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.

And what encourages wheelchair users to get out? My xh would really struggle with using a bus for more reasons than being in his wheelchair. Like I said, giving birth is not a disability. Use a sling and a fold down pushchair, or walk.

An 18 year old couldn't walk our route.

Millions of people rely on bus routes that aren't every 5 minutes or even every hour that don't just serve cities with pedestrian areas or aren't just a 5 minute hop.

Anonny I think it's because the few are so fucking dogged. This thread is hard work and not very good for me mentally, but with threads like this I can't leave them alone as I'd be letting my kids down.

So, what happens if you have a buggy that happens to not be folded because you have a disability?

This is why I don't go anywhere with the kids on the bus.

Jaded I think I have offered a solution,there needs to be and should already be buggy spaces.

As I said mums with several young babies/ toddlers may not be able to fold.Folding when you can and the bus is moving is actually dangerous.Trying to hold a toddler/toddlers hand to stop it running off and a baby then walking to the back as the bus moves is actually dangerous.Being able to park a loaded buggy is far safer.

Wheelchair users also live on routes that don't have a regular bus service. A buggy user folding up their pram and holding their child/children, means that the wheelchair user, who has had to fully plan their day, can get on that bus, instead of waiting or fuckin off back home to try another day.

It is not just buggy users that live in the arse end of no where without a decent bus route.

Sad that this needs to be legally enforced, but good news.

Equality? Well it would all be lovely if we were all born with all fully fuctional working limbs/no illnesses eh? But thats not the way it is. So maybe us fortunate ones can be a bit more feckin understanding!!

If there were buggy spaces too there wouldn't be a problem for anybody would there.

I despair..

Yet again, if it bothers you that much Retro then start a fuckin campaign. Instead of getting on our tits get on your MPS instead!!!!!

Anyhow that's all I have to say on the subject,feel free to continue to ignore.I'm off to bed.

Dear god. I can't believe there are people who think they and their buggy should take up a wheelchair space and leave someone in a wheelchair at a bus stop!!! I use buses all the time as don't drive and when my two were tiny I had a P and T double buggy as no other way to get from A to B or into any shops round here. But of course I got off the bus toot sweet if someone using a wheelchair needed their space. And as soon as I could I got a cheap stroller and a buggy board so I could fold stroller and shove buggy board in carrier bag. Do people honestly not get it? With a buggy it might be hassle to travel around but everywhere is still basically accessible - including the tube - cos buggies and small children can be carried. Flights of stairs are a pain but you can get up them! Bit different from accessibility for wheelchair users isn't it?

Yeah, yeah. Third threat to leave so far.

I find it difficult to believe that a law has been passed to specifically state that buggies must be folded if a wheelchair user boards the bus

What law is this? Is statutory or is it an EU directive or is it a local bye-law?

I am seriously intrigued.

Why, wetaugust? Do you think the deficient bastards shoukd suffer too?

And you called me ignorant. Sheesh

I'll think about the issue and then may post an opinion - thank you for asking Goby.

I'm just intrigued that a law has been supposedly passed - and there's nothing to say who passed this law or when or what the specifics of the law actually is.

You see I like to have facts. I would like to read this law to see how the legal draughtman got around all the various complexiities that such a law would obvioulsy give rise to.

Can someone please point me to this 'law'?

Due to arthritis and a stroke one of my arms is pretty useless so pushing a small folding buggy is not practical for me my priority for choosing was easy to push one handed it also means I need to use public transport. Most of the time its not an issue because if a wc needs the bay I get off and either walk or wait for the next bus (15 mins) however some places the service is only hourly in those instances I ask for help and fold. I can fold one handed I just can't hold my dd at the same time. I have a disability but my disability doesn't prevent me sitting in a regular seat however that isn't a choice a wc user has therefore no matter what a wc user has priority.

The law it comes under, WetAugust, is the Equality Act.

Can someone please point me to this 'law'?

Equality Act 2010 and Paulley v First Bus Group (2013)