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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think thats its ridiculous that buses don't have to have space for wheelchairs and pushchairs?

90 replies

Sarz84 · 28/07/2011 11:36

Today I decided I was going to venture into town to meet a friend, I don't drive and live rurally where the buses only run every hour. After rushing round like a headless chicken I managed to make it to the bus stop in time, however much to my annoyance when the bus doors opened the driver simply said "no space for buggys on this bus".
Well to say I was annoyed is an understaement, I politely enquired whether the next bus would have space but the driver had "no idea love".
I can't believe that in modern society that public transport is still unaccesable to certain groups of people. Had I been in a wheelchair I would have also have been left waiting and hoping the next one could take me. It seems stupid that the government want us to use public transport yet its not possible for everyone to use it through no fault of their own!!

OP posts:

whoneedssleepanyway · 28/07/2011 12:16

If you think of the buses with the space for 2 unfolded pushchairs you could get a lot more folded pushchairs in that area....in my experience you can generally get at least 3 (sometimes even 4) Maclarens on a bus if the driver isn't too bothered about one of them being in the aisle bit near the front (so people can still get out at the back)...

TadlowDogIncident · 28/07/2011 12:24

That would work if the other pushchairs on the bus were Maclarens - usually the scenario where I might be folding my pushchair (and end up getting off and walking) is where someone gets on with an enormous pram and gives me the evil eye for daring to be there and using the pushchair space. I don't want to leave my folded pushchair behind the enormous pram, because I won't be able to get it out again one-handed if I need to get off before the EP's owner does, and if I leave it in front of the EP people will fall over it.

MrsPlesWearsAFez · 28/07/2011 12:28

I always used to put the folded maclaren in the footwell of the seat so it was stood up vertically by my legs.

Not particularly comfortable with small child + shopping as well, but sometimes needs must.

TadlowDogIncident · 28/07/2011 12:30

Ah, that assumes you can get a seat! This is London...

NestaFiesta · 28/07/2011 12:32

I don't think the OP was given the option of folding, she was simply refused entry on to the bus. Also, some people on here are calling mums with unfolded pushchairs lazy. I don't think that's fair.

Also- the "take a sling" suggestion is great for small babies but my 19 mo is 26lbs and I can't breathe with him in a sling once he hit about 14lb (asthma). Not everyone gets on with slings.

Buses should be equipped for disabled people with or without wheelchairs. I don't fold my pushchair in advance of a bus coming since buses come at unreliable times and then you have bags, free range toddler and folded pushchair on a busy bus stop. Why are people so anti Mums with pushchairs? They're just parents trying to go about their day.

(caveat- it makes no sense to have a bloody massive 4x4 pushchair and try and get on a bus unless it's kind of unplanned emergency i.e car broke down, torrential rain etc)

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 28/07/2011 12:38

I said it's laziness, because ten years ago none of us would gave been remotely bothered about being prepared for getting on a 'normal' bus. Low floor buses were not designed for prams and trollies. They were designed for disabled access and allow, where possible, other wheeled stuff to utilise the space too. If you can fold, why not? I had a friend who would never fold her pushchair, even when her child was three and a half. She preferred to wait three quarters of an hour or so for another bus. That is lazy.

Bearcrumble · 28/07/2011 12:42

The other day I was on a London bus with an older but by no means ancient woman with a trolley in the wheelchair/pram bit and she didn't move it. A pregnant woman got on with a pram without a brake on it that could have fitted in the space but couldn't because of the trolley and my mclaren - I offered to hold the buggy for pregnant lady while she sat and trolley woman just sat there. I thought I'd shame her into moving but she didn't give a shit.

Nesta - fair enough about the 4x4s when there is one kid, but what about the women with small age gaps and double buggies? To be honest it pisses me off a bit that one person is taking up the whole of the buggy space (if a double gets on first then no one else can) but I suppose it is two children and it's the first two so they get first dibs.

NestaFiesta · 28/07/2011 12:49

Bear: point a) that's shocking about the lady with the trolley!, point b) that's fair comment but sometimes that's just life.

If a bus comes and two pushchairs are already on it I shrug and either get the next one or walk. Although to be honest I only ever catch the bus if there is tons of shopping and I have both kids with me. The walk home is really knackering then.

It's just life. I accept it if two people get on a bus before me with unfolded buggies, I don't think they're lazy or annoying. I can't reserve a bus or make them take their bags off the handles and remove their child etc so I can take my bags off, remove my child, fold the buggy and then get on the bus, I just let it go. It's fine by me. I feel a camaraderie with tired pushchair mums with lots of shopping. They got there first, shit happens. the next bus is 12 mins or I can walk.

cherryteat · 28/07/2011 12:56

I have a disability and a lightweight mclaren buggy and I find it virtually impossible to fold up the buggy and hold a child at the same time. I do not have the strength to activate the folding mechanism on my own and usually the bus driver is already driving whilst I am in this dilemma. Add to this the fact that the drivers rarely lower the step for ease of pushchair users mounting & dismounting.
I don't 'look' disabled & find it awkward & embarrassing having to explain my disabled status everytime & it's horrible when I do and drivers shrug their shoulders anyway!
Plus there is the added bonus of passengers just staring!
I have had other mothers get huffy with me when I can't move quick enough to accomodate them and their pushchair, one woman dramatically looking at passengers as if to say 'what makes her so different, we're all in the same boat' or that could just be my paranoia!

