I found Raymond Zhou's opinion column on "rang zuo" (offering your bus seat) interesting (China Daily, August 12, 2006)

When I first came to China, I had to deal with public transportation for the first time. However, being raised in the more traditional south of the United States, I knew that it's common sense to stand up for people in need of a seat. In one instance, I gave my seat to a woman with a baby.

I ended up actually getting pushed off the bus at the wrong stop, it was so crowded. But, such is the price we pay for politeness.

Where things started to turn though was last year, when I broke my foot. For over a month, I hobbled around the city on crutches... and not once, on a bus or the metro, did anyone ever offer their seat to me. On more than one occasion, I was knocked down by 30-year-old men and women scrambling for a seat. Yes, I'm a fairly spry 25 years old... but still, doesn't an injured foreigner deserve "rang zuo" too?

I used to err on the side of caution, and if it looked like a person even possibly needed the seat more than me, I was the first to jump up. But after my experiences, I am much more selective about who I give my seat too.

Ryan

via e-mail

(China Daily 01/09/2007 page11)