Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Disability buggy vs wheelchair on bus

46 replies

2bytwo · 06/01/2023 17:26

Im just wondering if using a disability pushchair on the bus . Are you still expected
To fold if a wheelchair user gets on. ?

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 06/01/2023 17:28

I would hope it would depend on the child, my little one needs to sit in his buggy as he has no head control and poor trunk control, he also has dystonic movements which makes holding him even when I am sitting challenging.

FluffyYucca · 06/01/2023 17:29

A disability buggy effectively is a wheelchair, isn’t it? So I would think no, but if you could fold it easily then it would be nice to do that, so another wheelchair user can get on as well.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/01/2023 17:29

I'd class a disability pushchair as a wheelchair for kids, so no I'd not expect the parent to fold it. However if they could great! They should.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Baby & toddler products General health
HazeyjaneIII · 06/01/2023 17:32

When my son used a disability buggy it didn't fold, so we would have had to get off.

Needmorelego · 06/01/2023 17:33

If your child is still small enough to fit in a regular buggy but you are using it as a wheelchair you can get signs to attach to it "please treat as a wheelchair" or words to that effect.
You also can get a card to show to the driver.
It's being used as a wheelchair - therefore it is a wheelchair.
You do not have to fold it under any circumstances.

JustKeepBuilding · 06/01/2023 17:35

A SN buggy should be treated as a wheelchair, so another wheelchair shouldn’t take priority over a SN buggy already on board.

DS1 uses a SN buggy as he hates his wheelchair. He has the same needs whether in his buggy or wheelchair so I wouldn’t get off for another wheelchair.

Facecream · 06/01/2023 17:37

I was once refused by the driver to get on as a mum with a foldable (regular) buggy was there and he couldn’t have “two buggies” on board. My add was 3, looked like she was five and very seriously disabled. It pissed me off so much. I complained but of course it makes no difference. The other mum sat there and mouthed “sorry” at me. With her baby in her arms. Our buggy would have needed my Dd to be out of it supported by someone else while it was folded.. it is a wheelchair in essence. I took to having a wheelchair “badge” on it so people didn’t assume it was just a tank of a buggy for a lazy child. As had been suggested once or twice.

Original poster
2bytwo · 06/01/2023 18:10

Facecream · 06/01/2023 17:37

I was once refused by the driver to get on as a mum with a foldable (regular) buggy was there and he couldn’t have “two buggies” on board. My add was 3, looked like she was five and very seriously disabled. It pissed me off so much. I complained but of course it makes no difference. The other mum sat there and mouthed “sorry” at me. With her baby in her arms. Our buggy would have needed my Dd to be out of it supported by someone else while it was folded.. it is a wheelchair in essence. I took to having a wheelchair “badge” on it so people didn’t assume it was just a tank of a buggy for a lazy child. As had been suggested once or twice.

I have suggested to my daughter when she gets her sons disability pushchair she should get some sort of sign she things the disability buggy will be enough. But im not so sure 😕

OP posts:
PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 06/01/2023 18:35

Disability Law academic has highlighted this weakness in the ruling: The debate about wheelchair spaces on buses goes round and rounda very good article

Trymein · 06/01/2023 18:36

I would say yes. Unless it’s the parent who has the disability. Wheelchair users have a priority and they are generally on their own. I’m not sure how a disability pushchair differs from a regular one as both will involve a parent pushing it and being in charge of the child (if that makes sense?). For example I have had to get off with a pushchair with bassinet as I couldn’t fold it, to make room for a wheelchair.

A regular pushchair should probably vacate for a disabled pushchair possibly, not sure how it could be enforced? It’s a tricky one tbh.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 06/01/2023 18:47

Disability buggies are wheelchairs. Full stop. I’m “lucky” that my DD is obviously disabled. If she weren’t, I’d get one of those “please treat as a wheelchair” things.

Shuttlesandspinners · 06/01/2023 18:48

I’m a wheelchair user and definitely think a special needs pram/buggy is essentially a wheelchair. I wouldn’t expect it to move to give me a wheelchair space.

ManyNameChanges · 06/01/2023 18:48

I’m not sure how a disability pushchair differs from a regular one

I think you are missing the fact the child in the SN pushchair might have a long list if issue that will make it impossible fir the adult to take them of the pushchair SAFELY

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 06/01/2023 18:50

@Trymein I don’t think whether the wheelchair user is accompanied or not is the point. It’s the fact that disabled people are entitled to travel, and if they need to be in a wheelchair or buggy, then that should take priority over people who have the option to fold their buggies.

JustKeepBuilding · 06/01/2023 18:50

I’m not sure how a disability pushchair differs from a regular one

You seriously can’t see the difference between a SN buggy that is used instead of a wheelchair and a regular one? One is used instead of a wheelchair for a disabled child. Sometimes with medical equipment. With the exception of when a normal pushchair is used for a disabled child who still fits and doesn’t need a specialist buggy for other reasons (in which case you can get a sign saying the buggy should be treated as a wheelchair) the other is used for a child who doesn’t need a buggy because of a disability. It is clear you have never pushed a SN buggy or had a disabled DC.

