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On Metro - do you offer your seat to pregnant women?
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Anonymous
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I usually shoo people as I push my hummer size stroller inside the train. I have this HUGE stroller going in and people pretend nothing is going on. I have to be very loud sometimes because people will not move.
I make sure I always enter the very first or very last car and use the space designated for us. It would help if people were a bit more aware of their surroundings. What's wrong with people in this area? Don't they know that as you enter the train you're supposed to walk towards the middle of the car? Tourists have an excuse but us, locals, should know better. If everybody enter and walk towards the middle chances are the way will be clear when it's time to get out of the train. |
Anonymous
Just a side note....isn't that a PITA? After awhile of taking the metro, I use my little stroller. People aren't going to change and they don't seem to move for mom's with strollers. Big stoller for car, little stroller for metro. |
Anonymous
Not the pp, but I make a point of not using a stroller at all, or using a small single stroller if I have to ride the metro during rush hour. There's no way I could get our double stroller (which is fairly small) onto a packed train and juggle it during rush hour. That seems like common sense to me. Not only do people need to move towards the middle and be aware of their surroundings, but we also need to be aware of ours and try to make things a little easier on ourselves and other people. The only negative of that is if someone doesn't let us sit, I could be stuck with a 3 year old trying to stand. I usually have the youngest in the single stroller or in a carrier (but often he decides that he wants nothing to do with neither on the metro). Usually we just try to avoid the metro during rush hour at all. But I realize that's not an option for everyone as many people bring their kids to daycare/school before heading to work via the metro. |
Anonymous
I've seen a woman with short hair in her 40s carrying a cane. I don't see her limping or even leaning on it. She carries it most of the time like it's an accessory and when entering the metro train, she announces loudly, "Anybody willing to give up their seat!" |
Anonymous
When I was quite visibly pregnant, a father with two young boys made one of his sons get up from his seat so I could sit down. They were obviously on their way home from a Nats game. He put his son on his lap, and said his pregnant wife was at home, resting. He explained to his sons that he'd want someone to offer their mommy as seat if she were riding the train. It was so sweet and so responsible. It made my day. |
Anonymous
| I agree with the PPs that it's mostly women that offered me their seats, that AA men were much more courteous/considerate and that crutches are invisible to many metro riders. I also willingly give up my seat to those who look like they need it and if I happen to be standing and see someone needing a seat, I have no problem "suggesting" that someone get up - usually directed to the most able-bodied looking person. However, my experience with tourists/foreigners has been very positive. I was having a miscarriage, had to take a crowded Blue Line train to Springfield and was miserable. I was crouched/leaning on the side panel near the end doors and a tourist from the middle of the car spoke up loudly and said it looked like I could use a seat. He got up, pushed through the crowd, got my bag and led me back to his seat. I wish I'd gotten his name. On the other hand, on another day, a blind woman got on at a stop and no one was getting up for her. As I was about to designate someone to get up, she spoke up and a business man got up. |
Anonymous
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Where I'm from, it's common for men to offer their seat to women, whether they're pregnant or not. It may be outdated and unnecessary, but my husband and I plan to teach our sons the same courtesy.
That said, I have been pregnant on a bus and seen women elbow the man they're sitting next to to get them to offer me their seat since I was standing. |
Anonymous
You can find something smaller because you are not paying for that much space and it is you who is rude. I bet you use Metro during rush hours, don't you. Also, Metro does not have a rule to go to the middle of train and riders are free to stand where they wish. |
Anonymous
The beautiful voice says "WHEN BOARDING PLEASE MOVE TO THE CENTER OF THE CAR" so you can make rum for whoever is walking in, pregnant or not. And we don't owe a car, we rely on PT for everything. DC's sidewalks are not good enough that we can use an umbrella stroller to go everywhere so we do have to use a good quality stroller that is big enough to accommodate our needs; might them be groceries, dry cleaning, children and their luggage, or whatever I feel like taking with us that day. Sorry if it bother's you but next time I run over your toes and smile clutching at my pearls saying sorry you know'll exactly what's going through my mind. |
Anonymous
I agree with this! I find that women are far more willing than men to do this. My husband always offers his seat, even if the person is not female. He gets the offended "NO!" sometimes, but it's worthwhile for all those who need it. I will offer for someone who is pregnant, with a small child, elderly or otherwise incapacitated in some way. I'm from Baltimore, and people there are much more considerate in this way. They'll let you go ahead in the line at the bathroom and things too. People here are oblivious. I went to Paris with my toddler and people all told me how rude Parisians are. I'll tell you I rode the subway all week and maybe twice no one offered their seat. I went to my daughter's back to school night the other day and I'm very visibly pregnant and there were 3 Dads sitting in the little pre-school chairs and I sat on the floor. Not one of them got up. I found it really oblivious. Only the teachers asked me if I needed help. |
Anonymous
And "us, local, should know better" than to bring hummer-sized strollers on the Metro, too. Sheesh. |
Anonymous
You quoted me. Will you hold my groceries and drycleaning while I have the baby in an umbrella stroller? Or maybe hold my baby's bobbling head while we walk through DC's terrible sidewalks? Excuse me or I'll run over your unpainted toes! |
Anonymous
So basically, your attitude is, "Darn it, it's convenient for me, so the heck with everyone else." Which is fine. But don't you feel like a hypocrite complaining about others' lack of consideration when you display the same attitude yourself? Actually, I realize that you don't feel like a hypocrite. But you should. |
Anonymous
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17:40 The person leaning on the door, standing on the way of passengers moving in and out is WRONG! Once you enter you walk towards the middle of the car.
The large space in front of the disabled seats are for wheelchairs, bikes and strollers. If you're standing there I WILL SHOO YOU and you can choose to move or take the risk to be ran over since there's no way I'll stand with the stroller by the door. I don't understand why I'm a hypocrite when I'm obeyin the rules and tryin to make it easier for other passengers. |
Anonymous
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I get up for pregnant women, older folks, people on crutches, or just about anyone who looks like they need to sit. Sometimes I space out and don't notice that the train has filled up, if I'm answering emails or something. Then I feel guilty when I do notice.
I also suggest to sitters (quietly and politely) that they give up their seat. I don't assume they're jerks if they don't notice a pregnant/elderly/handicapped person immediately. Though there was one time... a hugely fat women got on a crowded bus, pushed her way past all the people standing, and went to the first front-facing row. She said "you gotta let me sit down", and one person got up. Then she said "sheee-it! Both y'all!" and waved her arms at the other person. Ok, so she was so fat that she needed two seats, but damn, woman, try a politer approach! |