Singapore MRT : Reserved Seat

I was not a train commuter last time, I took train approximately 2-5 times a month in Singapore. But now, I am taking train almost everyday and something come to my mind and I said I am gonna blog about it !!

There are seats called "Reserved Seat" on every corner of the seats. It is become a fear for commuters (who are not old, injured, pregnant and carrying a child) to sit on that seats. WHY ?? Let me elaborate more below about why commuters are afraid to sit on that seats and what I think about Reserved seat.

WHY its become a horror for other commuters (not all) to sit on that seat ?

Take a look at Stomp (news pages by Straits Times), there are lots of photo taken by other commuter saying unpleasant words to the commuters who sit in the reserved seat. You can easily find 10 news within 5 minutes search.

It is started from some photos or videos taken when elderly actually scolded commuters by sitting on the seats and understand that the seat is meant to be theirs and heated the argument. I personally believe that other commuters do not dare to take the seat because they think other commuters are not allowed to seat except they are elderly, pregnant, injured or carrying child, if you do, be prepared to be on Stomp.haha . After all experienced I get from this one month, it also become a phobia for me to sit on that seat.

WHAT I think about it ?

Look ! I noticed that even there are no commuter who are elderly, pregnancy, and so on, nobody dare take the seat. It happen most of the time now. why it is happen ? What the reserved seat really mean ? Who really can sit on that seat? Is there a law stated that other commuters are now allowed to sit there ? then why those stomper bother it ? why do you even want to take others photo and make it to public ? are they in the wrong ? the answer you might not know. Who are you there saying that the person who sit there does not need the seat ? they might have fever, migraine, stomach ache, injury as well. They might be pregnant but you do not notice as it as well.
There was one time I was in bad migraine, I was sitting on a reserved seat when there was the only seat there. Here come a lady. So she come to me and said. could you let me sit ?i was stunned and i really need the seat. here I said, not everyone know that what a person feel when they seat on that seat. I don't think by posting and sharing people photo on stomp is right, as you do not really know what happen to the commuter.

What do I think about "Reserved Seat".
I personally think that reserved seat means a seat that reserved for who needed it more. But if there is nobody need the seat why can't we sit first ? As long as we stand up for who needed it more when they are here. When we already stand up for them, why are you bother to scold us ?
Just happen one of my very close friend YZ, she boarded a train after work. Then she "unfortunately" sit on reserved seat. On next few stop, there was an elderly boarded the train. The elderly scolded her by taking the seat even after she gave the seat when the elderly come in.

Another point of view for who need the seat, another scenario is why only the reserved seat is for the one who needed ?It affect the social level of the commuter in Singapore. Me personally think that everywhere is the seat for who needed it more than who doesn't. The words "reserved seat" which only placed at the two corner of the seats makes people think that's the seat for them, other seat is for us. When the problem with reserved seat happen, people become more selfish to the needed.

So what happen if an old lady come to the train, just happen the reserved seat occupied by a pregnant lady ?When the pregnant lady need the seat as well. There are some scenarios to what I've experienced and I personally feel.

First scenario:
The old lady walk to the center seat and waiting if there is good guy will give her a seat. Some will stand up but becoming lesser now. Previously I still saw many will give their seats but not longer now.  Why ?

Second Scenario :
The pregnant woman will stand up and offer her seat to the old lady (not very good solution for the pregnant lady)

Third Scenario :
Old lady will stand with hand holding the pole, leg is pain and shaking due to the unbalance train movement ( not very good solution as well for the old lady)

Here I say, reserved seat its not only the two corner, they are everywhere. Not only you who are healthy commuter who seat on reserved seat need to stand up for the needed one. It should be everyone who need to stand up to the one who need the seat more. I personally realized that social level in Singapore become lesser. So we must think how to solve it. I do not want a country where I need to spend for my whole life become stressful country.


I personally think we should solve this problem in train. Here come a suggestion, but do not sure whether it applies as its my personal thought.
For the needed one, do not scold them while they already give up their seat.
For stomper, do not stomp them when you do not know what exactly happen.
For commuter, do stand for the one who need the seat more regardless where you sit.
So all the commuter will be in peace :)


Singapore become more crowded when it attract more and more tourist here. When it become more and more crowded, the social level become smaller and smaller. I swear I don't even know who is my neighbour, how do they look like, what's the name, where are they studying or working. even after I stayed there for years. So what could we do to save this problem ? how to save this society ? haha. I do not know either :(

It is not easy to say Hi to all neighbour and ask where are you staying, how are you today when you already adapt to the environment here as well. Its not easy doesn't mean its impossible right ? why not go and try ?Starting by saying hi and how are you to neighbour everyday and we shall see the difference :D