That seat next to you, what’s more deserving: your bag or a human?
Are you placing the bag next to you because no one appears to want to sit down or are you placing it next to you because you don’t want anyone to sit next to you?
Both of these mentalities exist on the Portland MAX on a daily basis. Who is to say that the old woman with the unweildly bag doesn’t just want a place other than the ground to place her belongings? However, what if this old woman is actually a grumpy grandmother who hates sitting next to people?
Here’s what I think - someone placing their bag on the seat next to him/her doesn’t automatically mean that person is a jerk.
Though, I will say if someone approaches the seat, the seated individual should establish some sort of eye contact with the interested rider to see if they have the intent or desire to sit. If so, shuffle that bag over to your lap because your bag doesn’t have precedence over a human being. If you see an influx of people getting on the MAX, elect to move your bag over to your lap or show that, yes, you would move your bag if someone was interested in sitting.
No one deserves to have to stand if they wish to sit down in a seat occupied by a bag.
Note: portions of this TriMetiquette post appeared on PDX Pipeline - a Portland Arts, Music & Events blog
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Comments
I take offense to your “grumpy grandmother who hates sitting next to people” comment I can’t count the number of times I have had to stand because some young person has their bag on the seat next to them. Even after makeing eye contact they just look away and drift off into the music playing through their headphones. This grandmother would love to sit down and have a nice refreshing conversation with her seatmate.
I see this happen several times a week on the standing room only bus I ride - someone sitting in the window seat with his bag taking up the aisle seat, but uf course they’re “asleep” or too tuned into their iPod or book or whatever to notice.
The last time I checked, I paid my fare to get on the bus, your bag didn’t.
@Jack - I could ask anyone to do anything… sometimes the need to ask is just unnecessary
@NICE GRANDMOTHER - ack, didn’t mean to offend! Not all grandmothers are grumpy! 
Really though, you could substitute that for “young emo teen” or “regular ole’ Joe”
@OregonCubb - I hear that!
I am nearly 60 and use a cane to get around. I have gotten on a crowded bus or Max train more times than I’d like to count and stood practically on the feet of some able-bodied young person for the whole ride without being offered a seat. Occasionally a middle-aged or elderly gentleman will rise and offer me a seat, but young people hardly ever. No wonder we’re grumpy.
Women are the No 1 culprit of this without a doubt. Every day I see women with their 3+ bags (makeup, food, purse, ???) or with their pets taking up space.
I readily give up my seat for the elderly and for true ladies. But there are some of you women that I like to see stand because of how rude you are to everyone else on the train.
I am over 60 and am not steady on my feet because of medical issues. Every night I have to stand all the way to my bus stop, while young able bodies riders just ignore the older community.
Maybe there should be a rule that riders under the age of 30 can only stand
But really, yeah, it’s sad that people don’t give up a seat for someone else who obviously would benefit from having a seat over themselves. Maybe if TriMet were to advertise a little about this issue (maybe get some ads in the MAX trains about giving up your seat to others, etc.), maybe it would help this problem..
Jack
“Or if you want to sitdown you could just like… ask them to move their bag”
I have anxiety issues and don’t always enjoy confrontations with strangers. I shouldn’t have to be in that position. If there are people standing your bag shouldn’t be on a seat. It’s pretty simple.
Ask them to move their bag - you can add “please” if you want to or simply say “move your bag”
Simple communication. No reason to be nice to some jagoff.
I remember once when a guy was taking up two seats (one for him and one for his bag) and another guy got on board and there were no empty seats. He walked up to the bag guy and said “hey, you got your bag on my seat!” That took care of it right away.
“Or if you want to sitdown you could just like… ask them to move their bag.”
Exactly my thought when I read this. I’ve never had somebody say no. Then again I’m 6′1″ and 240 pounds and scare the crap out of most people.
I read and listen to music through headphones while I ride public transportation - it’s part of the reason that I like riding public transportation instead of commuting by car. I do put my bag on the seat next to me when there’s a fairly empty train and I’m not always paying complete attention to when the train has reached that critical capacity where I shouldn’t have my bag on my seat next to me.
