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Original poster

Would you feel a little guilty (wheelchair plus bus thread)

62 replies

Soubriquet · 11/04/2025 19:30

I have poor mobility. I really need a power chair and I’m saving up for one but today because I was going bus, place, bus, I took my rollator.

Going there was fine.

Coming home…well, if I had my wheelchair it would have been difficult. There were 3 buggies on there. Two in the buggy space, one in the wheelchair space. The woman in the wheelchair space watch me struggle on, and just snappily said “mind my fucking pushchair will you” so yeah. There was also an elderly man with his own rollator.

The next bus would have been an hour later and no guarantee it would be any better.

I know bus drivers are allowed to force people off, but I also know that sometimes, people
will not move. However, I would have felt slightly guilty if one of the women had to get off with their pram. Stupid I know, but I guess I’m soft like that.

Would you have felt guilt?

Also, what would you have done if you had a wheelchair and someone refused to get off? Not much you can do is there?

Taxi is not an option in this case.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 11/04/2025 19:43

She was really rude to you, I have no idea why you'd feel guilty.
I've stopped a bus moving on before because some twat thought her empty pushchair was more deserving his space than my son in an actual wheelchair.
The attitude some people have is disgusting, " first come first served" no you can fuck off and get off.

Sorry you had to put up with that today.

Original poster
Soubriquet · 11/04/2025 19:43

ilovesooty · 11/04/2025 19:41

I'm sorry you experienced that. Why did that woman with the buggy in the wheelchair space think it was OK to talk to you like that?

No idea. Her kid was asleep so i guess she didn’t want her to wake up.

Back when my children were little and I actually had mobility, I had gotten off the bus to allow a wheelchair on. It wasn’t far for me to walk (about 20 mins). My husband and older child stayed on the bus and I met them in town. Easy

But where I was coming from was a bit different (I had taken a child to a birthday party)

OP posts:
Bongani · 11/04/2025 19:43

I've had countless times with buggies luggage and people in the wheelchair space refusing to make space for me. Now when I go up the ramp I stop in the doorway and look at them. Guess who the bus driver and passengers complain about?

singlewhitetrashheap · 11/04/2025 19:42

Parents with buggies need to get over themselves, fold them up, and sit with their kid(s) on their lap. Wheelchairs should be prioritised.

ilovesooty · 11/04/2025 19:41

I'm sorry you experienced that. Why did that woman with the buggy in the wheelchair space think it was OK to talk to you like that?

Original poster
Soubriquet · 11/04/2025 19:37

Yes, I got on the bus ok. Just. Has to really squeeze in there. And whilst yes I wasn’t an actual wheelchair user today it made me think about the future.

I don’t drive so I have to use buses mostly. In my town, it’s usually guaranteed ok for wheelchair users. This one was to the city which is why it was harder. I could get the train, but I would mean taking the bus into town, then getting a train, whereas if I go by bus, it’s completely free for me (I have a free disability bus pass)

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 11/04/2025 19:37

Years back, parents had a travel buggy they they folded and put in the luggage bit at the front of the bus. They then had their kid on their lap.
Now everyone seems to have massive travel system things (what does that even mean?) that take up a ton of room.

LadyKenya · 11/04/2025 19:36

Springadorable · 11/04/2025 19:34

So did you manage to get on the bus ok? Or have to get off and try for the next one?

This.

Octavia64 · 11/04/2025 19:35

I use a wheelchair.

i don’t use buses for this reason.

i live in a small town and either wheelchair or drive to stuff.

travelling longer distances I get the train and taxi. It is fucking expensive but you can pre book wheelchair spaces on trains and the staff will actually make people move luggage (very common) and buggies (less common).

DearBee · 11/04/2025 19:34

Kindly, OP... You weren't in a wheelchair and no one had to get off the bus or contemplate getting off the bus. We all know how threads like this go.

Woman in wheelchair space was very rude though. Sorry to hear you were spoken to like that.

WiddlinDiddlin · 11/04/2025 19:34

Nope.

I'd have switched off my powerchair and sat there until the situation was sorted.

I'll do all I can if people are polite and courteous and helpful. Once had to juggle someone elses baby on my lap whilst a pram was folded and several people were shuffled about, so we could all fit (I was there first, they were very clearly frazzled with more kids than they had limbs and what looked like the start of a difficult day!)

Once someone starts being a cunt, I'll be one right back.

I once heaved someones luggage off a train as they'd left it in the wheelchair spot and refused to move it. They discovered this many stops later.

Springadorable · 11/04/2025 19:34

So did you manage to get on the bus ok? Or have to get off and try for the next one?