle. And even on my own, it’s a lot more comfortable. I try to let people know that they’re welcome to sit on the inside, but that i’d like to stay on the aisle, please.
People feel a little threatened if you stand up, motion for them to sit by the window, and sit back down on the aisle side.
Feb 10th, 2008 at 1:04 am
I see riders get on, put thier fete up on the seats either next to them, sacross the asle, or kitty across the asle. I get on the mic and ask them if I came to thier house, would they mind of I put my feet, with my grody work shoes on, on thier furniture. That usually works in most cases, and they remove their feet . In most cases that does the job, as I called them on it over the PA, and the rest of the bus knows, so they are embarrased.
Feb 12th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Jeeeez. Minnesota nice really is just Minnesota passive-aggressive. If I get on the bus and there are people standing while people are taking up more than one seat, I just say excuse me and they move, albeit sometimes rather grudgingly.
I also hate it when people put their feet on the seat, especially in the winter or when its rainy because they get the seat all salty/wet/muddy.
But my biggest pet peeve by far is when somebody gets on who is obviously frail/has a limp/old/whatever and the goon sitting in the front right seat staring out the windshield doesn’t move. That one really makes my blood boil.
Feb 12th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I don’t know. I come across this often on my stuffed bus to downtown each morning. The one time I actually got up the nerve to ask one of these outer-half sitters (a teenage girl no less) to just let me sit on the inside she mumbled some reason about not wanting to move. After a second request where she mumbled again, I quietly fumed and stood with the other 6-8 people already crowding up the aisle. There is no stopping them!
Feb 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I admit I am sometimes guilty of “seat hogging”. When I do it, it’s partly for reasons of girth, and usually when I’m not riding very far compared to the length of the route. The idea being I want clear access to get off the bus. However, I don’t “seat hog” if the bus is truly full unless I really am only going a few more blocks. I will gladly give the inside seat to anyone who wants it, and if the inside person wants off before me, I will stand and give the person full clearance. Sorry if this makes me a bad person in your eyes….
Feb 21st, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I actually like to lay on 2 seats. Is that bad?
Apr 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
i have a tendency to sit on the outside seat, and here’s my reasoning:
i spent some time abroad where I was told that, as a woman, under no circumstances was I to leave the seat open. If I did, that was inviting a man to sit in that seat and leave you locked in with no way out.
While we are in MN and not in a foreign country, that’s something that’s been ingrained ever since. I’m more than happy to move and make room, and I’ll move over for a woman, but I won’t move over for a man. All you have to do is ask – and I try not to be oblivious to people who need to sit down and I’m blocking the one seat. I don’t want people to be inconvenienced, I’ve just been trained to be aware of my safety.
Apr 21st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I view this as an opportunity on a crowded bus, and I’m glad they do it. Here is why:
I’m nice looking, and thin. If the bus is filling fast, 9/10 times I can take my pick of seats from the hoggers. They know that there is a good chance that someone is going to ask to sit with them, and I often look like the best possible option.
I have often wondered if their behavior is simply a preemptive action to choose who sits with them.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 am
I had a similar incident with my then 9 y.o. son riding with me. We got on the 18E bus southbound (Nicollet bus) and there was a seat available where this caucasian middle age lady was sitting. She was on the outside of the seat, her groceries were on the inside of the seat. I should point out that there WERE seats designated for the elderly or handicapped but they did not specify for children.
I got on the bus & asked this lady if anyone was sitting next to her. “Can’t you see my groceries are there!,” she abruptly replied. I then said, “Did you pay for two seats?” This only irritated her more.
“I have a bad KNEE!”, she replied. “You do?,” I said. “In that case, there are designated seats up front for any person who has a disability & you would most certainly qualify,” I said.
She was mad as a hornet. At that point she offered to let my son sit in her lap. “Ma’am, I wouldn’t want to do that with you bad knee but if you just take two grocery bags & place them in your lap I’m sure my son will fit fine.”
Seeing this was a no-win situation she moved her groceries over and allowed my son to sit while I stood during the trip.
Aug 1st, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I do, on occasion pay 2 fares so I can put my backpack on the seat next to me. But, if someone asks politely enough, I will put it in my lap.
Sep 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
But Madrias, how on earth would anyone KNOW you had paid for two seats? Does your backpack hold its own transfer up to show passengers who might take away its seat? Does it wear a bright pink button saying “I paid my fare!” I mean…this two-fares thing sounds kinda suspicious if you ask me. Why don’t I tell my fellow riders I paid FOUR fares so that I can lie down comfortably with my pillow and blankie and box of Godiva chocolate truffles on the long bench behind the driver, and settle in with a good book? How will anyone know whether I did or didn’t pay for that whole bank of seats?
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