Have good manners vanished from public transport? This photo has Aussies debating
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Melbourne’s trams are a familiar sight—often crowded, always bustling, and occasionally the subject of puzzling behaviour.
A recent incident aboard one of these trams has sparked a surprisingly heated debate about a habit many commuters don't think twice about.
What unfolded has left some questioning safety, comfort, and even common courtesy on public transport.
A routine tram ride in Melbourne recently turned into the centre of an unexpected debate, all thanks to a single photo that struck a nerve with commuters across the city.
The image, shared to social media, showed a nearly empty tram seat surrounded by standing passengers. It came with a caption that posed a deceptively simple question: ‘People who prefer to stand than take a free seat on public transport, why?’
That photo sparked hundreds of responses—some practical, some emotional, and others that raised more serious concerns.
The original poster explained further: ‘Hear me out, I know people like to stand up and be ready to go, but when the tram is clearly full and people are struggling to get on, what’s the reason for not sitting? Even when the tram isn’t full, why not sit while in a moving vehicle?’
They went on to describe a disturbing incident they had witnessed: a woman had fallen backwards during a sudden stop and hit her head on the tram floor.
‘She was bleeding, and at her age, lucky to be alive,’ the post read. ‘Maybe we are all complacent until we see someone bleeding.’
As it turned out, people had no shortage of explanations for standing. Among the most common reasons was convenience—many said they preferred to stand to avoid being trapped as more people squeezed into the tram.
‘I’ve always thought people stand to avoid getting stuck and unable to get off,’ one commenter wrote, with another adding: ‘Agree, especially if it’s a short stop and you’re getting on before a rush of people.’
Others said it was simply too awkward to weave through a packed carriage just to get to a spare seat, so they didn’t bother trying. For some, it came down to needing a break—from sitting.
‘I sit down in my office all day, so I prefer to stand,’ said one person.
Another added: ‘I sit enough.’
The design of the tram seats also came under fire, particularly from taller passengers.
‘I’m a 6’1 man and the seats are made for tiny munchkin people,’ one commuter vented.
‘Even if I’m lucky and the person across from me has short legs, we’ll still knock knees. So I have to sit with my feet crammed under the seat if I don’t want to play footsie.’
Another pointed out the impossibility of finding a socially acceptable way to sit in those cramped spaces: ‘Either your feet block the aisle or you’re knee to crotch with someone else.’
‘There’s no such thing as personal space in those seats,’ someone else agreed.
Then there were those who avoided sitting for hygiene reasons.
‘Hear me out…people are gross,’ one person bluntly put it. ‘I’ve seen enough disgusting hygiene on public transport to know I want to be nowhere near those seats.’
Others simply didn’t want to risk ruining a clean outfit on a potentially dirty surface.
Some commuters didn’t see the point of sitting for just a few stops, with one writing: ‘I’m often not going far.’
Another noted: ‘If I sit down, I’ll probably just have to get up for someone who needs it more.’
And for a few, the act of standing didn’t feel all that difficult in the first place.
While the conversation played out online, Transport for Victoria reminded commuters that standing can come with risks. The department pointed to safety advice on their website, which read: ‘Because our trams often share roads with other traffic, unexpected stops can occur. Always sit whenever possible and hold on to a pole, handle or strap if you’re standing.’
The advice also urged commuters to adopt a ‘feet apart, strong stance’ to minimise the risk of falling.
So while it might seem like a personal choice, choosing to stand—or not—could carry more weight than it appears.
From wooden seats to modern machines, Melbourne’s trams have seen it all—and so have many of us.
Take a quick trip down memory lane and see how much has changed.
Source: Youtube/Department of Transport and Planning
Whether it’s about comfort, habit or hygiene, this everyday choice has clearly divided opinion—so what would you do on a packed tram with plenty of seats available? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In another recent transport story, commuters were caught off guard—not by an empty seat, but by two very famous passengers.
For seniors who’ve seen the evolution of public transport over the decades, spotting royalty on a regular train might seem almost unthinkable.
If you missed that surprising moment, it’s well worth a look.
