If you’ve ever wrestled a pram onto a crowded bus, you’ll know it can feel like an Olympic sport… except instead of medals, you get polite stares.
Channel 10 newsreader Narelda Jacobs recently shared a keen observation after bringing her baby, Sanna, into Sydney’s CBD via public transport: when it came to lending a hand with the pram, it was mainly women who stepped up.
“They either told others to move out of the seats reserved for parents or helped me on and off the bus,” Narelda posted on Instagram. Her observation sparked a wave of supportive comments from fellow mums and pram-pushers across the city.
Etiquette coach Kate Heussler told Yahoo Lifestyle this isn’t about men versus women. Often, it comes down to confidence and experience.
“Women often step in faster because they’re comfortable speaking up in public,” Heussler explained. “They clock the logistics instantly – space, timing, safety – and many have been in the pram trenches themselves, myself included, so they act before anyone even has to ask.”
Public transport does have designated spots for people with prams or other mobility needs, usually clearly marked, but everyday passengers are encouraged to vacate them when needed. Seems simple, right? Yet in practice, it’s a fine art.
Comments on Narelda’s post painted a familiar picture. “Because we have been in your situation and we know a little help goes a long way,” wrote one woman. “Sisters helping sisters,” added another.
Others recalled less-than-helpful moments: “I’ve been pregnant with a baby in a pram and still had younger suited men just stare at me when I walked to the accessible seats they were casually sitting in,” said one.
But not all men are sitting idly by. One mum chimed in: “I always had younger guys help me with the pram. Even now, I’ve found teen and older boys are always more helpful on public transport.”
Among the many replies from women, one man offered an explanation. He suggested some men might hesitate because helping a stranger who is a woman can feel… complicated.
“I think some men feel that interacting with strangers who are women is fraught with danger – like they could be seen as hitting on them or being misogynistic,” he said. “Some might worry about making space for a pregnant woman who isn’t actually pregnant, which could be accidentally insulting.”
But the saga doesn’t stop with prams. Across the country, another quirky quirk of Aussie public transport etiquette has recently baffled visitors: thanking the bus driver when you alight. A Slavic expat living in Mandurah, WA, shared a viral video wondering exactly why riders say “thank you” to someone who’s literally just doing their job – and Aussies couldn’t get enough of explaining it.
So guys, please, next time you see a mum juggling a pram on a bus, remember: the help is usually out there – and if you’re unsure, just ask. Chances are, you’ll be thanked, and if nothing else, you might get a few points for public transport heroism.
Images: Instagram
