I don't know if the chivalrous Greek has since repeated his experiment with public transportation, but if he tried today he'd get a markedly different result. Unless the woman were quite old, she'd either glare or pointedly ignore his gesture, taking it for some kind of come-on.I always cede my seat to a standing female. I have never received this type of reaction.
OTOH, I don't hang out much in SF, Rome or NYC.