Read more: ‘How dirty can you be?’: Royals stun commuters with unexpected train trip
A recent incident aboard one of these trams has sparked a surprisingly heated debate about a habit many commuters don't think twice about.
What unfolded has left some questioning safety, comfort, and even common courtesy on public transport.
A routine tram ride in Melbourne recently turned into the centre of an unexpected debate, all thanks to a single photo that struck a nerve with commuters across the city.
The image, shared to social media, showed a nearly empty tram seat surrounded by standing passengers. It came with a caption that posed a deceptively simple question: ‘People who prefer to stand than take a free seat on public transport, why?’
That photo sparked hundreds of responses—some practical, some emotional, and others that raised more serious concerns.
Empty seats, standing crowds spark debate. Image source: Reddit
The original poster explained further: ‘Hear me out, I know people like to stand up and be ready to go, but when the tram is clearly full and people are struggling to get on, what’s the reason for not sitting? Even when the tram isn’t full, why not sit while in a moving vehicle?’
They went on to describe a disturbing incident they had witnessed: a woman had fallen backwards during a sudden stop and hit her head on the tram floor.
‘She was bleeding, and at her age, lucky to be alive,’ the post read. ‘Maybe we are all complacent until we see someone bleeding.’
As it turned out, people had no shortage of explanations for standing. Among the most common reasons was convenience—many said they preferred to stand to avoid being trapped as more people squeezed into the tram.
‘I’ve always thought people stand to avoid getting stuck and unable to get off,’ one commenter wrote, with another adding: ‘Agree, especially if it’s a short stop and you’re getting on before a rush of people.’
Others said it was simply too awkward to weave through a packed carriage just to get to a spare seat, so they didn’t bother trying. For some, it came down to needing a break—from sitting.
‘I sit down in my office all day, so I prefer to stand,’ said one person.
Another added: ‘I sit enough.’
The design of the tram seats also came under fire, particularly from taller passengers.
‘I’m a 6’1 man and the seats are made for tiny munchkin people,’ one commuter vented.
‘Even if I’m lucky and the person across from me has short legs, we’ll still knock knees. So I have to sit with my feet crammed under the seat if I don’t want to play footsie.’
Another pointed out the impossibility of finding a socially acceptable way to sit in those cramped spaces: ‘Either your feet block the aisle or you’re knee to crotch with someone else.’
‘There’s no such thing as personal space in those seats,’ someone else agreed.
Then there were those who avoided sitting for hygiene reasons.
‘Hear me out…people are gross,’ one person bluntly put it. ‘I’ve seen enough disgusting hygiene on public transport to know I want to be nowhere near those seats.’
Others simply didn’t want to risk ruining a clean outfit on a potentially dirty surface.
Some commuters didn’t see the point of sitting for just a few stops, with one writing: ‘I’m often not going far.’
Another noted: ‘If I sit down, I’ll probably just have to get up for someone who needs it more.’
And for a few, the act of standing didn’t feel all that difficult in the first place.
While the conversation played out online, Transport for Victoria reminded commuters that standing can come with risks. The department pointed to safety advice on their website, which read: ‘Because our trams often share roads with other traffic, unexpected stops can occur. Always sit whenever possible and hold on to a pole, handle or strap if you’re standing.’
The advice also urged commuters to adopt a ‘feet apart, strong stance’ to minimise the risk of falling.
So while it might seem like a personal choice, choosing to stand—or not—could carry more weight than it appears.
From wooden seats to modern machines, Melbourne’s trams have seen it all—and so have many of us.
Take a quick trip down memory lane and see how much has changed.
Source: Youtube/Department of Transport and Planning
Whether it’s about comfort, habit or hygiene, this everyday choice has clearly divided opinion—so what would you do on a packed tram with plenty of seats available? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In another recent transport story, commuters were caught off guard—not by an empty seat, but by two very famous passengers.
For seniors who’ve seen the evolution of public transport over the decades, spotting royalty on a regular train might seem almost unthinkable.
If you missed that surprising moment, it’s well worth a look.
Read more: ‘How dirty can you be?’: Royals stun commuters with unexpected train trip
