"Priority" seating

The other day, Jen at TransLink Tales came up with some thoughts about "seat hierarchies" on public transit in Metro Vancouver.

It's very interesting how it works. There seems to be no clear unwritten universal rule; what I've noticed in Metro Vancouver may not be applicable in a place like, let's say, Hong Kong or even Los Angeles.

The only one that seems even remotely universal is... priority seating. (That may be the worst segway into using this blog's title, ever.) In all of the places I've been to throughout the world, wherever there is special designated priority seating for those in need such as people with disabilities, the rule seems to be the same -- get out of our way, b*tches. (Honestly, I'll stop with that now.)

However, one thing that makes the TransLink system so darned interesting is that there is a sort of seating hierarchy among those using the designated priority seating as well. Here, I will give several scenarios that I've encountered. Please note that these are only my own experiences and may not apply to others' experiences. Also, this is likely Rebecca Black's worst seating nightmare.

Scenario #1: Two wheelchair users (one manual wheelchair, one battery-powered wheelchair) getting on at the same stop.

There seems to be no real rule but for some reason, in every single situation I've been involved in, the person with the battery-powered chair gets on first. This may be because a) that chair can climb the ramp faster, b) it needs more space once on board anyway and c) driver assistance is usually needed for battery-powered chairs. While the driver is otherwise occupied, manual wheelchair users with good hand function (like me) can strap ourselves in.

I have never tried this on a 351/601 bus (with the hydraulic lifts) though. I'd imagine it would be similar.

Scenario #2: Two wheelchair users (both the same type of wheelchairs) getting on at the same stop.

Usually we figure out who goes first, one way or another. Or we fight to the death. Whichever works.

Scenario #3: Two wheelchair users (one manual wheelchair, one battery-powered wheelchair) getting on at the same stop -- on to a newer bus with rear-facing spots.

Usually, the battery-powered wheelchair tends to get the rear-facing spot mostly because the logistics of using straps on a manual wheelchair are less complicated and less time consuming (for both strapping and unstrapping).

Scenario #4: A wheelchair user gets on a newer bus with rear-facing spots.

Regardless of the types of wheelchairs, the "first come, first served" rule is the default here as far as I know. I guess this is because it's difficult enough maneuvering one wheelchair on board a bus, let alone two -- a simple shuffling of wheelchairs to match the results of Scenario #3 would be tough to do. (Also, standing crowds on buses can make such a shuffling impossible.)

Scenario #5: Two wheelchair users (one manual wheelchair, one battery-powered wheelchair) get off at the same stop.

The manual wheelchair user tends to get off first because he/she often gets unstrapped the fastest. But even when both people are unstrapped, I find that the manual wheelchair user gets off first regardless. Don't quote me on that; I've yet to encounter anything different but you never know.

Scenario #6: Two wheelchair users (same type of wheelchair) getting off at the same stop.

Fight to the death.

Scenario #7: A wheelchair user gets on, but both sides of the priority seating are occupied by the elderly or people with other disabilities.

Usually, the side with the fewest people in need will be asked to vacate the seats. It's rare that both sides would have the same number of such people. (Usually other people would offer their seats to those in need who had to vacate.)