AIBU?
to think these were old lady bitches?
deliakate · 20/04/2011 16:05
on the bus yesterday. So glad I don't live in London - this was only DS's second ever bus journey. He's 21 months, I'm 8 months preg.
So lugged the pushchair on, and went to the area you park them in. Bus was virtually empty, but there were two semi-rotund old ladies sitting on the flip up seats. I politely asked them "excuse me, do those seats flip up so that I can put the pushchair there?". They both said "nooo, dearie". (old means around 65/70 - not doddery 80s in this case)
So everyone else getting on had to squeeze past me, bump, pushchair and a poor guide dog sitting opposite, whose owner was getting very unsettled. Freaking annoying. I got off two stops up the hill, as did the old ladies, at which point the seats flipped up behind them. I shouldn't have, but said to one of them "those seats DO flip up", and she said "I know!". Basically, I asked her why she hadn't moved, and she said the space was for wheelchairs and elderly people as well as pushchairs. I pointed out there were other seats for elderly people too, but nowhere else for a pushchair, and she said I was getting shirty. I just walked off.
It was more amusing than anything, but seriously, can't some people remember what it was like to be pregnant/ have a toddler?
Bucharest · 20/04/2011 16:10
They were right. They don't flip so you can put a pushchair there, they flip up so if someone (if I remember the wording correctly) "elderly or disabled or who needs this seat more than you" can sit on them. Don't they say something about "priority seats" or something?
So you were also entitled to the seat/space but as the seats were already being used by one of the "priority" categories, YABU.
I'd have said the owner of the guide dog had priority over the lot of you tbh.
Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby · 20/04/2011 16:12
At 65? My gran 75 would have moved. But she has manners. Actually, she has broken the ligament in her ankle (not falling over old lady style...), and she would still move.
I wouldn't have mentioned it tho. Just pass it off as ignorance and get on with your day.
Robins · 20/04/2011 16:22
We have those buses near us and I think if there are other seats to be had and the elderly people aren't too doddery, I think they should have moved for you. I think drivers should have more authority in these cases. Yesterday on our bus, an old man actually looked at my son and said to me "can he move please". It was one of those seats that are side ways on just as you get on. I didn't mind moving my son, the man said please and I could see he was unsteady on his legs and there were plenty of seats for my son, who is 10, not little, so I was more than happy to oblige. But I do feel sorry for mums with pushchairs, they get a raw deal in my opinion, with looks and tuts etc. A couple of weeks ago our bus was crammed full with two pushchairs and toddlers at the side and bottles rolling around but we all squeezed on held our breathe and had a laugh about it. Why can't more of us be like that.
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