Woman Wonders If MRT Priority Seats Bring Out The Worst In Some Elderly Passengers After Witnessing Incident On Train

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Giving up your seat to someone who needs it more is something many Singapore commuters were taught from young.

But one TikToker now wonders if the idea of MRT priority seats might sometimes bring out the worst in people.

Especially the elderly.

In a video posted on TikTok, Echoyq aka Ee Ching recounted a recent experience on the train that left her feeling rather uncomfortable.

According to Ee Ching, she was standing in front of a priority seat occupied by a middle-aged woman who appeared to be in her 40s or 50s.

When 8days.sg reached out to Ee Ching, she told us that it happened at about 6pm whole on the East-West Line (EWL).

“She looked like she needed that seat after a long day at work,” the TikToker said.

Things took a turn when a group of elderly commuters boarded the train and walked towards where she was standing.

“Then this group of elderly commuters who boarded, they walked over to my side, cos, you know, they obviously wanted a seat. They were telling each other, “No lah, it is fine I don’t need a seat, it’s a few stops anyway,” she recounted.

Hearing that, Ee Ching decided not to intervene… Until what she heard took her by surprise.

“Subsequently they went to curse and swear in Hokkien about how they are entitled to a seat, but that lady was not standing up. They were even pointing at the sign, saying that this was for elderly,” she said.

“I don’t know guys; I feel like if you want the seat just say lah. It is not an entitlement, ask for it,” she added.

Ee Ching told 8days.sg that the elderly commuters boarded at Buona Vista train station, and got off at Clementi station, two stops away.

“People are generally nice, but this ‘sacred’ seat brings out the worst in people," she wrote in the captions.

According to SMRT, priority seats on MRT trains are typically located near the doors for the convenience of elderly commuters, passengers with disabilities, pregnant women and those travelling with young children.

While there is no law requiring commuters to give up these seats, passengers are strongly encouraged to offer them to those who may need them more.

It seems many netizens had the same sentiments and Ee Ching's video quickly sparked discussion online, with many netizens saying they had encountered similar behaviour.

One commenter wrote that some commuters would even block the train doors so they could rush in first to secure a priority seat.

Others suggested that the issue might lie with how many seats are labelled as priority seats, especially on buses.

“Almost half the seats on some buses are labelled as priority. Why?? I really cannot understand this. During the weekday peak hour, commuters needed to be seated after a long day of work. Maybe the elderly who aren’t working should avoid peak period?” one ranted.

Some commenters also jokingly pointed out that certain elderly commuters seem to have no problem standing for long periods, just not on public transport. A few referenced queues at Singapore Pools, where people line up to buy Toto or 4D tickets.

“During the 2026 Toto Hong Bao Draw, which saw S$12 million up for grabs, suddenly all their legs became strong," one quipped.

Ee Ching told 8days.sg that even among her own circle, sentiments towards such encounters with elderly commuters tend to skew negative.

“Some of my friends mentioned that some elderly commuters are only out for a few hours shopping, while working adults may have had a long day or are carrying heavy equipment and might actually need the seats more,” she said.

Ee Ching also shared that her mother, who is in her 50s and commutes daily on MRT trains and buses, actively avoids sitting on priority seats despite having undergone surgery for leg and hip issues.

 “She tells me she sometimes feels people staring, even when she’s seated on a normal seat, because others think they ‘need’ it more," she says.

According to Ee Ching, the label “priority seat” may unintentionally create a sense of entitlement among some commuters.

“I feel that having these seats labelled as ‘priority’ has somehow made people who seem to fit the ‘criteria’ on the signboards feel entitled to them. This is despite the fact that there may be people, with conditions that may not be physically visible, who require them more but are afraid of societal pressure,” she added.

Photos: echoyq/TikTok,  SMRT