AIBU to complain about this busdriver? (pushchair related)

[candlelight2012]

Would appreciate some opinions before complaining as I'm unsure whether or not he was correct

There was a mother with two young children, one about 2/3, one about 8/9 months (going by eye) with a buggy in upright position in the buggy spot, and the older child on a seat younger one on her knee.

Bus stopped to change drivers and new driver got on the bus and told the women she had to fold the buggy up and move seats as another buggy was coming on.

The new family, mum dad and baby about 7 months, with downs syndrome got on and waited for the mum to fold the buggy and move.

The mum and passengers were all saying to the bus driver that the new passengers should surely be the ones to fold the buggy as they were coming on second, the driver didn't address anyone apart he mum and started raising his voice and hurrying her to move

This took about 4 mins and the mum was in tears by the end of it.

[ScaryNutellaFangs]

If there were no children in the buggy, it should have been folded already.

Mum no 1 was in the wrong.

[howmuchwouldyoutake]

I'd say 2nd parents should have folded. 2 parents so one could have held the child (not sure why the DS got a mention) and they were last on. Think first Mum was daft having 2 little dc out of buggies unless it was a really long journey.

[notadoctor]

Of course the first Mum should have folded her buggy if neither of her children were sitting in it! The bus driver didn't need to be rude though and he definitely shouldn't have shouted at the Mum in front of her children.

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

The woman was using the area to store a pram she wasn't using, the couple needed the space. It's the equivalent of having a bag on a seat, it's convenient but you move it if someone needs it.

[RagamuffinAndFidget]

^^ WSS - why was Mum 1's buggy even still up if neither of her children were in it?

YWouldBU to report him because he asked her to fold it down, she should have done that anyway.

[Xmasbaby11]

I can't see how this would warrant tears! Why was it a big deal to fold the buggy if noone was in it?

[CrohnicallyTired]

To be honest, if I got on a bus with DH and baby, and saw a woman on her own with 2 kids, I'd offer to fold. Actually, if I was the one already on the bus, I'd offer to fold.

Makes sense doesn't it- dad holds baby while mum folds (or vice versa). Job done. Whereas the mum on her own has to either hold baby and fold pushchair with other hand (not all pushchairs can be folded on handed), or hand baby to a stranger to hold, or put baby down on the dirty floor, while trying to keep an eye on the toddler too.

[candlelight2012]

No not to be controversial like! The second mum stated that they should have the space for that reason.

That's why I mentioned it, this could actually be correct? I don't know the in's and out's that is also why I am asking?

It was just horrible to see a mum becoming overwhelmed and in tears, I think it was handled badly by the driver

[HarrietSchulenberg]

I don't often get the bus but I would have happily folded an empty buggy to let another buggy get on.
Although, as I'd have had to put my baby on the seat while I was doing it, I would have been extremely pissed off if the bus driver had pulled off before I'd finished.
As baby no. 2 was only 7 months Downs Syndrome isn't relevant.

[HSMMaCM]

In assuming she didn't fold her buggy, because she was holding 2 children

[Catsize]

How would she juggle two young children and fold buggy without relying on others to help? And then unfold buggy and put children in again, either as bus still moving, or at her stop? Am guessing she had a decent reason to have them out of the buggy, like the were crying or sonething. Nobody would voluntarily do what she was doing!

[Mim78]

Sounds like the bus driver was very rude regardless of the rights and wrongs of the buggy folding. So I think YANBU.

I suppose some of this depends whose buggy was more difficult to fold and if the second family needed to leave the baby in the buggy. Don't think they were or should have priority because of the downs though, although not sure if this is part of the question.

I can see why she cried if he was rude to her!

[DevilsRoulette]

i suppose what he saw was an empty pushchair. if the infant had been in it, perhaps he would have acted differently.

[TheAlyssWithTheMewlingQuim]

Either one is fine. Someone should have offered ideally. My bus driver usually asks the person with the least stuff or the smaller pushchair to fold it if no one offers.

[SanctimoniousArse]

the buggy wwas empty so it should have been folded.

[DoctorRobert]

mum no1 should have already folded if her children weren't sat in it. think the driver was entirely reasonable and can't imagine why it would make anybody cry.

[PrincessFlirtyPants]

Oh honestly, is this even slightly worth making a complaint about?!

[Mim78]

Oh, i see the point re the downs. No, I don't think this makes any difference bearing in mind the baby was 7 months. I think second Mum may have been looking for a bit of an unfair advantage there, although I'm not an expert on downs.

I feel for the first Mum tbh.

[decaffwithcream]

The signs on our local buses, for example, say that the wheelchair space may be used by an occupied buggy, if no wheelchair user has need of the space.

I can now see why they had to say "occupied"

Why would an empty buggy take precedence over a baby in a buggy??

I am surprised that the other passengers "were all saying to the driver that the new passengers should surely be the ones to fold"

[candlelight2012]

The first mum tried said she would put the younger one back in and was told firmly no.

Xmasbaby why does anything warrent tears? I think it's because she felt intimidated by the driver? Lack of sleep? I don't know for sure

[hettienne]

Empty pushchair, she could have folded it. The 9 month old could have either sat on the bus seat while she did it or she could have asked another passenger to hold it. Yes, she would have had to put it back up when she wanted to get off, but that's hardly a big task is it?

If you take a pushchair on the bus, you have to be prepared to fold it!

[ShatnersEmptyCatacomb]

She was in tears because she had to fold an empty buggy? That's ridiculous. The whole thing is ridiculous.

[hettienne]

Anyway OP, couldn't you have just offered to help the mum if she was struggling?