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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to expect abled people to move? (Pushchair related)

229 replies

Maryshoppins · 01/04/2013 19:07

If I see a pushchair, wheel chair, person with 101 bags and so on, walking towards me, I would, without hesitation, move out of their way.

Why does it seem that whenever I am out and about with my pushchair, 9/10 times someone will continue to walk towards me with no intention of moving out the way, therefore I end up swerving at the last to move out of their pathway!

I'm particularly cross about this today, as I was walking towards a woman (and I don't mean intentionally to knock her down,) she continued to walk directly towards my pushchair, glaring at me as if to say 'are you going to move?'. For the first time, I didn't and we both came to a standstill. Sounds ridiculous I know, but I was finally fed up with the amount of rude people I encounter and wanted to be sure I wasn't completely over reacting! This lady called me all sorts, and walked past me in a huff!

Other mothers I have spoken to in the past say they encounter this a lot. But they just swerve out of the way to avoid confrontation.

I'm not normally one for causing a scene. But I am amazed that an abled person wouldn't consciously move out of the way of somebody that has a pushchair or struggling with shopping /children etc.

So, aibu?

OP posts:

Rainbowinthesky · 01/04/2013 19:10

Yanbu. I always move for pushchairs. Assumed everyone does as its far easier for an able bodied person to step to the side then pushchair.

KayHunt · 01/04/2013 19:10

I have this problem. I am invisible being nigh on 6' tall with a very bright coloured pram.

I just move out the way, smile courteously and swear liberally in my head

It's the amount of people who seem to go out of their way to whack DS1 with their bags that gets me. I do see the rage then!

Bluelightsandsirens · 01/04/2013 19:11

I'm a mover with or without a buggy if that helps

Nancy66 · 01/04/2013 19:11

As someone who has just spent the day in central London and had god knows how many buggies pushed into the back of my legs I'd say - yes - you are a bit....

is moving a foot to your right or left that much of an inconvenience?

Freddiemisagreatshag · 01/04/2013 19:12

Are you serious?

Purplecatti · 01/04/2013 19:14

Yanbu. I have a huge solid ancient pram. People STILL don't get out the way but at least they come off worse. My baby laughs when she gets bumped.

kinkyfuckery · 01/04/2013 19:14

Why should someone move out of your way, just because you are pushing a PFB pram? How do you know said person is 'able bodied'?

chandellina · 01/04/2013 19:15

Who cares, pick a fight or get out of the way. Tbh, I've never had this happen or seen it in real life.

Original poster

Maryshoppins · 01/04/2013 19:15

I'm glad it's not just me! (That sounds awful doesn't it!)

I'm just reeling from the verbal abuse I got from this lady today!!

OP posts:

VinegarDrinker · 01/04/2013 19:16

Never thought anyone should move out of my way just because I have a buggy tbh. It's hardly an impediment.

INeedThatForkOff · 01/04/2013 19:16

Why should people move for a puschair any more than for someone on their feet? I agree that it's annoying always to be the one who gives way, but life has its polite and rude people, and a passive aggressive sing-song 'Noooo problem,' delivered with a beaming smile, usually makes the point.

The pushchair is a red herring.

blueraincoat · 01/04/2013 19:17

YABU. A pushchair is not at all like a wheelchair, a wheelchair takes a lot more manoeuvring for a start. Pushchair does not entitle you to a right of way!

Original poster

Maryshoppins · 01/04/2013 19:19

Nancy- I'm not talking about ramming a pushchair into the back of someone's legs!! That's plain rude! I'm talking about a person without a pushchair walking towards a person with a pushchair. Surely the person without the pushchair would think to move??

OP posts:

FarBetterNow · 01/04/2013 19:19

YANBU.
Well done for not moving course.

The ones who expect you to move out of their way, will be the same ones who expect me to drive my car up the bank / grass verge in a narrow lane, whilst they drive up the middle of the lane.

It is because they are more important than you and me. (wink)

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 01/04/2013 19:19

YABabitU I think - does your buggy not steer

Someone who has a pushchair is not always the same as someone struggling with shopping and / or children and is definitely not the same as a wheelchair user. Most buggies these days are very steerable especially if they only contain one small baby. I guess it's common courtesy to move out of the way for anyway who is approaching regardless of whether they have a pushchair but sometimes you get people who are in their own world or a bit rude. I think you were as bad as the other lady.

Freddiemisagreatshag · 01/04/2013 19:20

A pushchair is not the same as a wheelchair.

FarBetterNow · 01/04/2013 19:20

Oh, the wink thing didn't work!!

Original poster

Maryshoppins · 01/04/2013 19:22

Kinky- put it this way, no one 'should' move, but someone has to, right. So why (in most of my encounters) 'should' I all the time? Would you seriously walk towards a person pushing a buggy and alway expect that they move?

For the record, third child not pfb

OP posts:

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/04/2013 19:22

I would move aside for someone who I felt couldn't move aside as easily as me - someone in a wheelchair, or with a buggy for example. That is just being considerate, I think.

Bridgetbidet · 01/04/2013 19:23

YABU. I move out of the way whether I have a pram or not. It's not THAT hard. To be honest I've been far more irritated by people with prams who think they can use them as mobile battering rams than people not getting out of my way when I had a pushchair.

MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 01/04/2013 19:23

YABU its just as easy for someone with a buggy to move as it is for someone walking to step aside.

Pushing a buggy is in no way comparable to being in a wheelchair either

ShellyBoobs · 01/04/2013 19:23

Is this a late Aprile Fools' thread?

Why on earth does anyone need to move out of your way when you're walking towards them with a pushchair?

Can you not steer the fucking thing?

BrianButterfield · 01/04/2013 19:24

I hate it when you are up against the shop window/wall/etc on a crowded street and people still expect you to move. MOVE WHERE? I can't shrink my pushchair for your convenience! Then they huff about having to walk round you when you couldn't actually move anywhere in the first place, apart from maybe walking backwards down the street.

difficultpickle · 01/04/2013 19:25

I look able-bodied but I've currently got a serious knee injury. If someone forces me to swerve out the way I end up in such pain that I struggle to walk. If someone is coming towards me and it is too quick to get out of their way I just stop and wait for them to go round me. The worst for doing that are late teens early 20s men and women with pushchairs.

HeySoulSister · 01/04/2013 19:25

What's in that pushchair? Is it the second coming of Christ? Does it not steer?

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