Commuter demands "where is the baby" before giving up seat Post Reply

[Annabel (admin)]

From the Standard

A commuter stunned fellow Tube passengers when he demanded a woman with a “baby on board” badge in a priority seat prove she was pregnant.

Mother-of-one Raayan Zafar, 32, told how she was left speechless and “really, really embarrassed” after the confrontation on a Victoria line Tube in Stockwell on Wednesday morning.

“It’s early days so that’s why I don’t show,” she explained, “but that doesn’t mean I’m not pregnant or tired or sick all the time.

[juliantenniscoach]

'Moron' is possibly the politest word you could use. My parents always taught me to give up a seat to whoever was less able than me. Part of being a gentleman they told me. On a positive note, on the rare occasions I travel by tube, I do fine people being courteous regarding pregnant, elderly and other less able to stand.

[IndyB]

If you want to know what it's like commuting as a pregnant woman in London today, check out a local mum's tales wearing the 'Baby on Board' badge:

twitter.com/babyonboardldn

It's interesting to hear how the badge does (or more often, doesn't!) work...

[auntieplanty]

I was on a train a couple of years ago when an elderly and frail lady staggered on and stood looking rather helpless - the train was full of teenagers. mainly boys. Seeing that no-one was going to move, I appealed to one young man that he would be doing a great service if he would offer his seat to this lady.

Both incidents clearly show a lack of selfish behaviour that seems ever more prevalent these days.

Sad state of affairs indeed

[firsttimerSW11]

I don't think that this the norm, to be honest. In my own experience, I commuted to the City until I was 8.5 months pregnant. Never was I not offered a seat. Ever. In fact, some days when I actually I wanted to stand, I'd take off the badge because half the tube would be trying to catch my eye to offer me a seat. Since I have been pregnant/had a child, I have realised just how courteous Londoners are, albeit in a low key way. As well as always being offered a seat while pregnant, I take my child on the tube very regularly and always have several people offering to help me take it up and down the stairs and people never fail to get up to allow me room to manoeuver in my buggy and offer me a seat. People also engage happily with my smiley child - and I'm mortified to admit that I'd never have done the same with a child on the tube, pre baby. It's sad what happened to that lady but I'm happy to say that my experience, and that of most of my friends is and has been so very different.

[Mummymummymummy]

Ahh, lovely post First Timer. On a similar note my in-laws occasionally visit from the Cotswolds and seem to have a rather dim view of London Life. Yet each time they visit they express amazement that they have been offered seats and help with bags, seems to be without fail. So thank - you, well done Londoners. In laws still think our city is a dump tho