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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why mums out in pairs with pushchairs don't move out of the way for oncoming pedestrians?

56 replies

marvinmonkey · 13/04/2011 16:53

If I'm out and about walking in the street, walking towards me, occasionally I encounter a pair of mums with pushchairs walking side by side. I find that more often than not these mums won't move willingly to allow me to pass. I have no desire to walk on the road to get past them. I'm sure if these mums didn't have pushchairs and were out walking, one of them would naturally move in a bit - so, rather like roadrage, what is it with owning the pavement? Are these particular pushchair owners thinking they're still behind the wheel of their X5 or M-Class?

OP posts:
ShatnersBassoon · 13/04/2011 16:56

It's probably because it's easier for someone without a pushchair to change their course.

pinkthechaffinch · 13/04/2011 16:56

Just stand in the middle of pavement and give them the eye if one of them doesn't appear to be budging over to make room.

then tut loudly as they elbow their way past.

Insomnia11 · 13/04/2011 16:56

I think some people are just like that - pavement hoggers, whether they are pushing a buggy or just walking along.

I bet they are the same people who stop in shop doorways abruptly and cause a domino effect behind them. No spatial awareness or awareness of others. Either that or they are aware but are just rude.

doley · 13/04/2011 16:57

They are much more important than you .

They have given birth quite recently ,that makes them experts on everything ~plus it gives them special treatment by the local council .

I am very surprised you didn't feel ut was your civil duty to move ? Wink

AgentZigzag · 13/04/2011 16:58

Gabbing too much to notice anyone else? Grin

Just say ' FUCKING MOVE', nicely of course Smile

OeufaBrain · 13/04/2011 17:01

I had an acquaintance once who had a horn on her massive 3-wheeler buggy. People always leapt out of the way when she parped it. THEN did a massive double take of outrage Grin
How she managed to not get twatted by some irate pedestrian, I'll never know.

Original poster
marvinmonkey · 13/04/2011 17:02

Thanks all, with the exception of Shatnersbassoon, I think its clear the opinion is shared. Maybe an air-horn would make them move.

To address Shatnersbassoon - it would be equally easy for the outward pushchair user to slow slightly and let oncoming traffic past.

OP posts:
mitochondria · 13/04/2011 17:05

They don't annoy me as much as the teams of old ladies who manage to spread across the whole of a wide pavement and then just dither.
Not for any reasons of infirmity, but because they've just reached a shop which has shiny things in the window.

And the cyclists. Adult ones I mean. Ride the thing in the road, please.

AgentZigzag · 13/04/2011 17:06

Grin at OeufaBrain.

I get out of the way/wait for people to get past when I'm with the pushchair, but I usually don't have to because everyone is really nice round here and gives us plenty of room, with a smile as well Smile

marmaladetwatkins · 13/04/2011 17:07

Two mums on the schoolrun do this, pair of irritating twunts they are. Always speeding down the alleyway, nattering at the speed of a freight train, pretending that they are so engrossed in walking/talking that they couldn't possibly swerve to the side so I don't have to stand on a pile of mud/leaves to allow them to continue on their course.

I don't stand to one side now. I charge towards them, staring into the middle distance, like I haven't even registered their presence. They always move now.

YouaretooniceNOT · 13/04/2011 17:07

YANBU!

it is rude to walk side by side, blocking the darn pavement. Double pushchair would move, but not for two impolite, pavement hogging, vile old trouts i wouldn't!

Melly19MummyToBe · 13/04/2011 17:10

This annoys me too, I'm 32 weeks pregnant and find it hard enough to -waddle-- walk up the street without having to dodge around prams and pushchairs. And there are a lot of them down my street because theres a nursery just up from our house. Also when people are walking in pairs, one with a pram/buggy and one with a toddler who isn't watching where they are walking. So many times I've almost kicked/trodden on a small child because it's parent has been too busy chatting to notice, or just keeps vaguely saying "oh move out the way darling so this lady can pass" without actually moving the child themselves. I usually just stand still and wait for the child to either notice me or it's mum grabs it out the way at the last second.

