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AIBU?

to think that wheelchairs should be priority on buses?

620 replies

mamadivazback · 02/08/2011 21:05

My DS and I were on the bus today coming home from the town when I noticed a woman I vaguely know to speak to in the queue behind about 8 people with her 6YO DD who is in a narrow childs wheelchair and her DP with 2 year old son in small stroller so we waved, as you do.

Now the bus was about half full and 2 girls got on with their children in pushchairs, one with a very large Emmaljunga type and the other with a stroller and both children were happily sitting up by themselves and looked to be about 18 months old but neither thought to fold their pushchair when the lady tried to get her DD on, she had taken her DS out so she could fold pushchair and all sit together but the bus driver told her she could not get on as there were already 2 pushchairs onboard so she had to wait behind in the rain for the next bus.

I know pushchairs are entitled to use the bus but I thought you had to fold them if a wheelchair user was getting on and was quite shocked when the bus driver refused her a ticket, I spoke to her later on and she said it has happened a few times and it's just bad luck but I really don't think it's fair.

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Maryz · 05/08/2011 22:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kladdkaka · 05/08/2011 23:03

BunnyWunny the sign may not specify priority but the Disability Discrimation Act does. Wheelchair users have the legally mandated right to use that space, buggy pushers don't.

2shoes · 05/08/2011 23:05

goblin :o

BunnyWunny · 05/08/2011 23:13

I think you will find that the driver has the right to ask other passengers to move if there is space, if there is not space for other passengers to vacate the space, then the driver should refuse the wheelchair user access access. The wheelchair does not take priority over existing passengers.

2shoes · 05/08/2011 23:15

of course sod the person in a wheelchair, let them rot ffs.
so glad I am going on a mn break, you never know when I get back, people might actually realise being in a wheelchair is not a life style choice

Maryz · 05/08/2011 23:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BunnyWunny · 05/08/2011 23:23

No I wouldn't, and like I said I use buses every day and have never seen a wheelchair user turned away, just trying to give a balanced view to those that that seem to think disabled people have the ultimate right to everything above anyone else which seems to be the prevailing view on this thread, and doesn't really reflect my experience of reality.

Kladdkaka · 05/08/2011 23:26

BunnyWunny · 05/08/2011 23:28

SiamoFottuti · 05/08/2011 23:36

yeah, those lucky bastard disabled people, always get everything their own way. Sense of fucking entitlement or what?

hester · 05/08/2011 23:39

Michaela, one thing you seem to have missed is that wheelchair space is not giving wheelchair users an advantage because usually it is the ONLY space they can use. Able-bodied passengers have the whole ruddy bus. The wheelchair space is not a luxury, it is a small taste of what others take for granted.

And nobody is talking about kicking people off the bus. They're saying that if you have a buggy that you are not prepared to fold, your other choice is to leave the bus.

hester · 05/08/2011 23:39

My word, this thread has gone mad.

Pixel · 05/08/2011 23:42

I'm curious which sort of prams don't fold, why would you buy something that you can't even put in the boot of your car, let alone on a bus or train?

LifeHope11 · 05/08/2011 23:42

I have followed this thread and must say I am astounded by some of the views expressed on here....also by the length of this debate.The wheelchair space is there for wheelchairs and so if it is needed by a wheelchair user, you get out of the way! If you have a baby/young child & need to travel frequently on buses, get a buggy that folds easily as you may need to move when a wheelchair needs the space (there is a sign next to the space which explains this). This is covered by the DDA so actually you are potentially breaking the law if you refuse to give up the space to a wheelchair user.

My DS is in a wheelchair & I have endless problems in travelling on buses...mainly buggies but also shopping trolley users etc who think their needs trump those of my son regardless of what is stated on the sign right next to them. Every time I get on a bus I have the stress of wondering if I am going to get the space my DS is entitled to or just a lot of aggro/arguing.....believe me I can live without said stress, sometimes I just want to have a nice day out! PLEASE if you call yourself a decent courteous human being, just give up the DESIGNATED wheelchair space to a wheelchair user. If you think it is so terribly unfair that wheelchair users should have priority over other passengers, complain to your MP or to the bus company.