For example I have had to get off with a pushchair with bassinet as I couldn’t fold it, to make room for a wheelchair.

You could have bought a public transport friendly pushchair, used a sling or removed the bassinet from the base and folded the frame. Not options with a SN buggy.

JustKeepBuilding · 06/01/2023 18:53

Also, I’m not saying they shouldn’t have priority over a regular buggy not being used as a wheelchair because they absolutely should, but some in wheelchairs have someone push them and ‘in charge’ of them. So your comparison is laughable.

Shereturnsforonemore · 06/01/2023 18:55

I have a card from our local bus company ( that i had to show medical proof for) to show bus driver that my son's sen buggy has the same rights as a wheelchair.
The amount of abuse i get from wheelchair users is unbelievable

Trymein · 06/01/2023 18:57

JustKeepBuilding · 06/01/2023 18:50

I’m not sure how a disability pushchair differs from a regular one

You seriously can’t see the difference between a SN buggy that is used instead of a wheelchair and a regular one? One is used instead of a wheelchair for a disabled child. Sometimes with medical equipment. With the exception of when a normal pushchair is used for a disabled child who still fits and doesn’t need a specialist buggy for other reasons (in which case you can get a sign saying the buggy should be treated as a wheelchair) the other is used for a child who doesn’t need a buggy because of a disability. It is clear you have never pushed a SN buggy or had a disabled DC.

For example I have had to get off with a pushchair with bassinet as I couldn’t fold it, to make room for a wheelchair.

You could have bought a public transport friendly pushchair, used a sling or removed the bassinet from the base and folded the frame. Not options with a SN buggy.

Yes I can see the point now, I was thinking purely in logistical terms as in a person is pushing a pushchair with a child in as opposed to someone operating a wheelchair on their own. Thanks for enlightening me, and this has definitely changed my opinion.

I did have a transport friendly buggy (it was the newborn attachment that doesn’t fold) and had a 13m in a sling and all my shopping so it wouldn’t have been feasible. I had absolutely no issue with getting off. I would also hope that seeing a child in a buggy with lots of medical equipment would mean people would get off make space!!

PrayingandHoping · 06/01/2023 19:01

@Trymein

There would not necessarily be any extra medical equipment

My daughters pushchair is her wheelchair as she cannot walk (she receives higher rate mobility and has a blue badge). I actually use a normal off road pushchair as she fits and it's easier for me to push.

JustKeepBuilding · 06/01/2023 19:03

Logistically there is a vast difference between a SN buggy and regular buggy not being used as a wheelchair.

There are foldable buggies that are suitable from birth. You can’t compare having 2 DC and shopping to having a disabled child.

paradyning · 06/01/2023 19:20

Trymein · 06/01/2023 18:36

I would say yes. Unless it’s the parent who has the disability. Wheelchair users have a priority and they are generally on their own. I’m not sure how a disability pushchair differs from a regular one as both will involve a parent pushing it and being in charge of the child (if that makes sense?). For example I have had to get off with a pushchair with bassinet as I couldn’t fold it, to make room for a wheelchair.

A regular pushchair should probably vacate for a disabled pushchair possibly, not sure how it could be enforced? It’s a tricky one tbh.

Are you serious! Do you know what a disability buggy is! It's a wheelchair.
It may look like a pretty little pushchair but it's absolutely not.
The child may be attached to a pump, need suction, have a catheter, have low tone. You ignorant person. It's a wheelchair for a reason.

paradyning · 06/01/2023 19:22

2bytwo · 06/01/2023 17:26

Im just wondering if using a disability pushchair on the bus . Are you still expected
To fold if a wheelchair user gets on. ?

No. Absolutely not. You have every right to be there.

Trymein · 06/01/2023 20:43

PrayingandHoping · 06/01/2023 19:01

@Trymein

There would not necessarily be any extra medical equipment

My daughters pushchair is her wheelchair as she cannot walk (she receives higher rate mobility and has a blue badge). I actually use a normal off road pushchair as she fits and it's easier for me to push.

Oh no,apologies, that isn’t what I meant at all! It sounded like there were people with buggies with all the medical attachments that people would get off for them. And I could understand anyone being that cruel.

PrayingandHoping · 06/01/2023 20:45

Even if they don't have attachments if a child is disabled people are cruel not to move for them

Trymein · 06/01/2023 20:47

paradyning · 06/01/2023 19:20

Are you serious! Do you know what a disability buggy is! It's a wheelchair.
It may look like a pretty little pushchair but it's absolutely not.
The child may be attached to a pump, need suction, have a catheter, have low tone. You ignorant person. It's a wheelchair for a reason.

Show quote history

No I didn’t know, and I have already apologised. I have never seen one and I explained I was just thinking of things as a person with buggy, person with disabled buggy and person in a wheelchair. I also said that if someone had seen a child in a buggy with all the medical attachments I would hope they would move out the way.

Yes, I agree, I have been very ignorant.

Swipe left for the next trending thread