If you're a frequent user of public transport, you'll be well aware that during peak hours, finding a seat on the bus can be a real challenge, often resulting in standing for the duration of your journey. It's generally accepted etiquette to offer your seat to someone who may need it more than you if you're fortunate enough to have one.

This is particularly true when occupying the priority seats at the front of the bus. However, one woman has revealed that she recently declined to give up her seat for an elderly passenger, and while this would typically be seen as poor manners, people have commended her for making the right decision.

In a Reddit post, the woman explained that she was travelling on the bus with her daughter, pregnant sister, and nephew. Her daughter, two years old at the time, was able to walk, while her nephew was in a pushchair.

Given they had a pushchair, the family chose to sit in the fold-down seats at the front of the bus. The woman stood, holding onto the stroller, while her sister sat with her daughter on her lap.

A few stops later, an elderly woman boarded the bus and insisted that the family move so she could sit down. However, the woman stood her ground and refused.

She pointed out there were plenty of available seats on the bus, so there was no need for them to move, and given her sister's pregnancy, they felt entitled to the seats they were using.

She wrote: "An old woman came on, walked up to my sister and daughter and told my sister to move. This wasn't a full bus; lots of double seats were empty, and the one behind my sister was empty. But the woman wanted this one.

"My sister's pretty non-confrontational, so I said sorry, but no. She's heavily pregnant and has my young daughter. The seat behind was free. Not good enough [for the woman], she wanted that one. More people were coming on, and the seats behind got taken, so she said my sister HAD to move now. Again, I said no."

Please note: The following Reddit post contains strong language.

The woman claimed the bus then started pulling away from the stop, though numerous seats remained available.

Despite the elderly woman's continued attempts to force the family to relocate, the woman refused to endanger her sister or unborn niece by making them change seats whilst the vehicle was moving.

The elderly passenger eventually found another free seat and alighted just two stops afterwards.

Those responding to the post overwhelmingly supported the woman's stance. Many acknowledged they would gladly surrender their seat to someone requiring assistance in most circumstances, but found it rather presumptuous for someone to insist upon it when alternative seats were available - particularly when the current occupant also required priority seating.

One individual commented: "Getting up on the bus to make someone older sit in that place is kindness, not a must. Especially if the woman who sits first is a pregnant woman with another child in a space for people who can't move freely.

"This is why they are a little bigger, with something to help get up. If you are old but you can move, you can sit everywhere, and you don't need that space."

Another said: "The fact that she demanded instead of asking immediately put her into the 150% wrong category."

A third shared: "I once got up at the London tube to let a heavily pregnant lady sit, and before I could even say a word to her, a young girl sat down. The pregnant lady was wearing a 'baby on board' sign and told me she wore it so people wouldn't push her... Crazy."