A father was shocked when not a single passenger on a crowded tram gave up their seat for him and his newborn daughter.
Duncan MacRae traveled by tram to the Midsumma Festival in Melbourne last weekend with his daughter Bella.
The journey took about twenty minutes and the tram was already full when Mr MacRae boarded.
But despite the fact that it is common practice on public transport to give up a seat for the disabled, the elderly, pregnant women or parents with children, no other passengers offered their place.
MacRae filmed a video of himself on the crowded tram while bouncing his newborn baby to sleep with his other hand.
Duncan MacRae traveled by tram to Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival last weekend with his daughter Bella and said no one offered him their seat
Around him, passengers sat buried in their phones or looking out the window.
“My goal was to capture a moment that many parents can relate to: trying to calm a crying baby in a public space, while at the same time considering the comfort of those around us,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“The reaction of those in the priority seats, who saw me and put their heads back in their phones, highlights the social issues of empathy and community support.
“It’s not just about offering a seat, it’s about recognizing the needs of others and acting kindly.”
Mr MacRae said that although he was physically able to carry Bella without needing a chair, he was ‘shocked’ that no one offered to help him.
When a passenger finally left his seat, the father said he had to tell another commuter who was trying to take the empty seat to “fill up” so he could sit down.
His TikTok has been viewed more than 1 million times, with many shocked by the lack of civility on public transport, adding that it was dangerous if Mr MacRae lost his balance.
‘I was 37 weeks pregnant on the train and no one stood up. It’s terrible! “I’m sorry this happened,” one person said.
“Someone recently told me it’s my responsibility to ask. Like whoTF raised you all. “I wasn’t raised that way,” said another.
“That’s awful,” a third added.
Mr MacRae (pictured with his partner Rob and daughter) said that although he was physically able to carry Bella without needing a chair, he was ‘shocked’ that no one offered to carry him
Meanwhile, others said he had no right to the seat and shouldn’t expect anyone to give one up so easily.
“I generally offer it, but some days when you’ve walked more than 20,000 steps, it’s hard to give up.” So there are always two sides to the story,” said another.
“All these people saying why should I give up my seat etc., it honestly just shows how you were raised. It’s called common courtesy and being respectful,” one person said.
“Just because you have a child doesn’t mean you deserve the seat more than anyone else. I can’t stand it when people think that just because they have a child they deserve something,” said another comment.