But as a 30-something who isn’t so able bodied, and who really needs a seat, I think it’s wrong to assume that someone is rude when they don’t immediately move their stuff off of the the chair next to them, or jump up when I approach. I assume that they’re engrossed in their book, their life, whatever, and that just because my disability is on the forefront of my mind when I get on max, it might not be on everyone else’s mind. Saying something like “hey - could I have that seat? thanks” for a bag or “hey - could I trade you places? I have trouble standing on the bus. thanks” (which hasn’t failed for me yet) will usually do the trick. And if I look up from my book and see that someone is glaring at my bag, my immediate assumption is “I wonder why on earth they didn’t ask me to move it?”
talk to each other! we’re not going to bite. most of us are good people, and you probably don’t want to sit next to the ones that aren’t.
@ grumpy youngin - that’s good advice. Communication is key. But you would be aware enough to, on a full MAX or bus ride, move your bag to your feet or lap right?
I think you do sum it up pretty nicely - “talk to each other!” we’re not going to bite.”
If I don’t want to talk to you, it doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re worth talking to. gogo social phobia.
And for the record, I’ll usually choose to stand if there are no seats with an empty seat next to them… then again, I’m 6′6″ 300lbs.
Ha, Ha,
I laugh because I see women (young and old) who get so upset when they are asked to move their bags. I thought they would bite the person that asked them. Women you have to have manners as well as the men out there. (No I’m not a misogynist)
The worst has to have been when a lady (40ish) asked a kid to move his stuff (he was doing homework before school and the train had more empty seats) He flat out said No and went back to his homework. She thought it rude, called him an idiot and sat right down on top of all his stuff. He pushed her off (not violently); and she started screaming Assault, Assault and called 911!
Gees, they were both in the wrong and it pissed me off that it made me late for work. Grow up people.
What about the fat people that take up two spaces because of their size?
I’d rather see someone taking up two seats if they really need to…at least you won’t have to worry about them falling on you.
[…] Octopus that gives ten tips about how to ride public transportation in Portland. I found tip #9 to be particularly noteworthy: “9. Your purse/backpack/grocery bag is not a person and therefore is not entitled to sit […]
First, if someone is elderly, pregnant, or has some obvious medical issue, I go out of my way to offer them my seat.
My bag often sits next to me, and I will happily move it for anyone who had moderately hygienic bodily care and needs the seat. However, I am 6′5″, and you may not have noticed that I have to angle myself to fit into the seat in the first place, so I will need to stand up, let you get to the window seat, and then sit partially sideways with my knees in the isle. You may get hip checked one or two times during the ride as I move to let people past through the isle, I hope you don’t mind.
If you are dirty enough that my messenger bag I’ve had to 8 years and has been washed twice is cleaner than you, then the bag gets the seat. It’s a very easy standard to meet, and part of the reason the bag is occupying that space is to ensure I get some choice about the person who’s elbow I’m gonna rub my butt, hip, and back against.
If you can’t meet that standard, but you need the seat so much (meth high coming down, etc.) that you ask to sit there, I will happily move both myself and the bag and you can have both seats. I have two legs, and I’ll use them to get myself somewhere less odorous.
As to the “talk to us” comment, the rest of the ridership should not have to ask you to move your stuff, it should not be there in the first place. I think it’s a passive agressive way of keeping anyone from getting into your precious extra space.
the unwritten rule is: take the open seats before you force someone to move their things out of the seat next to them.
if you cant take enough time or get enough courage to ask me “can i sit here?”, then thats your problem, i am not a mind reader and dont try to be. i dont care to read between lines or make assumptions. if you want the seat, you need to actually ask me.
also if you want my extra seat, you also have to be polite about it. its bad enough i have to sit next to someone, its even more annoying when they are rude and think they are entitled to the seat when they arent.
@Metrolink Girl: “its bad enough I have to sit next to someone…” - you’re riding public transportation. PUBLIC transportation. I’m sorry, but you’ll more often than not have to sit next to someone.
Personally, I don’t feel like I should have to ask to sit down if you have your stuff on the seat. I think it’s rude. Who said you can use that seat as your personal chauffeur?
It’s not time nor courage for me; it’s about respecting others. And it’s just not very cool when others don’t dish out the respect to others like I do by placing my backpack on my lap when I’m riding the bus.
Amen brother.