Whatever happened to the days of chivalry, common courtesy or simply following rules, for that matter?

I work with students with physical and mental disabilities. Each week, I try to teach the students how to use the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) buses and read the bus schedules. I'm at the point now that it isn't worth the hassle any more. The last two times the students and I went on our bus trips, I was very disturbed that no students sitting anywhere on the bus were willing to give up their seats to a person who was obviously disabled. Instead, I had to hold on to the students for dear life as we constantly fell on the laps of those sitting. I could understand if the disability wasn't noticeable, but this wasn't the case in either situation.

I have noticed this trend not only for persons with disabilities, but also for elderly citizens. The same bus trip I recently took found me standing next to a 60-plus-year-old man, sandwiched between me and another student.

So the next time you see an elderly person or the next time you have a disabled student falling on your lap, please be a responsible and respectful CATA rider and offer a seat. We will be sure to thank you for it.