Anyone who has spent a long train ride playing 4,000 rounds of I-spy with their own child, let alone sat close to anyone else’s, may understand the logic of offering child-free spaces. But the reaction highlights a strong philosophical objection in a country that traditionally gives children plenty of autonomy and responsibility, as part of a mindset that sees helping them fit in with wider society as a priority. It also highlights practical concerns about what “no kids” attitudes say about how birthrates will evolve.