Priority seats can sometimes spark conflict over whether they are reserved only for the elderly, and some disputes have even escalated into aggressive confrontations
A heated altercation over a priority seat on the Taipei Metro has gone viral after an elderly woman who demanded a young passenger’s seat was kicked across the carriage.
What happened on the MRT
The drama unfolded around 4pm yesterday (Sept 29) on the Tamsui–Xinyi Line heading towards Tamsui.
According to footage on social media, the elderly woman insisted that a young commuter give up their spot on the “priority seat” despite other empty seats being available in the train.
When the commuter refused, the woman lost her temper and repeatedly struck the passenger with her handbag.
The video shows the passenger handing his belongings to a nearby commuter before standing up and retaliating with a single kick that sent the woman sprawling onto the opposite row of seats.
Startled, she shouted, “I want to call the police!” But the commuter remained unfazed and coolly responded with, “You can try one more time!”
Other commuters quickly pressed the emergency intercom and stepped in to stop the chaos before it escalated further.
Reactions
The clip quickly went viral and drew thousands of comments, with many criticising the elderly woman for demanding a seat despite there being empty ones available.
‘This grandma is a regular troublemaker on the MRT! Previously, a slightly chubby girl who wasn’t feeling well sat in the priority seat. This grandma scolded her, saying, ‘What’s so uncomfortable about being fat? If your body isn’t healthy, then why did you eat so much?’ Even though there were clearly empty seats nearby, she still wanted the girl to give up her spot! Ridiculous! And this isn’t even the first time she’s done this!’
‘I’ve also encountered this auntie! When I was 30 weeks pregnant and sitting in the priority seat, she tapped my knees with her umbrella and said her things were very heavy… (hinting that I should give up my seat). Honestly, they should just abolish the priority seat altogether.’
However, others pointed out that such a reaction towards an elderly person was inappropriate, as she could have been seriously hurt.
