Recent events in Taiwan have highlighted the contentious nature of “priority seating” on public transportation. Incidents, such as passengers experiencing emotional distress after being compelled to give up their seats and elderly individuals attacking others after being refused a seat, have prompted a national reassessment of this policy. Some voices in Taiwan now advocate for abolishing priority seats to prevent such conflicts.
This issue is not unique to Taiwan. In South Korea, where respect for the elderly is deeply ingrained, priority seating has led to similar confrontations. Younger passengers often face accusations of disrespect if they do not yield seats. In contrast, there are also instances where the elderly express discomfort at occupying regular seats, stating that they feel as if they are taking the seats of younger individuals.
However, attitudes toward priority seating vary across cultures. In Europe, some older individuals view being offered a seat as a form of age discrimination, feeling it implies they are incapable of standing. In the US, pregnant women do not typically receive special consideration, whereas children are often prioritized for seating. Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist country, places great importance on offering seats to monks.
Photo: Flickr 照片：Flickr提供
Despite these varied cultural perspectives, legal frameworks like Taiwan’s mandate specific practices. Under the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act, public transportation systems are required to designate at least 15 percent of seats for priority groups. Amid this national debate, Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan has affirmed that priority seating will be maintained. He also stated the ministry would consider expanding the eligible groups and potentially renaming these seats, with legal amendments proposed soon.
While these legal measures are important, they won’t solve all issues surrounding priority seating. Ultimately, only by fostering a culture of consideration for others can we ensure that public transportation remains an inclusive space for all.
近期臺灣的事件突顯了大眾運輸上博愛座的爭議性。像是乘客因被迫讓座而情緒崩潰，以及老年人因被拒絕座位而攻擊他人等事件，促使全國重新評估這項政策。現在臺灣有些聲音主張廢除博愛座，以防止這類衝突。
這個問題並非臺灣獨有。在南韓，尊敬老年人的觀念根深蒂固，博愛座也導致了類似的衝突。年輕乘客若不讓座，經常會被指控不尊敬。相反地，也有老年人表示坐在普通座位上感到不自在，說他們覺得像是占了年輕人的座位。
然而，對於博愛座的態度因文化而異。在歐洲，一些老年人將被讓座視為年齡歧視，認為這暗示他們無法站立。在美國，孕婦通常不會獲得特殊考慮，而兒童則經常被優先安排座位。泰國作為一個以佛教為主的國家，非常重視給僧侶提供座位。
儘管存在這些不同的文化觀點，但像臺灣這樣的法律框架卻規定了具體的作法。根據《身心障礙者權益保障法》，大眾運輸系統需為優先群體指定至少15% 的座位。在這場全國性辯論中，衛福部長邱泰源已確認博愛座政策將繼續維持。他還表示衛福部會考慮擴大適用群體，並有可能重新命名這些座位，相關法律修正案也將很快提出。
雖然這些法律措施很重要，但它們無法解決所有博愛座相關的問題。最終，只有透過培養互相體諒的文化，我們才能確保大眾運輸成為一個包容所有人的空間。
MORE INFORMATION
contentious adj. 有爭議的
ingrained adj. (觀念)根深蒂固的
predominantly adv. 占主導地位地
Buddhist adj. 佛教的
framework n. 框架；體系
mandate vt. 命令；要求
designate vt. 指定；劃定
amendment n. 修正案；修正條款
inclusive adj. 具包容性的
KEY VOCABULARY
1. compel vt. 強迫；迫使
The company’s new policy compels all employees to attend a safety training session.
公司的新政策強迫所有員工參加安全訓練課程。
2. abolish vt. 廢除；廢止
The school board voted to abolish the rule that required uniforms for all students.
學校董事會投票廢除要求所有學生穿制服的規定。
3. confrontation n. 衝突；對抗
Sarah avoided a confrontation with her boss by calmly explaining her point of view.
莎拉透過冷靜解釋自己的觀點，避免了與老闆的衝突。
4. accusation n. 指控；譴責
There were accusations that the home team cheated to win the game, but no one could prove it.
有指控說主隊為了贏得比賽而作弊，但沒有人能證明這一點。
5. discomfort n. 不適；不安
The awkward silence during the meeting created discomfort among the participants.
會議中的尷尬沉默讓參與者感到不安。
6. discrimination n. 歧視
Discrimination based on race or gender is illegal in many countries.
基於種族或性別的歧視在許多國家都是非法的。
7. amid prep. 在……當中
Amid all the noise and chaos, Lucy managed to finish her important project.
在所有的喧囂和混亂中，露西設法完成了她的重要專案。
8. affirm vt. 證實；聲明；斷言
After hearing both sides, the judge affirmed that the original decision was fair.
在聽取雙方意見後，法官確認原判決是公正的。
9. eligible adj. 具備條件的；有資格的
Only students with excellent grades are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
只有成績優異的學生才有資格申請這項獎學金。
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