to think these people were selfish and rude.

[cakeoclock]

The push chair v wheelchair on a bus just reminded me what happened this weekend.

I was christmas shopping with friends (one in a wheelchair) in Harvey Nicks Leeds and it was pretty busy. We stood waiting for the lift, the doors opened and it was rammed full of people (no push chairs). Not one of the miserable gits got out to make space for the wheelchair just looked away until the doors shut and we had to wait ages for another lift. There were escalators less than a minute walk from the lift.

AIBU to think that this is lazy, selfish and awful and to hope if any of you are reading you feel ashamed.

But she doesn't know that the lift isn't full of people who NEED to use it? Does she?

But people in a lift are not preventing the wheelchair user from shopping, it is not the same as taking the space on a bus- it just means they may have to wait a minute or two long to get in the lift- not that they can't go up and down at all! If I get in a lift to go to the top floor, which is a perfectly reasonable thing for people to do, believe it or not, and it stops on the 'inbetween' floors where a wheelchair user is waiting, I doubt I would get out to let them get in, I would imagine they could wait a couple of minutes for the next one, along with the rest of the people waiting (and no-one urgently needs to get anywhere in Harvey Nicks, do they??)
And ENTITLED?? Pah! listen to yourselves!

This last half term I visited the Science Museum in London with my three autistic children. Two are wheelchair users.

We were queuing for the lift. We were at the FRONT of the queue. When the lift arrived everyone else surged forward, pushing us out of the way to get in first.

Seeing some of the attitudes on this thread I can see why that happened.

A wheelchair user cannot use a moving escalator. That option was available which is why the OP is absolutely NBU.

I remember once at the Tate Modern on a busy day there were perfectly good stairs and escalators, but we had to wait for the lift to come and go about five times before we and other parents could get pushchairs in.

I would always use an escalator or flight of stairs in preference when I can- only use a lift if I can't find another way out! Perhaps some of this is down to design of buildings and shops. If lifts stairs and escalators are all together then you can choose.

Onefatcat I would explain the problem with your argument, but actually I just need to refer you to maryz's post two up from yours.

Rumple you only have to read all the posts from people here who don't need to use the lift but still wouldn't get out to realise that at least one person with no need to be was in the full lift and didn't get out x

Tate Modern is particularly under served with lifts (partly because the escalators bypass one of the floors completely. On a busy day a non-climber can be there for ages.

Oh and I would say the same for prams. They can't be taken up escalators so yes lifts should be priority for those unable to use staircases whether standard ones or moving ones, if there is an alternative option available.

Yanbu

Before I had kids and needed buggies it would never have occurred to me to use lifts, didn't even know where they were.

Some attitudes on here stink, if able bodied people used stairs/escalators then it would free up the lifts for those who really need them whether it be disabled, old folk or mums with buggies. And for those saying wait, maybe that person in the wheelchair would be waiting a long time if every lift was full of folk who could take the stairs or escalator.

Glitterknickaz tbh I think you have to just push through people like that, we are "lucky" as dd is a seating system and the foot plate has a steel surrond, so that would soon clear a path.

wow, I'm really surprised at some of the shockingly bad attitudes in evidence on this thread.
YANB at all U, not even a little bit

Loving stealthpenguins post of 15:40

YABU.
Being in a wheelchair doesn't give you any sort of priority. It would have been polite granted for them to have gotten out and let your friend in, but I don't think there is any kind of onus on them to do so.

Incidentally, I don't really agree with wheel chair users having priority on buses either.

First come, first served.

How depressing

Could be worse - last time we had this fight thread an able bodied poster was incredibly offended at the idea of having to see a polite little sign asking those who could use the stairs to do so. An all time low for MN IMO.

It is grim isn't it.

People get up and walk around thinking 'fuck everyone else, don't tell me what to do, your not in charge'

It's like all empathy just disappeared

The trouble is that most people seem to be in their own little bubble. It just doesn't occur to them at all.

Similar (tho not so vital) thing this weekend in Ikea. You are not allowed to take the flatbed trolleys on the travelator thingy. Right next to it are the lifts. As we were fighting our trolley over to the lifts, a couple carrying a small plastic bag got into a lift and shut the doors. No trolley. It was ages before it came back up, by which time there was a big queue of people with heavy things on trolleys who are not allowed on the travelator and can't get out of the shop any other way

Jesus, when I'm out and about I DELIBERATELY use the stairs or escalator so that I leave the lifts free for this who need it. Is this too difficult a concept for some to understand. Use the bloody stairs and escalators if you can.

In fact use the bloody stairs if you can.

YANBU at all.
Well said Pagwatch!

I do the same sozzled

I do the same sober.

I do too! My DS in in a wheelchair and I think unless you have gone out with someone in a wheelchair or are using one yourself you have no idea at how frustrating it is that others are so inconsiderate. I ALWAYS stick to stairs or escalators if I'm on my own. I always have done though, I'd have thought it was quite obvious that I should do!

I'm really shocked at some of the attitudes on here, and quite a few as well, not just one or two.