A young American woman who recently moved to Australia has shared her shock at a “strange” rule that “all Australians” seem to follow.
Tate Duaneoriginally from California and now living in Melbourne, said she was surprised Australians were against taking public transport.
The 23-year-old expat is used to a life of leisure and wants to relax as much as possible. This is why the fear of a fine has spoiled his travels.
“I’ve never understood why Melbourne public transport is so strict about putting your feet on seats,” she said in a video.
“I understand it’s busy and people need to sit down, but why are they going to fine someone if no one is there? Let’s pick up our legs and hang on! »
Transport New South Wales has a section on the travel etiquette which explains the need for this rule.
“Being courteous makes using public transport more pleasant for everyone” read.
In addition to not being allowed to put their feet on the seats, travelers must also refrain from taking more than one seat when others are standing and making too much noise.
All Australian states have the same rule prohibiting passengers from putting their feet on the seats.
Tate Duane, originally from California and now living in Melbourne, said she was surprised Australians were against taking public transport.
Many were shocked that Tate wanted to rest his legs on public transport – and many pointed out the cleanliness.
“Do you put your shoes on the bed too?” » we asked. ‘Disgusting.’
“It’s so unsanitary. If you’ve been in a men’s room, you’ll appreciate the ‘no feet on the seats’ rule,” one man said.
“It’s about cleanliness, not stopping other people from sitting there,” one man explained. “I was fined $288 for putting my feet in an empty car late at night. I never did it again.”
‘I don’t want to sit where people’s muddy boots were,” added another.
“It’s about having good manners and respecting others,” one woman wrote.
While another explained a broader reason why the activity is frowned upon.
“It’s banned because of the broken windows theory: visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior and civil unrest create an urban environment that encourages more crime and disorder,” one man explained.
