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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be excited about witnessing my first pushchair related fight?

53 replies

entropygirl · 16/05/2012 23:41

I don't get out much...especially not on public transport...but today I lost my pram fight cherry and witnessed actual swearing

So who was U here?

On a crowed train and I am sitting with 3 other people in the fold down chairs next to a window labelled to indicate that bicycles may also be stored here.

At the next stop a man and woman in control of a pushchair with an approx 3 yo in the front and an approx 1 yo in the back get on. They stand in the seatless area by the doors.

Next stop, a few people get off allowing the woman to sit down near me, filling the fold down chair space once more. She puts the pushchair across in front of the luggage rack.

Next stop, everyone wants off except me and the family. Half way through disembarking the woman launches herself across the carriage and start hurling abuse. It would seem that another woman attempting to gain access to the luggage rack has touched the pushchair! The infringing woman is startled and squawks 'I'm not touching your baby, I would't touch your baby" and the woman with the pushchair tells her to "fuck off and not every fucking touch her fucking pushchair" etc etc and all but chases her off the train.

The woman with the pushchair spends the entire time to the next stop chuntering alternately about people with their "sewer" hands touching her pushchair and how in reality it the fault of everyone sitting on the fold down seats for causing the problem in the first place.

So a) is it actually U to move someone's pushchair to get your luggage off a train?
b) is it U to swear at someone who has done this and chase them off the train?
c) is it all my fault for sitting on the fold down seats?

OP posts:

Original poster

entropygirl · 16/05/2012 23:42

I do realise this is almost unremittingly dull but it is my first pushchair fight...so give me a break...

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 16/05/2012 23:44

This would never have happened if they had P&C parking on trains

CrispyCod · 16/05/2012 23:45

Were any of them eating a Greggs sausage roll?

CrispyCod · 16/05/2012 23:46

Actually I'm more than impressed that no one got up from the fold down seats to make room for them.

Original poster

entropygirl · 16/05/2012 23:56

I did see some vimto if that helps?

Yeah so the not making space in the folding chair area...well to begin with they were happily parked in the vestibule area...then when getting up might have made sense, the mum sat down, which would have prevented anyone else getting up from making a difference.

OP posts:

IneedAbetterNicknameIn2012 · 16/05/2012 23:56

I moved someones suitcase last time I was on the train so me and the DC could fit ours in. I was worried the whole time that someone would shout at me for touching it

Also unhelpful

DonInKillerHeels · 16/05/2012 23:57

Well, the fold down chairs bit IS really for bicycles, prams, etc. But the womans sounds psycho. Little bit of both I think, in terms of U-ness, but the pram woman was way out of line to freak out like that.

Original poster

entropygirl · 16/05/2012 23:57

worra yup indeed....I sort of though well what if there had been a wheelchair?!?! Surely she could have folded the pushchair...but to be honest from what I can remember you may have needed an engineering degree to get that thing to collapse....

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Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:00

hmmm see now Im thinking this is like the disabled space on the buses...it says disabled space all over it but the unspoken rule is that if there is no wheelchair on board prams/pushchairs are next in line.

I (being all naive about public transport) saw the bike sign and thought, right well if I see a bike I will move...and did not even consider the idea that pushchairs also had priority....

OP posts:

Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:01

Would have moved if asked! But everyone seemed very happy with the arrangements until freak out occurred...then it was everyone's fault...well everyone's except one of course...

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CrispyCod · 17/05/2012 00:03

Actually OP on my train no one moves from the fold down chairs if a pushchair gets on. There's always as space at the end of the carriage. If not then I would certainly move to allow enough room for a pushchair to fit but not extra for the adult to sit with it.

IneedAbetterNicknameIn2012 · 17/05/2012 00:06

While we are talking about trains, do you have to pay for dogs? And if you do, does that mean they are 'entitled' to use a seat?

wherearemysocks · 17/05/2012 00:10

I wouldn't move from a fold down seat to make room for a pushchair, unless there was no room for it to get on the train otherwise. Nor would I expect anyone to move for me if I got on with my buggy.

The woman sounds deranged though, if people were trying to get to the luggage rack why wouldn't you just move you buggy out the way and then put it back when everyone was off?

Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:17

Well I think the problem was that someone touched her pushchair...and it could be argued that you should ask someone to move it rather than do so yourself...

That was my main reason for posting really....is it really that great a sin to move someone's pushchair (given the two kids where in it).

On a crowded train I'm not sure how you would even know who to ask?

OP posts:

Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:17

ack were not where...

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CrispyCod · 17/05/2012 00:20

She does sound slightly unhinged doesn't she. You would think that when she noticed the passenger trying to make room for the additional buggy that she would have come forward to help rather than abuse! Poor kid having an aggressive parent like that.

WorraLiberty · 17/05/2012 00:25

from what I can remember you may have needed an engineering degree to get that thing to collapse

I think that's the funniest thing about all these 'travel systems'

They don't travel very bloody well do they?

Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:31

I will be avoiding them to the point of not having any more children I think...

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Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:33

crispy yeah...I really really try not to think things like poor poor kids...but it is hard sometimes. and then i feel shit all day for judging when I am so very far from perfect.

but then I remember the vimto. I mean that HAS to be wrong....

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Longdistance · 17/05/2012 00:42

See, I don't get the coldness of the Uk with ppl who won't move for prams. Here in Oz, ppl just jump out the way before they get run over
I thought the fold down seats were for disabled, and prams/bikes. Were you either?
Or were you just being a lazy arse!
I'd say the mum could have already been on another train with inconsiderate passengers, and was a tad fed up by now.
Lack of sleep does funny things to you!

Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:48

long so if you got on a train that had no seats available except the fold downs (for a 2.5 hour journey) and there were no bikes or prams you would still stand?

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Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:50

I'll move if I'm asked but I am not going to jump up for someone who is happily arranged in the vestibule area.

OP posts:

Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 00:51

Oh and the fold downs are NOT for the disabled at all. They are flimsy and hard and the priority seats are the first proper comfy seats in the carriage.

OP posts:

CheshireDing · 17/05/2012 01:34

I think if I got on a train with my pram I would not expect to sit down too because I would be obsessed about the pram being in the way. Also even if I folded the chassis the pram bit is still the same size anyway so no room will really be gained, plus DD is too little to sit in a chair on her own whilst I fold it - sorry waffling now.

In a nutshell I would have just got on the train and tried to stand out of the way, wherever that may be. Who cares if they touch the pram to get their suitcase, as long as they don't have grubby mits of course .

Ineed I have taken our dog on the train a couple of times too from Manchester to Wolverhampton. It's free but I was specifically told he cannot sit on the seats

Original poster

entropygirl · 17/05/2012 13:45

I think my first reaction to someone touching my pushchair would be one of 'oh sorry let me get that our of your way' and probably not 'oi don't you fucking touch my fucking pushchair' but you never know till it happens I suppose....

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