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?

FWIW, I live in a city and on occasions when I need to use a bus, I always use a sling. Much, much easier especially if your DD is only six months.

As anyone with a sensible buggy will tell you, to fold a buggy with a 6 month old baby, you hold the baby in one arm and you fold the buggy with the other.

I lived in a village with no pavements, walking at least 3 -5 miles per day, and had first a M&P Pliko (the umbrella folding type) and then a very very basic Maclaren once my DCs didn't need to lie flat.

The ONLY person I knew who really NEEDED an all terrain buggy was the professiona dogwalker who used to take her twins out across the fields for 5-10 miles per day with the dogs. For anyone who does serious hiking with only one baby, get a baby backpack. For anyone who does their walking on paved surfaces, you and the baby will do just fine with a basic umbrella-fold buggy which can be folded with one hand to get onto a bus.

I understood what you were trying to ask op

Its funny, this section looks like it might be the place to ask questions about buggies/ wheelchairs

Its not however... as you have now found out!

Sorry if you have just joined ...the vitriol here is a bit shocking when you are new. :)

And if you have chosen a buggy that you CAN'T fold with one hand, then that is no excuse not to let a wheelchair user on to the bus and to take your place. You have a choice - and made an impractical one. They do not have a choice.

OP - if you can't fold one-handed you either put the baby down on the floor on a muslin, or ask someone else to hold him/her for you.
It is not easy, it is a pain in the neck, especially if the bus is crowded and you have shopping in the buggy, but it is perfectly possible. If you find it too hard you need to plan in advance and have a system such as a sling you put the baby in just for the bus ride, or an easily-folding buggy, or you fold the buggy at the bus stop when you have more time and space.
A few years ago most of the buses round me had high steps and no spaces at all for wheelchairs or buggies; it's thanks to the disability legislation that this has improved and it didn't happen to make lives easier for parents (though I'm sure the bus companies were happy this was a side-effect), it happened because disabled people have to get to work etc.
Basically, nice as it would be to have a guaranteed buggy space so we could never expect to have to fold the buggy, it's not how things are and it's probably not feasible, and certainly not for big buggies.

I used an ENORMOUS buggy. Walked around 4 miles a day, loaded my shopping under it (it could carry this much: )

If going on a bus or tube I either used a very cheap umbrella fold or a sling.

Big buggies have no place on crowded transport.

"Could I have held my baby and folded up my pushchair? I don't think so - she is 6 months old."

Why can't you hold a 6 month old?

Have none of you ever been in the same postion as me?

Have you ever been in a wheelchair, OP?

My guess is that you have not. Why not have a bit of gratitude that you are able-bodied?

Thanks for upsetting me a lot.

And thanks in return for upsetting me, as the wife of someone who has to use a wheelchair, and for whom all travel is immensely difficult. Learn to fold up your pushchair, at least you have choices.

I used to give the baby to the driver! They werent allowed to help with the buggy, but were usually quite happy to hellp in this way. If they didnt, then Id find a helpful fellow passenger! Get a grip!

Ffs, op, you ABVU!

I use the bus all the time and yep, it's a pita to fold up the buggy, especially when there isn't anywhere to put it on the newer buses, BUT Jesus, if a wheelchair user wants on then you bloody well get off the bus and let them have the space.

You can't hold your baby and fold a buggy? My heart bleeds for you. Thousands of women are in your position every day and manage without discriminating against wheelchair users.

oh bless the op was upset
how sad.
so selfish people don't like being called selfish
diddums

Clicked too soon....

Of course it's a PITA to hold a baby and fold up a buggy but it's more of PITA to not be able to walk, you selfish woman.

Sadly when DS was 6 months I'd of been incapable of holding him/ folding up buggy/stowing it on a bus too but I'd of gotten off for a wheelchair user.

Sorry, OP, but YABVU even if you didn't realise it at the time (you probably do now). Yes, most of us have in fact been in your position before (the clue is in the name - Mumsnet) and so we all know that folding up a buggy, whilst a pain, is perfectly possible in most circumstances. If your buggy is so big and unwieldy that you cannot fold it, then you should not take it on packed buses.

I am old enough to have had babies in the days when you HAD to fold a buggy to even get on the train (old fashioned narrow swing out doors) or alight a bus (Routemasters) and we (mothers) managed. Poor WC users were unable to access public transport at all. I think that says it all about who can compromise here. I for one am glad that things have moved on to also make life easier for mothers with children when the WC space is not needed by a WC user, but please don't make a fuss if you are asked to move!

I walk as much as possible and s/times get public transport.
OP, I do feel for you since I think we should be able to ride on a bus with our buggies. And to not have to fold them (utter arse). I'm with you on this.
But you'll feel differently when your child is 2 years old and you'll be foot-loose and fancy free and no longer have this 'dilemma', whereas those in wheelchairs still will...
Come and move to London where there are lots of child friendly/disabled spaces on the tube. Or if this happens again, walk, as someone else said.
That's probably the answer.

Many more people want to defend wheelchair users on buses than lifts, I see.

Anyway, OP so are yawnably unreasonable.

''I think you've got the wrong end of the point I was trying to make''

I disagree OP - your original post asked the question ''Should we mums with our pushchairs be given the same priority as wheelchairs?'' The answer is of course NO.

As the buses were running so frequently could you not have done the decent thing and got off in order to let the wheelchair user on?

Shocking.

Kladdkaka - tails!

This is why everyone should own several pushchairs.

One for walking in muddy place, one for taking on public transport, one for shopping centres.

Damn. You win. And it was such a cool name.

perhaps they should just learn to hold their baby/child

Tell you what, Klad - you can have the name as long as I can keep hanging out behind your sofa.

I don't think it's that unusual not being able to hold your baby and fold your buggy at the same time - I certainly couldn't with 2 of the 3 buggies I have owned. But there are plenty of ways to deal with it.