Buggies must be folded by law, if a wheelchair user wishes to board

[BerniceBroadside]

I know this can be a hot topic so thought I'd share that stagecoach have new signs on their buses stating that buggies must be folded by law if a wheelchair user wishes to board. Let's hope it's actually enforced.

So a person's CHOICE to reproduce trumps the rights of someone who has NOT CHOSEN to be disabled..

That person's CHOICE of whether to fold or not trumps the wheelchair user's INABILITY TO CHOOSE to not use the wheelchair.

Hmm. I'd say anyone who can't understand the concept is either pigshit thick or an entitled, ignorant twat who cannot comprehend that some things in life may cause inconvenience to them and their pweshus progeny. Those irritations may not just be an irritation to a wheelchair user, they may risk their health or dignity because of the selfishness shown by others.

But retro, if you get help then that isn't going to happen.

We used to fold our buggies before we got on the bus.

If having to get of the bus because a wheelchair user gets on is very problematic for you, then fold before you get on. It is do-able.

NOBODY NEEDS TO BE BOOTED OUT

the way to stop anyone having to miss their trip is by parents with prams showing the common decency to 'allow' people in wheelchairs to use the space designated to them.

Other bus users then need to show that same level of common decency to help the parent with the pram if needed.

I suspect it's about fifty million times more likely that you'd have to fold for another buggy, than for a wc.

Bottom line, I ain't getting off that bus!

You may find you have to if the bus driver tells you to. If you don't and he refuses to move the bus, you will get even more tuts from other bus users.

Buying a ticket entitles you to one thing only, a ride on the public transport. Not a seat, not a space and not comfort. This is the same for anyone. The only people who are entitled to a space are the first (and sometimes second if the transport in question is set up for two) wheelchair user that comes along. Allowing you on with an unfolded buggy, multiple or otherwise, is a privilege and not a right.

Oh do one with the reins and backpack.You try it

I did try it. That's what made using buses with a buggy and more than one child do-able.

I think the pp idea about a card for the adults with a disability or a child in a disability buggy is an excellent one.

At present I cannot manage to fold a buggy or lift my ds. This is not a permanent condition, I'm 18 months post botched emcs. It would be nice to be able to show the driver something that says I will need help to fold etc or even for them to just not drive off when ds is half in half out of his buggy.

I can't see it would be that hard to implement really.

Oi! Retro Which bit don't you understand? I had twins and a 19 month old. I did it. And I live in the Country. It can be done.

Passengers who get off the bus to make way for a wheelchair should be able to get on the next one for free IMO. It could probably be argued under equality legislation that it constitutes a reasonable adjustment by helping to remove a barrier to a wheelchair and the displaced passenger has already been inconvenienced without being hit financially too.

Expecting a parent to get off the bus because they cannot fold due to disability isn't on though.

I'm quite happy to swap and demonstrate how I managed with 2 under 15 months if you like.

In return you can take my 8 year old ds in his wheelchair and my 5 year old DD in her major buggy (good luck in pushing both) and my 9 year old with ASD who can disappear quite quickly. Bear in mind before leaving the house the two in chairs have already had multiple autistic meltdowns and have both soiled themselves, one smearing the walls as the other is being cleaned.

Then, in the harassed frame of mind you are now in deal with twats saying you should stand at a bus stop for hours cos it's too hard to fold.

Then tell me how hard it is.

Oh bully for you Dawn.

We vary.

Try 2 x 15 month olds,a newborn,dodgy back and living in the country on a route that involves a dodgy dual carriage way.

i thoight by backpack amber meant yhe backpack style reins? or bag for stuff not to carry cchild on back? tho some can and do carry kids on backs. i ptefered front carry slings.

anyway if you travel by bus with a pushchair you need to be prepared to fold it if its needed. if you wont fold then get off. if you need help to fold and juggle kids and bags then ask. i did and i always offer to help now mine are a bit bigger and i dont need help myself.

its not rocket science.

and yes if it impacts you that much then campaign for better buggy access to buses, like those woth disabilities had to do for years.

Perhaps Gobby it's hard for both.

Just a thought.

Anyhow froth away.

Fairy - if your inability to fold buggy or lift DS has lasted for 12 months or is expected to do so then it is a disability as defined by the equality act and the bus company must make reasonable adjustments and may not treat you less favourably because of it without a good objective reason.

Clearly buses will just have to be a no go area for some mothers which is sad to be honest.

Gobby don't rise to it, they are not worth it.

I always felt really intimidated by buggy users when I had to sit. I have JME (a type of epilepsy) and I went through a patch where I was OK but was still having the odd jerk (where my arms would fling up involuntary so if i was holding onto a pole standing on a packed bus it wasn't very nice for me) Obviously i wasn't allowed to drive either due to the jerks. Most of the time I just stood as I didn't want to confront anyone for a space and this is coming from someone who could of sat anywhere! not just limited to the larger spaces for wheelchair users, so I can imagine how awkward it is for them! Even when i was standing and a few times I did have the odd jerk, if people noticed they'd either turn away/or look at me like I was just odd. So glad it is the law now that they have priority, it's only right! Let's hope the bus drivers enforce it!

So we're fapping on about something you've never seen happen and seems unlikely to actually happen, because if the choice was a long walk or fold you'd be stashing babies in the luggage rack quicksmart.