SMRT<\/a>, priority seats on MRT trains are typically located near the doors for the convenience of elderly commuters, passengers with disabilities, pregnant women and those travelling with young children.<\/p>\nWhile there is no law requiring commuters to give up these seats, passengers are strongly encouraged to offer them to those who may need them more.<\/p>\n
It seems many netizens had the same sentiments and Ee Ching’s video quickly sparked discussion online, with many netizens saying they had encountered similar behaviour.<\/p>\n
One commenter wrote that some commuters would even block the train doors so they could rush in first to secure a priority seat.<\/p>\n
Others suggested that the issue might lie with how many seats are labelled as priority seats, especially on buses.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost half the seats on some buses are labelled as priority. Why?? I really cannot understand this. During the weekday peak hour, commuters needed to be seated after a long day of work. Maybe the elderly who aren\u2019t working should avoid peak period?\u201d one ranted.<\/p>\n
Some commenters also jokingly pointed out that certain elderly commuters seem to have no problem standing for long periods, just not on public transport. A few referenced queues at Singapore Pools, where people line up to buy Toto or 4D tickets.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the 2026 Toto Hong Bao Draw,\u00a0which saw S$12 million up for grabs, suddenly all their legs became strong,” one quipped.<\/p>\n
Ee Ching told 8days.sg that even among her own circle, sentiments towards such encounters with elderly commuters tend to skew negative.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of my friends mentioned that some elderly commuters are only out for a few hours shopping, while working adults may have had a long day or are carrying heavy equipment and might actually need the seats more,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ee Ching also shared that her mother, who is in her 50s and commutes daily on MRT trains and buses, actively avoids sitting on priority seats despite having undergone surgery for leg and hip issues.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cShe tells me she sometimes feels people staring, even when she\u2019s seated on a normal seat, because others think they \u2018need\u2019 it more,” she says.<\/p>\n
According to Ee Ching, the label \u201cpriority seat\u201d may unintentionally create a sense of entitlement among some commuters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel that having these seats labelled as \u2018priority\u2019 has somehow made people who seem to fit the \u2018criteria\u2019 on the signboards feel entitled to them. This is despite the fact that there may be people, with conditions that may not be physically visible, who require them more but are afraid of societal pressure,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n