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.

ilovesmurfs I meant a backpack instead of a huge bag or baby things on the buggy and reins-the type that go around the wrist of the child and the parent.

When you are still dealing with continence issues at 9, have arseholes barging you out of the way of a lift so your child soils themselves, get spat at and slagged off in the street, then get told actually hard won disability provision should be commandeered by parents of babies then you might get it.

I think their is a lot of misplaced anger now on here by those venting at some buggy users.

*there

Bernice er no I wouldn't.

Our bus goes along a dual carriage way very fast,keeping my 3 safe was always my priority.I wouldn't have stashed them anywhere- with my extra set of arms.

Retropear, again, what do you think you would have done if you had your children before accessible buses were around?

yes i thought so amber i have a backpack for toddler stuff instead of a handbag and baby change bag, never saw the point of baby change bags tbh, just get a backpack everything can go in. hang on buggy or carry it if nevessary.

when my eldest was little the buses werent accessible, i had awful spd but mamaged by asking for help if necessary.

the accessible buses are great, but they are a bonus for me... a lifeline to those with disabilities tho!

fold, ask for help if necessary. no one is saying mums cant use buses, just fold if necessary.

Normally don't wade in on these threads but feel I have to.

The ONLY reasons there is space for wheelchairs (and buggies should it not be needed by a wheelchair user) on buses is because of relentless years of campaigning and the equality act.

I find it hard to understand why parents with buggies forget this and believe they are as entitled to use the space as wheelchair users are? It makes no sense to me.

Should I bother mentioning I am a mother with one eight month old DS. I live in London and use buses regularly. I have taken to using a sling because I found it stressful getting on and off the bus fast enough for the tutting non-parent bus users. Can't imagine what it must be like for those wheelchair users who dare to take longer than a minute to board and get themselves into a safe position. They have no choice. The space is for them.

Misplaced anger? I don't think so. These are precisely the idiots that take prams into disabled cubicles, barge wheelchairs out of the way of lifts and look at you like your child is contagious. The type that complain your child takes too much of the TA's attention when actually the TA is only there for your child.

The type that makes my life just that little bit worse every day. The type whose inability to see past the end of their noses negatively impacts my children all the time. The type who see my children as lesser, not different.

The type that make me fucking sick.

I don't think it is misplaced anger. It is placed exactly where it should be. At people who think that having a baby is the same as having a disability, and therefore they are entitled to take away the small amount of provision that has been won for people with disabilities. It was a hard fight to get this far and I'll be damned if I'll stand by quietly whilst it is usurped by people who have made the choice to have a child.

If you get abusive I will report you.

My 2 were barely toddling at 15 months,I had a newborn.I'm not trumping you as I wasn't aware it was a competition I'm giving you the facts.

Amber stayed at home.

'Why should I get off the bus and be late for my day just because a wheelchair user wants to get on and there isn't enough room? Why are their needs more important than mine and my children's?'

maxo, are you really as unpleasant and uncomprehending as this makes you sound? Have you read this back? Do you actually know how you come across?

Shame on you.

The fact is for many multiple families (which vary hugely) their buggy and multiples can't vanish into thin air however much you froth.

Nice one Spikey

Honestly I just wish these arseholes could have a week of this. Actually caring for my kids, the appointments etc is hard.

It's the beauracracy and THIS FUCKING SHIT because this isn't words on a screen it's my LIFE that frequently has me at breaking point.

People tell me to stay away from this place because it's fucking toxic but why should I let arseholes keep me away from the friendships I've made here? I'm socially isolated as a parent of kids with SN as it is yet they just fucking want me to be completely on my own don't they?

Fucking, fucking arseholes.

The real issue here in my opinion is that drivers need to implement the rules but also have te patience to wait while parents sort out nights and children rather than bowing to the tutters and moving off with unsecure children and passengers

It's no ones fault here that life is difficult, and that is precisely why I and others concur that those spaces are valid for wheelchair users.

However what needs to be taken forward I feel are the views raised by others such as retro on risks and general overcrowding as it is. And as others have mentioned, invisible disabilities being equally valid.

People with disabilities don't ask to be born with them. What about people like me? That HAVE to use public transport because I am not allowed to drive and I have bad days when i still need to get out but need to sit?? This isn't a CHOICE. Why do so many mums feel they are priority? And this is coming from a mum to! I had a huge maxi cosi but i always folded it up if someone needed the wheelchair space.... yes it was a faff as it was a huge thing and with the shopping/changing bag etc but if someone needed it more than me, i never complained!

Nights? Buggies even

Amber stayed at home

Really? what, for 2-3 years?

I think you know the honest answer to my question is, you would have just got on with it in the way you had to, just like everyone else did before accessible buses.

If they are already on and it is the law they my well have to get off- that is shit and quite frankly some of the posts on here are utterly devoid of empathy and nasty.

Maxo What an awful comment! Why don't you take my jme and shove it with your stinking attitude