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?

Made me laugh, IFart.

And I was being so well behaved about the lack of a possessive apostrophe!

*Dawndonnaagain"

I've read many of your MN posts with admiration for your helpful patience and eloquence and learned so much that I didn't know I didn't know.

But I think this thread may be beyond your helpful influence now

In the nicest possible way save your responses for where they may make a difference

TyneTeas Thank you. You're absolutely right. I'm off to bed now. Been waiting for dd to be ready so that I can help her.

Mumsnet keeps saying "babies are very portable"
Well, wheelchair users are not portable

We should all support wheelchair passengers if ever a bus driver doesn't want to stop, or a selfish parent doesn't want to vacate a designated wheelchair space

Because there are still some entitled fuckwits who insist their temporary convenience is more important than a wheelchair user being able to use buses.

Dawndonna I always admire your courage & patience in supporting disability rights.
Thank you for explaining so clearly time & time again, but I'm sorry you have to keep doing so
You must feel it's Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day indeed. It worries me that there are people bringing up children who think that wheelchair and buggy users are the same and are completely incapable of understanding the concept of equality of opportunity.

Tbh if two of you are in the pushchair bit and people are in the wheelchair bit he should have moved the people in the wheelchair bit surely? I don't actually know why they can't take two pushchairs and a person using a wheelchair so long as the wheelchair is on the correct side and safe.

What would you have done OP if the person in the wheelchair had insisted on being on?

I have a child in a pushchair and can't collapse due to his equipment however I'd get off if I saw asked to.

However it is sodding annoying when 4 buses go past with 2 buggies on each and you know that a) they can safely fit three b) at least one of those buggies contains no child because said child is running around the bus

but I've been in a situation similar to this and no they can't they can only arrest you for disturbing the peace they wont do that they have better things to do

It the situation is that some stupid parent is refusing to vacate a buggy space or to get off the bus when the driver asks her to, absolutely the police can and will arrest you. Bear in mind that the driver is entitled to refuse to move till you get off.

most sensible decent human being a wouldn't push a tiny baby off a bus

You make it sounds like the baby would be chucked out into the gutter. The reality is that the baby is comfortably wrapped up in its buggy and really doesn't care if it's on the bus or off it.

my duty is too ssmall baby so no not moving off that bus

Why would you be failing in your duty to the baby if you either folded the buggy or got off the bus? The baby isn't going to notice.

I said you don't always know the situation with wheelchair users so I think they should be equal

But, Lallasmummy, how will you ever make a wheelchair user equal to a baby in a buggy? The baby will grow up and will only need a buggy for a short time; the wheelchair user is in that chair for ever. The buggy can be folded, the wheelchair can't. The baby is with a carer that can look after his interests, many wheelchair users are on their own. The baby is probably healthy and comfortable, many wheelchair users are in pain. If a wheelchair user has to wait in the cold and wet for a long time for a bus, he may well get painful contractures, seizures, and chest infections. The baby can be wrapped up warmly and kept dry.

Most importantly, that space is therefore the wheelchair user, not the buggy. End of discussion, really.

Lailasmummy, do tell us what was rude about pointing out that the difference between disabled people and babies is that disabled people may, if forced to wait in the cold for too long, become ill and even die? Are you really that uncomfortable with the truth?

When mine were little I had a new born and a 1 year old there weren't any wheelchair spaces. I used to hold baby and toddler in reigns and fold my double buggy... and I have serious upper limb disabilities.

Society seems to have a sense of entitlement these days. No one owes you anything. It's a wheelchair space for a reason.

To those calling out the bus driver they have strict policies to follow. Which have recently got stricter and although they can insist people move and wait a period they aren't allowed to wait indefinetly nor are they allowed to do anything to make them move. So its still an issue that needs addressing at policy level.

A bit off the point I know but if I, as an able-bodied person, got off a bus for whatever reason and got on a following bus my original ticket would not be valid. I'm pretty sure I would have to pay again for the remaining part of my journey. How does this work for mothers and buggies who get off to enable a wheelchair user to travel?
Conductors used to help fold buggies, ensure the elderly were seated before the driver drove off etc. I am pretty sure they would get people to move from designated seating areas etc. Pity they will never bring them back.

It's not about being selfish, it's about people being equal. Why do wheelchairs users have more priory then babies, they shouldn't, it should be the same

And you can't see the flaw in your nonlogic here?

I fear for the next generation when I read posts like this, on threads like this.

So do I OfftheCuff

Unfortunately Lailasmummy is one of many ignorant people. Facebook is crawling with them.

Alley, the driver issues you with a transfer ticket before you get off the bus.

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