Toughasoldboots · 13/04/2011 17:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Melly19MummyToBe · 13/04/2011 17:12

Pah. well that failed. I meant waddle

Original poster
marvinmonkey · 13/04/2011 17:14

@mitochondria - too right about cyclists as well. They're bad enough on the road, and to have an adult on a bike on the pavement, f**k off, they're asking for someone to kick 'em as they go past.

OP posts:
cheekyprincess · 13/04/2011 17:19

Ugh. I had this the other day when out with one of the dogs. Two women with their hummers buggies taking up not only the pedestrian path, but the cycle path as well. My dog is a rottie and very friendly and well trained but one loud, firm "leave them" had the women in single file. Hated doing it as it gives my dog a bad reputation, but they didn't leave me much choice (busy main road, lots of lorries and buses at national speed limit).

EssexGurl · 13/04/2011 17:29

I find it is the other way around. People stand quite happily on the pavement having a chat whilst I have to steer my buggy into the road to get around them. I always try to get out of the way if I can - but I agree with a previous poster that it is easier for a pedestrian to move out of the way than me with a buggy.

squeakytoy · 13/04/2011 17:32

If you cant manoever the buggy or prams, then one of you stop, and the other one go ahead while the person coming in the opposite direction gets past you without needing to go in the road.

Not really all that difficult, and much better mannered than forcing someone to have to walk around you into the road.

Ryoko · 13/04/2011 17:52

Oh god I hate them, side by side chatting refusing to move trying to force you to walk in the road, I stand my ground (at one side or the other) and force em to move, I thought when I got a pushchair myself they would move, but no they now expect me and my pushchair to go in the road (I just go right up against the wall and keep heading towards them like a game of chicken).

As for people chatting and standing around I have a golden rule 2x "excuse me" then shove em out the way. I estimate that only about 30% of people move with an "excuse me" anymore.

lockets · 13/04/2011 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

allgonebellyup · 13/04/2011 17:57

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i hate this too.

At my ds' school there is a gang of around 10 chavs who all walk along the pavement v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y , and pushing their prams in a large group, 3-a-side and puffing away on their fags.
i'm always like "excuse me please, excuse me" (thinking "i am in a RUSH, goddammit, some of us are late for WORK!")
and they stil dont budge their bloody fat arses.

diabolo · 13/04/2011 17:59

Not as bad a "hand-holding couples". They never move / stop holding hands.

CaveMum · 13/04/2011 18:09

Anyone that blocks the pavement is a moron in my eyes. My dad is blind and uses a white stick. The amount of times he has almost tripped over people/buggies/bikes etc because they are too inconsiderate to move Angry

lazylula · 13/04/2011 18:55

There are inconsiderate people in all walks of life not just mums with prams! My pet hate is the idiots who park up on the pavement so I can not get passed with my pram and have to go out on the road. One of my main reasons (other than the safety aspect ect) is that if I can't get by with my buggy then someone in a wheelchair could not get passed and if they are on their own may find it difficult to get the chair up and down the kerb ect. I do my best to move out of people's way but am guilty, as anyone is, of walking around in my own little world on occasion and may need a polite excuse me to bring me back to earth!

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 13/04/2011 19:03

It's very simple.

They don't spare a moment to consider those around them.

I have a similar problem with horse riders.

Regularly come up behind a pair of riders side by side, on a narrow road. do they get the horses to step onto the grass for a moment? do they pull into a driveway or farm gateway for a moment? do they pull in one behind the other?

Do they buggery. They carry on, slowly walking their horses side by side, while I am stuck behind them for bloody ages. You can't go round fast, you can't go round close, so waiting for the road to be totally clear the other way long enough for you to crawl past takes forever.

And all the time, they are merrily laughing and chatting their way.

Bitches.

And I can't even lean on my bloody horn, in the internationally recognised code for fucking move, you bloody twats excuse me please, are you aware I am here?

And - and - and - when I finally DO get past them, do you know what they do?

DO YOU???

They give me a regal wave and genteel nod of the head.

That pisses me off more than anything.

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