https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:10:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-332120 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:26:28 +0000 megjay18 332120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Chicago too, and take the el everyday. And I second the poster that said it's mainly women that give up their seats - I was surprised by that! I feel like it's about 50/50 with getting a seat. The one funny story I do have is when a woman gave me her seat and said loudly as she was standing up, "well since NO GUY wants to give their seat to a pregnant woman, I'll do it!" and she smiled at me and kind of laughed. I thought it was hilarious :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-330713 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:28:16 +0000 Mommy Finger 330713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been meaning to write a post just like this! I live in Chicago and ride the el every day. I'd say it's about 40% of the time that I get a seat. I'm 35w and you can't mistake me for being anything other than pregnant. I realize that a lot of people are "sleeping" or engrossed in their phone/e-reader but there are way too many times I catch people look at me, stare at my belly and then do nothing. </p> <p>I did have two guys almost get into a fight b/c one of the guys was blocking a seat with his bag and wouldn't move it for anyone. The other guy saw me, offered me his seat and went off on the first guy. It was interesting to say the least. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327923 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:09:08 +0000 luckypenny 327923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to live in the city (san francisco) and people would usually always get up for me. I even had one women tell a young guy to get up for me on a crowded bus :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327863 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:37:56 +0000 hellobeeboston 327863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>omg - i take public transportation almost every day - in boston, i find people on the red line are much nicer - so I sit almost every time --- when I switch to the green line though, there have been a few times on a super crowded train no one offers!! I get pissed. I haven't ever asked someone for their seat.... In the beginning I "thought" i was showing, and i found i got seats less -- but now that I'm 37 weeks and very obviously pregnant people seem to ask more - or they don't!</p> <p>one time it was a packed train and there was like a late 30s/40 yr old guy sitting looking down at his phone - i stuck my belly full in his face (ha) and he still didn't offer me his seat, so messed up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327833 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:04:15 +0000 jedeve 327833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have PT where I live. But last time I flew I was in a crowded airport gate with people who had their luggage all over their seats and no one offered me a seat. Buggers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327825 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:52:47 +0000 edelweiss 327825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my metro stop is out far enough that i usually get a seat, but if you are uncomfortable, you should totally ask. i know sometimes in the past i've had my face buried in a book, only to get up at my stop and realize someone who probably needed a seat was standing a few inches away from me! i bet if you asked people would jump up. if they don't, punch them. no no, i'm kidding about that last part. maybe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327785 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:24:10 +0000 littlebug 327785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far I haven't run into this on my own train - there's usually plenty of seats when I get on. But I can tell you that in Philly, most people WILL NOT just get up and offer you a seat. There have been times when I have offered my seat to an elderly person or a pregnant woman, while 10 men around us remained seated. However, when Hubs and I were in NYC a couple weeks ago, we took the subway to a museum. The train was crowded, but the second I stepped foot into the train, 3 men immediately stood up and offered their seat for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327685 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:28:58 +0000 dookie32 327685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in the Chicago suburbs and used to have to take the CTA buses when I was late in my pregnancy. I was really disappointed with the number of times anyone offered me a seat. I didn't care with the women so much but a lot of times I would just give a death glare to able-bodied men that were obviously trying to avoid eye contact with me so they didn't feel obligated to get up. I think if you want a seat, sometimes you have to just be blunt and say, "Would you mind?" Because honestly people are a**holes sometimes. The only excuse I can give is that you are still sort of early and the last thing people want to do is make a mistake about someone being pregnant if they're not. I've had that happen once to a friend and it was so humiliating for her- it made the rest of that ride really awkward! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327631 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:05:18 +0000 dc yoga bee 327631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take the metro train, and people are usually good about offering not only pregnant women seats, but women with young children/strollers etc. I ALWAYS offer my seat to an expectant mother, or any parent/elderly/ young child getup, and I'm not pregnant. I would just ask. I'd be concerned about people hitting my belly. I doubt they'd say no. At least I hope they wouldn't! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327600 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:56:12 +0000 BKCaribBaby 327600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not too far along yet, but I have always given up my seat, or I ask pregnant women if they would like to sit. I am hoping that the good karma will come back to me in the next few months. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327529 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:22:37 +0000 sunny 327529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't take transit everyday, but when I was visiting NYC (6 months pregnant), people got up and offered their seats to me. I think it was always women who offered their seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327256 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:01:16 +0000 Andrea 327256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never asked and no one ever offered. I used to take a train ride that was 40 minutes and it was every man for himself because it was so crowded. No one would want to give up their seat and then have to stand for the next 40 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327231 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:44:58 +0000 SleepyMonkey 327231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been surprised at how often someone offers me a seat as well but for me, it is a pretty good mix between men and women. I never ask though, I'm too embarrassed. I do get annoyed when someone clearly looks at me up and down and doesn't offer though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327210 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:36:02 +0000 plaidpants 327210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I do the same thing! I always tried to be good about it, but now that I've been the person who needed a seat, I'm extra aware. </p> <p>@WALLAROO: It's crazy! I remember thinking, I know you see me! I'm huge! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327161 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:15:45 +0000 WALLAROO 327161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pointybird: I notice that a lot of people just look down at their phones and never really look up. The one time someone offered their seat to me, he probably felt like he had to because my belly was right in his face. Haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327160 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:15:23 +0000 Foodnerd81 327160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pointybird: I'm not pregnant, but I always notice it's women (often me) who stand up to give a pregnant woman their seat. Like, I actually scan the people getting on the train usually, so see if there are any pregnant or elderly people who need a seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327158 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:14:35 +0000 WALLAROO 327158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As of right now I can manage to keep my balance, but I imagine as the bump gets bigger and I get more uncomfortable I might start asking people. I just don't want people's bags to hit my belly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327152 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:13:25 +0000 plaidpants 327152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was pregnant last year and was taking the commuter rail to work every day. I could usually find a seat, but on days when nothing was available, someone would usually offer to get up. </p> <p>One thing that surprised me was that it was ALWAYS women. Like, 100% of the time. Even when I was standing there, 38 weeks pregnant, it was like I was invisible to seated men. Weird! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327126 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:06:32 +0000 travelgirl1 327126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never ask. I'm 35 weeks so it's obvious now. Sometimes people stand up - and I love them for it - but so many times people don't, or deliberately push in front of me to get on first. To be honest when I most needed the seat was when I had morning sickness but didn't look pregnant so no one ever offered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327067 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:49:51 +0000 hilsy85 327067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never asked anyone to give up their seat, but I have been so pleasantly surprised at how polite people have been--I have been offered a seat pretty much every time I'm on a train/bus. If I felt like I needed one, I would probably be really passive aggresive and make some pained faces and loud sighs and hope someone gets the point! But I don't think there's anything wrong with asking someone if you can sit down (like a younger person), especially if you really feel like you need to sit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327059 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:47:23 +0000 mrsjazz 327059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not pregnant right now, but when I was if someone didn't offer and I felt like I really needed to sit down, I would ask. I only had to do this a couple of times. One time, I just asked a little loudly if someone would give me a seat--not directed at anyone in particular. I was embarrassed the first time, but I got over it because once I sat down it felt like heaven. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-the-preggos-that-use-public-transit#post-327050 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:45:05 +0000 WALLAROO 327050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you usually ask people if you can sit down and take their seat or do you just hope that someone offers their seat up?</p> <p>Metro has made some changes to our bus system and now almost every bus is crowded and standing room only. I've only had one person offer me their seat so far. I don't feel comfortable asking people for a seat so I just stand and hold on for dear life. I'm almost 22 weeks with twins so I think I look pregnant enough. </p>