To think that pushchairs should have same priority as wheelchairs on buses?

[SparklyC]

Today - packed bus, I was in the pushchair bit on the bus, another mum got on with a buggy loaded with shopping. People sat in space that could have held another buggy in it didn't get up so both our pushchairs had to go in one space and my pushchair is one of those big all-terrain things! Then bus driver stopped bus for wheelchair user and asked us if either of us could fold down our pushchairs/move? Well, first of all, there wouldn't have been any room for us to sit down with our babies and also have our shopping on our knee or even stored on luggage shelf once pushchairs were on. Also the bus service I travel on has a bus every 4 minutes in the daytime. So the bus driver (who obviously has to be sen to be doing the right thing) got off the bus to tell the wheelchair user that the bus was full, and would he mind waiting for the next one, which he didn't anyway. What does everyone else think? Should we mums with our pushchairs be given the same priority as wheelchairs? Should bus drivers ask other passengers to move so that we can get on, instead of (sometimes) feeling like we are an annoyance and an obstacle to them?

Good for you I cant do that.

If a bus came along with two buggies on it already I would have to wait for the next so why cant a wheelchair user they want to be treated equally so ask them to wait if the buggies cant be folded.

Yes and I have folded my buggy too, when asked.

NotaStatistic, sorry if you have been kicked off the bus in this situation, would the buggy not be able to go in the luggage, with shopping, baby on lap and toddler next to you, if you know you are going to be on the route with the regular wheelchair users.

No because there isnt a luggage space on the buses where I live so there is no where to put them.

I know the space is for wheelchair users im just saying it should be changed to accomadte both equally and not be unfair towards parents.

unfair to parents

no, I think it is far more unfair that a person has no choice in being disabled. Unfair that they have to use a wheelchair. Unfair that a mother cannot teach her 15 month old to sit still. Unfair that a mother won't put her 15 month old in reins to hold him safe if she can't make him sit still. Unfair that a mother puts thinks her temporary inconvenience is more important than someone who is ' inconvenienced' for LIFE.

Right I thought that if there was no room for a folded pushchair in the wheelchair area (there is usually room for 1 wheelchair and 2 folded buggies), then there would be a luggage area of some sort. Unless it's like our school bus which is a coach with no space for wheelchairs or buggies!

The thing is on the whole they are pretty fair for parent's,they are wheelchair spaces, which parent's are free to use, unless a wheelchair comes on in which case the wheelchair takes priority, on most occasions the pushchair can be folded up, thus making the bus accessible for both parents and bus users in a wheelchair.

No if. Wheelchair is on there is no space.

My child can't walk yet so can't go in reins he doesn't understand still and figits too much causing me pain its not that I'm not teaching him properly.

I'm just saying it should be first come first serve you wouldn't let a wheelchair take your place in a queue if you'd been waitin for half an hour so why on a bus.

I'm sorry your child causes you pain. I imagine that a lot of wheelchair users are in pain too. For LIFE

My child is the best thing in my life not a pain. Not all people in wheelchairs are in pain either.

i know i will get flamed for this but if the bus was trully full with no other space to go to why should a disabled person have more right to be on the bus as a mother and child and the last time i looked that two people not one. disability charities fight for equality and treating them as a priority is not. if the person could have moved and folded the buggies then fair enough if not he should have waited like everyone else.

oh ffs please don't use the fact that disabled people want to be treated equally as your argument.
tis bollocks,

Yanbu i completely agree. I never really understand why not, there will be circumstances where someone has no choice but to use a pushchair and as it is difficult to know when that is, and when it will just cause inconvenience it seems fairest to just do first come first served. People should move if its possible though, as it's good to help each other.

Thank you helenfellows. Exactly my point

I didn't say your child was a pain. You said your child figets and causes you pain.

No, not all wheelchair users are in pain. I didn't say that. But if they are in a wheelchair, then they need to use that wheelchair. It's not like they have a choice.

I'm sorry you have a bad back. It's shit. But it's not forever. Disability almost certainly is. Have some compassion. Realise that not matter how crap your life/your pain is at the moment, it's going to get better and you are going to be able to do things that the disabled person will NEVER be able to do.

And if showing compassion means you take your able bodied self and your able bodied child off a bus for the sake of someone in a wheelchair, so be it.

christ, this Thread is so depressing.

Those spaces are for Disabled passangers, is it so hard to understand? Its also completely sickening that people are saying that Disability charities fight for equality, so they can wait for another bus whilst the selfish, ignorant mother stands in a wheelchair space.

Thats quite clearly not what equality rights are about, go and read up about it.

no choice but to use a pushchair

again "no choice" huh? I don't get it.

Good grief.

Well this is all pretty grim.

if you think using the fact that disabled people should be equal, means that it is ok to let a person in a WC on the bus, to use the one WC space, then you are well a knob.
having a baby is not a disability.

Wow Let's not forget if not for us wheelchair users there would not even be a space on the bus .

Because last time I checked buggies are not covered by disability act

so let me get this right disabled equals priority in all matters especially transport, cause they are in a wheelchair. i have a baby in a chair is that not a person hhhhhmmmm. both people (disabled man and baby) cant walk and are dependant on others not looking fair to me.

Ok you reckon we should be treated equal , well then that means we should be able to sit our chairs on the bus where we Like . Also if there's 2 wheelchair users in a family we should both be able to get on the same bus

No hang in out if 32 spaces one yes that's right one space is available