ChaoticAngelofGryffindor · 28/07/2011 12:57

I have to agree with ProcrastinatorGeneral, at least in some cases, it's laziness. On my bus route there are a couple of wheel chairs users who occasionally use the bus but most of the time if the space is used it's used by prams. Some of these are pushchairs that can be folded and have children aged 2/3 in them but the parents, in most cases, choose to wait.

I have to agree with the bigger prams too. Here I've seen people with large prams, such as this, on the bus.

NestaFiesta · 28/07/2011 12:59

Cherryteat makes a good point- the driver is already driving. Bus drivers have strict targets on timing and will not wait for you to fold the pushchair, put it out of the way, find a seat, tuck your bags away and hold your child on your lap. At least with an unfolded pushchair your child has a seat belt on!

worraliberty · 28/07/2011 13:02

They should have to make space for wheelchairs but not buggies

Being able to leave a buggy up on a bus, only came about 10 or so years ago

How do you think us oldies managed before then?

ChaoticAngelofGryffindor · 28/07/2011 13:05

It was about 14 years around here. I remember because my DD at the time was 3 and she's 17 now. Another oldie here :)

NestaFiesta · 28/07/2011 13:08

Worra- just because it wasn't around 10 years ago doesn't mean anyone is allowed to enjoy the benefits of change. Should we do away with softplay because it wasn't around ten years ago? Or carseats? Things move on. Buses without room for pushchairs just make life a bit trickier and it's tricky enough.

There are far too many cars on the road. Making public transport better will improve this. Not making room for pushchairs is a bit mean.

worraliberty · 28/07/2011 13:13

No of course not Nesta but that doesn't make it 'ridiculous' when buses don't provide space for buggies.

The space set aside can seat 4 people and as you say there are far too many cars on the road.

Kladdkaka · 28/07/2011 13:15

How come people with shopping trollies are getting knocked here. Is there some pecking order of non-disabled wheelie thingamajigs I don't know about

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 28/07/2011 13:15

I used to have a silver cross sleepover. I walked everywhere

nojustificationneeded · 28/07/2011 13:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RitaMorgan · 28/07/2011 13:19

Some buses have steps so you can't get a wheelchair or buggy on (plus no space on the bus either). There's a route near me that has steps with a bar in the middle so it's not wide enough to even bump a buggy up the steps. Ridiculous!

Kladdkaka · 28/07/2011 13:27

Don't assume that some bus companies aren't doing their bit for disabled people. They are required by law to make 'reasonable adjustments'. I used to live in a rural area and none of the buses had wheelchair access. The cost of adapting the few rural buses versus the number of disabled users made it unreasonable. Instead the bus company offered mobility bus which worked like a taxi, you rang up and booked it, except you only paid the normal bus fare.

Graciescotland · 28/07/2011 13:27

I think buses are becoming more accessible to wheelchair users and buggies. When I lived in Edinburgh the newest rolling stock had a designated wheelchair space and buggy space. Older buses had one wheelchair space which was used by buggies if available. Oldest buses had no disabled access.

I'm now in Amsterdam and you see the same thing on the trams/ buses. Some lines run with new trams and have wheelchair space and buggy space and double door for access. Some lines have old trams with narrow doors and stairs.
I assume that over time all transport will be accessible, however it may take decades before completion given the life of a vehicle IYSWIM

MillyR · 28/07/2011 13:31

I was like the OP ten years ago. I had a baby and a toddler and lived (still live) in a rural area with 1 bus an hour that did not have pushchair access, and no car. I folded the pushchair up before the bus arrived. That is what everybody used to do. This is what everybody still does on the local trains, where unfolded buggies are banned.

Cherryteat, my DH is in the same situation as you. I don't know how to resolve the issues you've brought up. I would suggest taking your disability badge on to the bus in order to get people with buggys to stop being cross with you, but I know DH wouldn't want to do that as he finds it embarrassing to have to point out his disability.

ChaoticAngelofGryffindor · 28/07/2011 13:36

ProcrastinatorGeneral I used to have a silver cross sleepover. I walked everywhere

They don't nowadays, well not round here they don't. The first time I saw someone push one of these prams on the bus I was surprised they managed to get it into the space.

Original poster

Sarz84 · 29/07/2011 11:28

Thanks for all your replies, there was no designated space for pushchairs or wheelchairs. I also don't see why I should fold up the pushchair and hold my 9 week old baby, its illegal to do this in a car so shouldn't be allowed on a bus. I tried again today and this time a coach turned up!!

OP posts:

ZZZenAgain · 29/07/2011 11:31

I saw a picture of a bus in NZ once (an old picture so perhaps they don't do this anymore) where many buggies were hung off th back of the bus. I suppose in those days the conductor would have hung them up and taken them down for the parents when they got off the bus

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