Older people at bus stops

[Karen2005]

Last night I was waiting for the bus. To begin with I was the only person waiting in the shelter. Soon afterwards other people started waiting for the bus, including an "older couple" (late 60's/early 70s) who I half-smiled at because it was so cold and the man was rubbing his hands together. Now, when the bus came along the couple made sure they got on the bus first, even though they knew I was there first.

It's not the first time it's happened. It's often older people who get on the bus first, regardless of who has been waiting longest. I know they might want to make sure they get a seat, but the bus wasn't even particularly full. I know it shouldn't worry me but the younger people who wait at the bus stop seem to make an effort to make sure whoever was there first get on first.

Whatever happened to common courtesy??!!!

[zipadeedodah]

I know what you mean! Yesterday morning I was in a queue of about 8-10 people at the bus stop at a park and ride. A woman in her 60's came up and just stood outside of the shelter, at front of the queue end, even thought she could see a queue. When the bus turned up she got straight on first. It was an empty bus, so didn't actually matter, but I just think it's only polite and courteous to let those there before her on first! I would never just push in at the front!

[Octavius]

Who are you kidding? Young people waiting ?! It's not just old people who queue jump.

[kick3m0n]

Sorry guys, I totally disagree with you. Have to be honest, even though I am sometimes carrying my toddler son, I'd always let any pensioner on the bus first. I think it's only polite and respectful. Apart from the fact that they'd feel the cold alot worse than I or my son would, many of them just can't stand for too long, and so will often wait as late as they dare before going to the stop. Plus, when they queue like the woman in the post above, they won't know in advance the bus is empty, so as pointed out, they may be just ensuring tehy get a seat. I've all too often seen old people struggling up the back of a moving bus for a seat because lazy stupid young folk are taking up all the seats at the front (in spite of notices asking them to leave these seats for elderly, infirm or those with young children. I'm quite looking forward to doing my queue jumping when I'm a pensioner, especially now I know it annoys some folk!

[noxlumos]

I personally always let elderly people, the disabled and people with buggy's, kids in their arms or laden down with shopping go ahead of me in any sort of queue, because it's basic good manners. However I do know what you mean about certain elderly people who just charge ahead regardless like a herd of marauding rhinos. It would be nice if they gave you the chance to say "After you...".

[MrPahoehoe]

Completely agree with you there noxlumos. I have noticed it before. I would always let older/elderly people on before me, but they normally just push in. Its probably something to do with "respect and the fact that apparently the country is going to rack and ruin and the behaviour of youngsters nowadays" (not that I don't agree with them unfortunately). Probably happened to them when they were young and they are damned sure they're gonna do it to us :)

[dotjhawkes]

What? The buses actually stop in your part of the world to actually let ANYONE get on? Here they race past no matter how many of us are holding out arms out trying to get the bus driver to notice us! I think I'm gonna have to start putting my foot out and trippin the darn things up!

[gary baldy]

I would normally let old people on first but i also reason that the bus isnt going to go without anyone and whoever is closest to the door when the bus pulls up gets on first.
What you have to remember is that old people are just like other people only older (no kidding!) so therefore you get rude, ignorant, selfish and grumpy old people as much as you get kind amd thoughtful ones.
I try and treat everyone with the same amount of respect and if its reciprocated than thats fine and dandy. If an old person is rude and ignorant to me then i will be rude and ignorant back!

[zipadeedodah]

Although it doesn't actually sound it from my earlier post, I would happily let anyone on the bus in front of me, especially older people, or people with young children. I think it's just when people assume that they should be on first, and barge on - as noxlumos says, it would be nice just for the chance to say 'after you..', perhaps a slight hesitance or glance in your direction.

[sammd]

I would also happily let any little old granny (or grandad) on the bus in front of me, but as gary baldy said, you can get rude ones aswell who think they own the place! Some old people seem to be courteous to younger people (perhaps they have respectable grandchildren who they adore) but some young thugs do treat old people without any respect, which is why i think a lot of old people aren't too keen on the younger generation and think they are all a bunch of hooligans!

