On Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses, the first two seats behind the driver and the first three seats by the door entrance have the back toward the windows. The first two seats on each side that face the front, along with those first five seats, have one thing in common — they can be flipped up. The purpose is to accommodate wheelchair riders.

From what I have seen, there are a lot of perfectly health people carrying a bunch of bags on a bus using walkers — not to help them get around, but to help them transport their goods in large bags. They sit in the first two seats facing the driver and flip the seats on the side up, occupying four or five seats.

I don’t have a problem with somebody bringing bags on a bus and taking up two seats. If people take up three seats, I consider them borderline space pigs. If people are taking up four or more seats, they are flat-out space pigs.

Not too long ago, I was on a bus and there were two space pigs using up nine seats. I will sometimes use a seat near the front. However, if I see someone using a wheelchair, cane, crutches or walker because they honestly need it to get around, I will get up and move. But if I see someone getting on and using a walker only to transport their purchases, I’m not going to budge an inch for you, space pig.

Paul Kusmierski

Aspinwall

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