SiamoFottuti · 05/08/2011 23:43

some fold in a get-in-your-car way but not in a handy-for-the-bus way. I had one like that. When I had a car though, cos I have more than the one brain cell.

hester · 05/08/2011 23:48

I have a second hand iCandy Cherry. it doesn't fold. We walk nearly everywhere, and it is fantastically comfortable, with a huge shopping basket. I don't take it if I know we will need to get on a crowded bus.

I do also have an ancient Maclaren. Rubbish for doing a supermarket shop with, but good for buses.

The only times I have been on a crowded bus with the iCandy is when something has gone wrong with my planning, or something unexpected has occurred (e.g. call to the school) or when it has started raining hard.

So yes, it does sometimes mean I have to get off the bus and walk. But it's worth it for the other benefits.

BunnyWunny · 05/08/2011 23:50

Nobody has a whole bus though, most are full of other passengers, mostly able bodied and I am usually squeezed on my bus next to a smelly fat person, with my scarf over my nose to stop me gipping at the stench, rarely is the wheelchair space needed by a wheelchair user, and if it is everyone moves. Able bodied have to stand often, and don't even get on on regular occurences. We all live with different trials, tribulations and priorities- i don't really understand where you are all coming from where there re buses full of lovely spaces for able bodied people with lots of choices and wheechair users left on the pavement.

SiamoFottuti · 05/08/2011 23:52

Boo-hoo, isn't your life hard, imagine how tough you have it.

Pixel · 05/08/2011 23:55

Gee thanks for your sweet comment. As it happens I had one like that too but my poor one brain cell managed to work out that taking it on the bus wasn't a good idea and I bought a cheap umbrella fold buggy as well.

hester · 05/08/2011 23:58

Oh BunnyWunny, listen to yourself!

Pixel, who are you talking to?

BunnyWunny · 06/08/2011 00:00

Oh I know! I am awful, but you now I'm right. Ha!

Pixel · 06/08/2011 00:00

Oops, sorry Siamo, just re-read and realised you weren't having a go at me. You can blame the fact that I've been doing ironing which I hate so I've also had rather a lot of baileys.

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Kladdkaka · 06/08/2011 00:07

You know Siamo we really are lucky bastard people. Once upon a time (last summer) I got loads of free travel on account of being a disabled visitor to London. I wanted to catch a train from Paddington to visit my mum who I haven't seen for a few years. I got a tube to Paddington on which I was directed to the priority seating for disabled passengers. Yeah, I got a seat, other didn't, I'm so lucky.

The train pulled into Paddington but I couldn't get off. There was a footwide gap. Funnily enough, the doors away from the disabled seating seemed fine. So off I toddled down the train to another door but I was too late. The train pulled out. So I got off at the next stop but there was no way for me to get across to the return track. What to do? Nobody around to ask. After about half an hour of lurking on the empty platform a cleaner appeared. He was very helpful and told me to get back on the 'same' train and travel a few further stops, where the return train went from the other side of the same platform. Bonus: I could get the return train straight back to Paddington.

Eventually I make it to Paddington. Then wandered around the platform looking for the lift. Can't find it. Another nice man when to find a member of staff for me as I sat at the bottom of the steps looking like a numpty. Where is the lift? Over there on the other platform. How do I get there? Back the way I came, cross backover the platform at the little station and catch another train back to Paddington. Feeling not quite so lucky now, but needs must.

Eventually I get back to Paddington on the lift platform, in a carriage that actually meets up with said platform. Yippee. I'm so lucky. Trundle off to the lift. What's that I see before me? 'Lift out of service. Sorry for any inconvenience'. Arrrrrrh! At which point I abandoned my journey and returned to the hotel.

Maryz · 06/08/2011 00:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elliejjtiny · 06/08/2011 00:13

Is there something wrong with your icandy cherry? On the icandy website it says it folds easily.

This is the buggy I had for ds2 phoenix buggy

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