Does this sign mean the seats should be for the elderly? Because I have several times seen young people sitting at these seats and not giving them up for the elderly even in crowded buses.

by mesaee

19 comments

  1. Yes but just because they should doesn’t mean they will unfortunatly

  2. Yes. You can sit on them, but if an elderly person (or pregnant person) comes along, you should give the seat up.

  3. Unlike what all the expat youtube videos tell you, Germans don’t always follow the rules. Sometimes, they even jaywalk.

  4. They are free to use for anyone, but elderly people are supposed to be prioritized. Young people sitting there aren’t inherently bad, but if they leave a person in clear need of that seat standing, they are to be considered disgraceful assholes. And if they put their feet onto the seat across on top of that, they are to be considered “Satansbraten” even.

  5. Not every older person needs to sit and some of them are also offended if you ask them. Therefore you can sit where you like but if a elder person comes along and asks you to get up, you should.

    This also counts for pregnant people or those who have problems to walk/stay.

  6. I’ve noticed most Germans don’t respect elders that much

  7. I find the same thing happening when I travel with strollers. There are places prioritized for them, but no one moves their bum. It’s so rude.

  9. Anyone can use them, but the elderly, pregnant etc have a right to that seat and can ask you to get up

  10. That was a Culture shock for me when I moved to Europe. Back in my country of origin (Brazil), there are as well seats reserved for elders, pregnants, etc. but regardless of that, younger people are always ready to offer their place to elders immediatelly as they notice one. Here in Germany, I had to ask people to get up a few times and give seat to an elder, as they are reluctant to give up their seats.

  12. As others already said. all people can sit on them. but as they’re priority seats it means that you’re supposed to give them up for people that need them.

    I usually ask if someone wants to sit down and offer them my seat. 9 out of 10 times they say no. either because they’re leaving soon again, or they don’t feel they need it.

  13. Also young people can have disabilities. Not all of them are visible (like a heart defect).

    Statistically, it’s unlikely that all young people sitting in these seats & not giving them up have a disability. But I have seen elderly people putting on a scene, only to be humbled by a teenager to produce proof that they need that seat and are entitled to it (much more than that elderly, but physically very fit person).

  14. >not giving them up for the elderly even in crowded buses

    Yes, they are stupid and arrogant

  15. Afaik these signs are not legally binding, it’s merely a hint that these are the seats preferred by elderly, e.g. because of short distance to door, height (easier to get up) or leg room. Thats why even if there’s other seats available, you should consider to give these seats to senior citizens or others in need, or choose a different one in the first place if you don’t need them.
    Sometimes there are seats with a cross sticker, they are actually reserved for disabled and I think there they actually have a right to claim them from any non-disabled person. From what I learned, such seats must comply to a specific norm that is actually contraproductive to the needs of most rlderly people and thats why they introduced the sticker you see here.

  16. My son thinks those seats are reserved for swordfighting and refuses to sit on them!

  17. Its a signs for elderly, but in general its regarded as ‘the people who need it’. So, elderly, pregnant people, people who have a visable issue (think broken leg) or invisible problem (think pots).

    But in general, everyone can sit there. Just, you have to get up when someone asks or when you see someone who would need to sit.

    As for younger people sitting there, they can be pregnant, having physical issues or are just sitting there because there was a seat free and no-one needed it

  18. Most people instantly get up if you ask but many are busy on their phones or whatever and don’t even realize when others need the seat, 99% of the time it’s not on purpose. People just don’t take notice of their surroundings that much.

  19. I have a few questions related to this.

    1. Should I offer this seat to the person that qualify for it as soon as I see them, or should I wait for them to ask?
    2. Are these seats reserved for elderly in case the bus is full, or always?
    3. Not super related, but the places for strollers/bikes have similar signs. Are the same rules applied as above applied for those, or is it different somehow?

Comments are closed.