Public Divided on Whether Elderly Commuter’s Actions Were Inconsiderate or a Result of Fatigue

A photo of an elderly man lying across seats on Bus 99 has triggered a lively debate on social media, with Singaporeans expressing differing views on the incident. Shared on January 17, the image was initially met with criticism, with some labelling the man’s actions as “inconsiderate” for using the bus seats as a personal resting place.

The original post described the situation as follows: “This uncle was lying down on the entire row of seats as though it were his bed.” The viral post quickly sparked a conversation about public transport behaviour in Singapore.

While some were frustrated by the man’s actions, many others came to his defence. “It’s not rush hour, and the bus has plenty of available seats. Why not just leave the elderly man alone?” one comment stated. “He’s probably just tired, not bothering anyone. If you care so much about public behaviour, maybe you should consider becoming a bus inspector instead of snapping photos and passing judgment.”

Others raised concerns about the man’s health, suggesting he might have been feeling unwell or simply fatigued. “I never thought I’d defend a complainer,” remarked one user.

The discussion also brought out some light-hearted humour, with one commenter joking, “Why pay for a hotel when you can grab a horizontal seat on your daily commute? Perfecting the art of bus-snoozing: Bus, sleep, repeat.”

Alongside this debate, issues related to public transport etiquette have gained more attention, with previous incidents—such as people urinating in MRT stations—raising concerns about commuter behaviour. In response, the Singapore MRT Service Information page has rolled out new stickers to remind passengers to be more considerate towards each other.