[curiosity]

I totally agree with Gary Baldy it depends on the person. I think respect should be earned, and most of us go about our lives respecting older people per se, because by the very nature of being elder they automatically earn our respect and therefore get to get on a bus first, queue jump etc. BUT when they expect this regardless of their attitude, this bugs me, and I will tell them, as I would a younger person. My toddler accidently (very slightly) bumped into an old woman in a supermarket, I couldn't have said sorry enough, but she continued to chunter & grumble and give hostile looks in the kids direction as we inevitably found ourselves continuing in the same ailses, to which I just had to say excuse me, but she didn't do it on purpose! and we did say Sorry!

[lankeela]

What? You actually have buses where you live? In rural Norfolk, you're lucky if you get one a week to the nearest town, so you have to make sure you get on first in case you miss it!

[xrayspecs]

People only succeed in pushing in because they are allowed to get away with it. I never let people get away with it. Dragging them out of the queue backwards if need be. It always gets an appreciative comment from everyone else in the queue.

[hugnie21]

Lol. Not sure I'd actually grab a granny and drag her out of the queue but I agree with not letting them get away with it. I usually say something very loudly to point out to them (and everyone else) how rude they are being by pushing in.

[flip-flop]

Old people, like anybody else, should earn our respect: it is not a dvine right. I had a similar experience in a supermarket whereby I accidentally nugded an old woman in the back of the legs with a pushchair - nudged is probably too strong-a-word, brush is probably more appropriate - and like you I apologised profusely. Well, the language she came out with was shocking and I was left there, mouth agape, not believing what I had heard (incidentally, this woman must have been a good 75 and it was a Saturday morning, so it begs the question what the bloody hell was she doing there in the first place!!!).

Another incident happened just before Xmas - there were a dozen of us queing outside out local butchers to pick up our Xmas bird when in breezed an old woman to the front of the queue muttering as she went that she would only be a minute as she only wanted some mince - the butcher, to his credit, sent her to the back of the queue.

It is these sorts of things that gets on my tits - this assumption that they have that they can ride roughshod over everybody else.

.........and yes I know there are good and bad in every age group.

[Karen2005]

Thanks for your responses to my original post.

Like other people here, I don't have any problem with letting others on the bus first, but it would be nice to be given an opportunity to offer first. Also, the couple the other day did not appear to be infirm (I watched them approach the bus stop and neither had any difficulty walking - they were only in their early 70's at the very most). If it was an old lady or gentleman hunched over with a stick, for example, I wouldn't mind if they got on the bus first!

My post was slightly tongue-in-cheek as I realise that it is not just older people who jump in ahead of others, but it just rankled me a bit that the couple who didn't appear to be any worse off than the other people in the queue assumed they could get on first when they knew others were there before them.

[kick3m0n]

Laughing at these awkward old folk, and it's made me appreciate how nice the wrinklies around where I live must be. Far from pushing to the front, many have offered to help me with my son, and his buggy when I used it, despite their advancing years. Maybe it's because I've got a wee one - it must bring out the best in the oldies, men and women alike. Either that or East Lothian (south east of Scotland) just has the nicest old folk in Britain!!!

[shaneystar2]

When I used to live and work in London the amount of elderly people who used to be at the bus stop before the deadline of 9.30 am for use of their free bus passes was amazing.They would push and shove everyone out of the way only to be told by the driver that they could not get on the bus until after 9.30.Some of their language had to be heard to be believed.
People trying to get to work used to get very annoyed.
Now..I am heading towards elderly myself but would never dream of pushing in . Good manners cost nothing
.I remember on one occasion an elderly person pushed in front of me on the bus,poked me with her umbrella, and said "Age before beauty dear" so I said they were very welcome to go ahead of me as "Dirt goes before the broom" !! The bus driver said it was the best laugh he had all day.

[Greedyfly]

But there is a thing called manners - the option to give them the chance to get first is the issue. I hate people who assume lol. Personally I dont care who gets on before me as long as I get a seat. Im used to it I have to get the bus every day.

[phylkat]

I'm an 'Old Girl' of 70, I push in, I complain a lot. I expect the younger ones to respect me, I even push in at the doctors. And why? you ask, because I can, you all allow me to get away with it. I lost my scruples years ago.

You'll be old one day and you'll remember my words. xx