Home Buses Probably, you should give up that handicap seat

Probably, you should give up that handicap seat

by Benjamin Kabak

Giving up a seat is more than just a suggestion sometimes. (Photo by flickr user ggtavo.)

So, you know those priority seats on the bus? Yeah, it’s probably a good idea to give them up. Or so one Queens passenger discovered on Friday.

In a story The Post reported yesterday, a bus driver in Queens took exception to a young passenger who refused to give up his seat to another elderly rider. I’ll let the details tell the story:

A Queens bus driver smashed a passenger over the head with a phone when he refused to give up his handicap seat to an elderly woman, police said yesterday.

The bus driver, Larry Woods, 44, and the allegedly inconsiderate rider, Christian Custis, 22, were both arrested and charged with assault after a brawl erupted over the seat on the Q43 bus in Jamaica.

Police said the fight began when Woods asked Custis to give up his seat to the frail woman with a cane who boarded at Hillside Avenue and 164th Street at 11:16 a.m. Friday. Things turned ugly when Custis, who is not disabled, refused to relinquish his spot, cops said. Woods then clobbered Custis in the head with the bus’ onboard phone as stunned passengers looked on, police said.

There ain’t much left to say. If you are young and healthy, give up your seat to an elderly passenger. Otherwise, the driver will get all phone-wacky up on your head.

This is why I love public transportation in New York City.

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5 comments

Julie August 6, 2007 - 4:53 pm

Add visibly pregnant to that list too. No reason why pregnant women should be standing for two.

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Ivan August 8, 2007 - 8:08 am

In Buenos Aires there are little placards on the handicapped seats pretty much saying that if a rider refuses to give up his seat to the disabled/elderly, the other passengers have the right to use any reasonable means necessary to free the seat for the disabled rider. They should definitely make that the case in MTA buses and subways, to enforce some civility in this city.

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Taniya August 18, 2007 - 7:48 pm

hi i enjoyed the read

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Flickr picture makes it to anothe blog « Tavo’s Blog May 26, 2008 - 11:27 am

[…] Flickr picture makes it to anothe blog http://bkabak.wpengine.com/200.....icap-seat/ […]

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Gotham Gazette - The Wonkster » Blog Archive » 311 — Dance Therapy? July 7, 2008 - 5:02 pm

[…] more Republicans in the New York State Senate?” Another woman gave an impromptu PSA about giving up a subway seat to the elderly or pregnant. “That would be nice. And also — well, what about that 2nd […]

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