Near fall with baby on tube - is anyone BU or was it just a mishap?

[Tiddlyompompom]

I recently had a nightmare tube journey into London - I'd called TfL and carefully planned the journey to the nth degree, as I was travelling with 1yo DS in his pram loaded up with stuff for a week away, so was taking a step-free route.

Turns out it wasn't step free after all, but a kind suit helped me carry the buggy up a flight of stairs at one station, only for me to find the lift at the next station only went down to the wrong line - and I'd have to take the buggy down the escalators.
I have previously been told off by TfL staff for doing this with DH holding the other end, so was very unwilling to try it on my own again (esp as buggy was new and heavily loaded so I'm not used to its balance yet), so I went up to three tube staff having a chat by the ticket gates and asked them how i should get down to the platform.
They told me to use the escalator, I said I couldn't with the buggy, they insisted, I asked them to help me, they refused saying it was easy to do and no problem.
So, I get on the escalator, the buggy catches, the weight tips forward and we both nearly fall down the escalator. I scream for someone to help me, v nice lady grabs hold of the buggy and keeps hold all the way down (while a queue of aggrieved passengers builds up behind her), and we have a bit of a pile up at the bottom while I struggle to get the buggy off and out of the way.
DS was fine, he woke up and cried when we tipped, but was fine after that. I cried for the next hour, I was so shocked.

I just can't believe I nearly had such a stupid accident, and can't figure out if I WBU in that I clearly got on the escalator the wrong way or something, or if the tube staff were BU for not wanting to assist me.

I've been into town plenty of times on a familiar step free route with no trouble at all, and this has really freaked me out. :( And WTF do I do next time?

Sorry this is so long, it's still upsetting me when I imagine what could have happened without that woman's help, and I'm half torn between complaining to TfL, or just trying to write it all off as a really bad day.

Poulay I've just had a good look at that step-free map and it's really useful, thank you!

Sorry you had a fright. I've also used my pushchair on escalators and held on for dear life. I was told in Paddington by TFL staff, as they passed me carrying DD1 plus her pushchair up a flight of stairs, that they aren't allowed help carry pushchairs, as someone else mentioned. I try to get the bus where possible, easier but often slower.

sounds scary.
i had a near miss with a buggy on an escalator once. it caught on the top step and i sort of had to start running backwards while i detangled it. if there had been anyone behind me there would have been a pile-up, but luckily the shop was deserted.

TBH that put me right off taking a buggy on an escalator. when i used the tube, i always carried the buggy up (picked the whole thing up rather than bumping IYSWIM) the staircase between the up and down escalators. invariably someone offered to help.

forevergreek, fucking hell, you sling a 2 year old on your back and a one year old on your front? A newborn baby feels like a ton of bricks after a few weeks, so god knows how you manage that. I'd put my back out seriously!

a good sling (or two) is all you need. It's amazing how easy it can be to carry a lot of weight when you have a good sling.

I would make a complaint about the staff - its not up to them to make this decision on your behalf - you made the correct risk assessment as mum that this was going to be dicey and it was!! WTF was their customer service in all this ?? Can you imagine if injuries had occurred and the question asked ' did you ask for help?" and you told them they refused you!!! Compensation heaven me thinks!!

I would say go with a sling and a small lightweight buggy. Carrying ds is fine for a little while or if I'm on a big hike but for mosying around the shops it's impossible to do without ds breaking my back or loudly and forcefully insisting he is let down numerous times. If you take a small buggy too then you have the option to give your back a rest and it's easily folded and the buggy carries your shopping.

NONE of that was your fault. The staff were despicable and you really should complain and take it further - someone's child could be badly hurt. As for tipping the buggy - it was an accident (avoidable but not your fault at all). No wonder you're so upset, but please channel that into taking this further so nobody else has the same experience. And once again - don't beat yourself up.

The staff were doing their job. Complain all you like but you won;t get anywhere.

And most likely the buggy tipped because as the OP admitted, it was overloaded with stuff.

Some of you people seem to think everything should be perfect and easy, and when its not, its a game of who can we blame? Who can we call names and sound off at? Get a grip, tube stations suck with buggies, but you can use the escalators once you know how to do it properly and don't tip over your own kid with you own stuff. This ranting and raving and "oh poor you, how will ever get over such a harrowing experience" its just self indulgent twaddle. Join the real world and get over yourselves (especially on behalf of internet randoms)

Refusing to help is doing their job? Wow - they have a less taxing job than most then. And the whole safety issue is flawed. Are you one of the lazy rude staff, Miss? Seems to have touched a nerve with you.

Whats touched a nerve is some people expecting to walk through life having everything handed to them, then trying to get people fired when they make a mistake themselves. Like someone said earlier, its highly likely they have been told not to carry buggies for people. And if they are doing that, when does it leave anytime for their job?

Go get yourself a grip. Shit happens. Lifes not all a field of daisies. OP made a mistake, no harm done, live and learn. God knows what the rest of you are worked up about, anonymous righteous indignation r us...

Bollock all to do with getting someone fired in my opinion. More to do with staff actually helping people who ask.

Yes, the tube is shit with buggies. But it shouldn't be. Wouldn't you rather you were actually able to phone up and get the proper information, not be misinformed?

of course I would. But thats not got much to do with the actual problem. But I'm sure you can add that to your list of things to complain about.

So if you'd rather not be misinformed about the best route to take a buggy...why wouldn't you call TfL up and compain?

The OP was misinformed so she was forced to take a buggy on the escalator. Which is why it was overloaded. She wouldn't have put stuff in it if she had known she would have to go on the escalator.

OP, don't beat yourself up about what happened. I reckon anyone who has taken a buggy or pram into London has a similar tale (mine involved the swivelly wheels on the pram getting caught in "the gap" when getting off the train, almost catapulting my 8 week old prem baby over the front. Thankfully some of the people who had studiously ignored us during the journey rushed to help and DS was fine).

TfL staff should absolutely help, though you usually need to take the child out and carry it while they lift the buggy down. I haven't had anyone refuse a direct request for assistance.

I avoid escalators if I possibly can, but go down standing a couple of steps back with the buggy tilted on it's back wheels, so ready to push at the bottom. Going up, same procedure, though sometimes the buggy is tipped quite far back and it's dicy when heavily loaded.

I think the staff should have helped you op, no wonder you were upset but atleast that nice lady was there to help you.
I would make a complaint about the staff as they should have had the curtesy to help you especially with your pushchair so loaded.
None of this was your fault op, you looked up everything and asked for help but none was available, it was a near-miss which could have been avoided with decent staff

miss representation - I agree with lisaro. You seem to have issues regarding any compassion with other people by the sounds of it. The op had a horrible experience (one you have obviously never had judging by your quite nasty deal-with-it attitude). Nobody's looking for people to blame as such but the fact is, staff and others should have helped MORE, staff could have carried the buggy on the escalator whilst op carried her baby. Simple.

Before you start calling people 'bizzarely angry' read the post again, put yourself in their shoes, and try to see it from another's point of view. Otherwise keep shtum.