Since you follow the Torah 100% then this must be allowed. What justification do the others use for refusing sitting next to women?
LOL thank you for the compliment. It's a bit complex and you need to understand the nuances of religious Jewish life to really get it. Basically, there's black, there's white, and then there's lots of grey. Sitting next to a woman on a bus or plane is technically permitted by most but some have an extra sensitivity to it that is not without basis or merit. So I'm only going to keep what I am mandated to (in this case where making a fuss is an inconvenience etc). but if someone has that extra sensitivity that's also good.