The seated to standing ratio is the ratio

Ratio

In mathematics, a ratio is a relationship between two numbers of the same kind , usually expressed as "a to b" or a:b, sometimes expressed arithmetically as a dimensionless quotient of the two which explicitly indicates how many times the first number contains the second In mathematics, a ratio is...

 between the number of passengers that can be seated

Seating capacity

Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...

 and the number of standing

Standing (position)

Standing is a human position in which the body is held upright and supported only by the feet, referred to as an orthostatic state.Although quiet standing appears to be static, modern instrumentation shows it to be a process of rocking from the ankle in the sagittal plane...

 passengers on a public transport

Public transport

Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...

 vehicle

Vehicle

A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....

. A higher standing ratio allows for more passengers in a given area, but detracts the perceived quality of the transport, in particular over long distances. Its application is normally limited to urban mass transit due to intercity transport only offering seated travel.

The longer the journey, the less willing passengers will be able to stand. In urban mass transit, high standing capacity is used to rationalize operation, and serves as an extra capacity to use during rush hour

Rush hour

A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...

. While most travelers may be seated during off-peak services, only a limited number will be seated during the peak services. On longer haul services, bilevel car

Bilevel car

The bilevel car or double-decker coach is a type of rail car that has two levels of passenger accommodation, as opposed to one, increasing passenger capacity ....

s are often used to allow for increased seating, though this increases the loading time and station stops; making increased seating ratio and service time tradeoffs. On intercity services with train

Train

A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...

 or coach

Coach (vehicle)

A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...

, the willingness among passengers is often so low that no standing is available. This is often combined with reserved seating to ensure that all passengers can be seated. In aviation

Aviation

Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...

, safety measures require all passengers and crew to be seated during take-off and landing, forcing airline

Airline

An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...

s to not have standing passenger places.