to think not folding a buggy to make way for a wheelchair user on a bus is despicable?

[Zara1984]

Just watching Channel 4 news here and a focus piece on public transport accessibility for disabled people.

Apparently one of the biggest users for wheelchair users is parents with buggies not folding them to make way for wheelchair users. This startled me - surely there are not really parents out there who refuse to fold down their buggies to make way for a person in a wheelchair??? Seriously? What kind of twat does that?

AIBU to think that any parent who does this is not a nice human being?

Does this actually happen???

Or people actually caring about other people and not putting their pushchair full of shopping and NO DC into a wheelchair space.

You shouldn't have to be TOLD to be considerate should you.

Sadly we seem to live in a world where if something inconviences us, we don't do it, and fuck everyone else who suffers because of it.

TantrumsAndBalloons (yes I could type TAB but that is too close to that abhorrent acronym for my liking)

Why would you report?
Because you insinuated I made the reference "nastily" (for heavens sake! grow up!)

Clarification of my usage of the phrase disabled camp ? I merely alluded to the very vocal group of posters, from whatever sphere of special needs experience. I am quite sure you knew exactly what I meant.

All clear now?

Over and out.

No everlong. That's wrong. What if the wheelchair user has somewhere they need to be?

But it is black and white.

It's irrelevant what reason anyone has.
If its a wheelchair space, you have to move.

It sounded a very nasty thing to say IMHO.

there were other ways of saying it.
But tbh, having a debate like this is a waste of everyone's time.
Simply because of your attitude.

But it is black and white . The spaces are there for wheelchair users, you can use it for your buggy/pushchair if it's empty and continues to be empty for the rest of your journey, but once a wheelchair user gets on the bus then you must move. Why are people arguing this?

Isn't it just common bloody sense and decency?

topic of the month again?

But that's exactly my point TantrumsAndBalloons ? we aren't having a debate because no-one will countenance anything anyone has to say unless they agree with you (collectively) 100%. Fudging the issue with semantics about a collective noun is ridiculous. Many, many posts have been supportive (including my own, if you care to look back) but because they suggest others have needs too, they are shot down in flames.
That's why it's a waste of time, and I don't intend to waste any more of mine.

ShirleyKnot I think people may be arguing because who is going to enforce the "must".

ItsAll - well it should be enforced by the bus driver, although I don't think they HAVE to enforce it.

This argument which has been rumbling on and on for days and days doesn't appear to be about enforcement.

But yet you are still here?

Sorry, it's wholly irrelevant what anyone else's needs are.

It's a wheelchair space.

It doesnt matter if you are late, tired, have 5 DCs, shopping, you have the option to walk, or ask for help whilst you fold the pushchair.

A person in a wheelchair has no option other than waiting for another bus

So?

It matters to me that I get home from work because I'm tired and I want to catch Judge Judy on the TV. That doesn't give me the right to barge onto a bus in front of an old lady because after all, it's not as if SHE'S been at work all day is it?

I know many other posters have made similar points, but I totally agree with ShirleyKnot's summary: 'But it is black and white. The spaces are there for wheelchair users, you can use it for your buggy/pushchair if it's empty and continues to be empty for the rest of your journey, but once a wheelchair user gets on the bus then you must move. Why are people arguing this?

Isn't it just common bloody sense and decency?'

I have 3 dc and theres no way I could fold my buggy on the bus, juggle bags etc and I dont want to pass my children around a few different strangers on a bus.

If a wheelchair user needs to use the spacethen I get off the bus and wait for the next one. No questions asked.

I often think when going round london how unbeaably difficult it must be in a wheelchair - high kerbs, bad parking, no lift for the tube and even if there is, the massive gapbetween train and platform, crowded buses erc. It must be so tiring and annoying and depressing. At least buses are a fairly easy way of getting round in a wheelchair (i imagine, but no experience so not sure) and really anyone with a buggy who doesnt move for a wheelchair sems to me to be doind a very selfish thing.

Not once in all of the threads about this has anyone considered that a person in a wheelchair may look at a stressed out parent (in the case of the last thread on this with two babies in double buggy a and a toddler on a busy bus) with x amount of kids and think "do you know what I'll wait for the next bus". Why does it have to be a competition about who's worse off or who's entitled to the space etc. Yes, I would fold my buggy or get off the bus because I have one child and I would never be in that situation. Some situations are unique and should be taken on a case-by-case basis. Why does this have to pit the person in a wheelchair against the mum and the kids. Both parties in any given situation can apply manners and basic human decency being that they are adults surely?

KellyElly yes they have that's been done to death already

It is wonderful if a wheelchair user feels able to do so but that is for the individual to decide and not for able bodied people to assume.

Wheelchair users should not be guilt tripped into being left on the pavement waiting for the next bus which may be half an hour + away.

Kelly, how exactly is the person in the wheelchair (or in fact the person behind them pushing) supposed to be able to see around corners to where the parent is?

It's bloody hard work getting on public transport in a wheelchair, i very much doubt there'd be either time or opportunity for the chair user/carer to see if there's anyone in their seat before boarding and paying!

madmouse I live in London so am probably speaking from a perspective where a bus turns up very frequently.

PurplePidjin where I live the wheelchair ramp access ramp is on the second door and goes straight in to where the buggys are parked and wheelchair users travel free.