Public Divided on Whether Elderly Commuter’s Actions Were Inconsiderate or Just a Result of Fatigue
A photo showing an elderly man lying across bus seats on Bus 99 has ignited a lively debate online, with Singaporeans voicing differing opinions on the incident. The image, shared on January 17, was initially uploaded with criticism, calling the man “inconsiderate” for using the bus seats as his personal resting place.
The uploader described the situation, stating, “This uncle was lying down on the whole chair like it was his bed.” The post quickly went viral, sparking a conversation on public transport behaviour in Singapore.
While some expressed frustration, many others defended the elderly man. “It’s not peak hour, and the bus has plenty of empty seats. Why not just leave the elderly man alone?” one comment read. “He’s likely just tired and not bothering anyone. If you’re so concerned about public behaviour, maybe you should apply to be a bus inspector instead of taking photos and passing judgement.”
Others raised concerns about the man’s health, speculating that he might be feeling unwell or simply fatigued. “I never thought I’d find myself defending a complainer,” one user remarked.
The discussion also prompted humour, with one person joking, “Why spend money on a hotel when you can just grab a horizontal seat on your daily commute? Practising the art of bus-snoozing: Bus, sleep, repeat.”
In addition to the debate, the issue of public transport etiquette has become more prominent, with recent incidents like urination in MRT stations raising concerns about commuter behaviour. In response, the Singapore MRT Service Information page recently introduced new stickers encouraging passengers to be more considerate of one another.
