[Janelle Ward]

Have you noticed students and younger people are less likely to offer their seat on public transport to older passengers, pregnant women and those with disabilities? What are the rules? National Seniors asked transport authorities across the country about their policies.

NSW

Transport NSW advises that while failing to offer a seat to somebody else is not an offence, to “wilfully interfere with the comfort of others” is against the law – along with such things as putting your feet on seats, smoking or consuming alcohol, blocking doors, and using offensive language.

Queensland

A Translink spokesperson says that its code of conduct decreed that passengers should leave priority seats free, and students who are travelling on a concession fare should let adults have their seat if a service is full.

“However, the request for students to offer their seat to adults is a matter of etiquette and there is no legislative requirement in Queensland – nor has there been previously – for students to vacate their seat for another person.”

Victoria

A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said priority seats, usually covered in orange fabric, are intended for passengers with a disability, impairment, or additional needs, as well as pregnant women, the elderly, and parents with young children.

If a passenger does not give up their seat on request, they can be fined up to $288 by an authorised officer.

Western Australia

Transperth spokesman David Hynes said: “While not committing any actual offences, common decency dictates that seated passengers should stand for someone who needs the seat more than they do, such as pregnant women, seniors, and those with a disability.

“Clearly marked signage on all our buses and trains supports this.”

South Australia

A South Australia Department for Infrastructure and Transport spokesperson said passengers on public transport are required to comply with all directions of staff and obey signage.

“According to the Passenger Transport Act 1994, a passenger must not occupy a prioritised space or seat if it prevents someone with a disability from accessing it. This carries a maximum penalty of $750.”

Tasmania

Metro Tasmania says it is an expectation that you “offer your seat to mobility impaired passengers”.
A fine not exceeding five penalty units applies to anyone who refuses to give up a seat to a person who appears to have a disability or injury; an elderly person; a woman who is visibly pregnant; a person accompanying a child less than five years of age; or any other person who appears to have special needs. A penalty unit is currently worth $195.

Northern Territory

According to the NT government website: “Seated passengers must, if asked by the driver, give up their seat for a passenger with special needs – e.g., a senior citizen, a disabled or mobility impaired person, pregnant woman or a parent with a small child.”

Failure to follow the rules may result in the driver, a transit officer or a security officer asking you not to board a bus or leave a bus.

Australian Capital Territory

Transport Canberra advises passengers to “offer to give up your seat to pregnant, disabled or elderly passengers when sitting in a marked priority seating area”.

“Failure to comply with the code of conduct may lead to refusal of travel and the issuing of an infringement notice or other penalty.”

Have you had to stand while students filled available seats?

[Mojobomber]

I am almost 69 years old and recently on a trip to Melbourne with my sister we boarded a tram. Trams in Melbourne are mostly always congested with standing room only so we were grateful to get a seat which were the orange seats. Travelling a ways up Bourke St and a gentleman boarded. He tapped me on the shoulder and told me I had to give him my seat, which I did. He did look older than me but I thought it was a bit funny, especially when he got off a couple of stops later, jumped off the tram and ran! Maybe he just wanted to sit next to my sister.

[sjdeez]

I find you people in general have no respect for anyone, it’s a real dog eat dog world & don’t worry about how you win!!

[MG]

Children grow up copying their parents. We can surely say that the last 2 generations are too busy with their mobile phones and anything else going on in this society (social media, tik tok…) to take care of their children, let alone live by example. Manners should be taught from early childhood, and those children didn’t get that when they grew up, so didn’t know any better to pass it down to the future generations.

[Author]

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