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.

I mentioned earlier a lady with 2 dcs (I would estimate about 6 months and 1 and a half) who had to fold because ds was on the bus in his buggy - I was more than happy to help them fold, hold her little boy and we asked the bus driver to wait before he moved. It all pretty straightforward.

I think there does need to be more done by the busdrivers to help out, if someone with 2 small babies needs to fold.

But the priority has to remain, that the space is primarily for use by a disabled person.

Ironically the only times I have had to fold - both when dds were little and in a double buggy (they are a year apart), and when ds was in a standard buggy (but unable to sit or stand) was when there was a pram with a younger baby, asleep. With the dds I managed, although, yes it was a juggle. With ds it was an outright disaster.

I still can't fold my wheelchair. This is also a fact

Miss - actually I burst into tears

I was going to collect my stepson from school, only Stagecoach did that route. I was in town and begged one of the staff in the bus station to plead with the bus driver and he reluctantly let me on.

I would have got off in a second for a wheelchair - but I guess lots of people say that then don't. My problem as well was that if I got a taxi, then I would be holding two newborns in the back of a car which would clears be really unsafe.

I got a different bus on the way home (Arriva) and it was fine. I have got off buses before to allow wheelchair users access, as I still don't know how to fold my buggy

Also, I have been

Sorry retropear, I can't remember if you have already said, but were you ever in the position where you had to fold when a wheelchair got on? (or another buggy, because I have had to fold for other buggies in order for us to all get on)

Oh and I didn't insert that apostrophe. Blinkin autocorrect.

3 under 18 months is a struggle of course.

When asked what you would have done prior to accessible buses, you said 'stay home'

Several people said they had managed in the 'old days' with their twins/multiples. It is possible, when you know there is no other option, you make it possible.

The reason you have this option is because wheelchair users and their advocates campaigned for this.

And re a campaign give it a rest.I don't want to or have to

Lucky you. Those that did have to, did. But not so you and people like you could assume entitlement to those spaces.

Oops!

Have been on a bus before that has driven past a wheelchair user as the space has been filled with my buggy. I was facing the other way so didn't notice till the bus pulled away.

I was mortified and told the bus driver to make buggies get off next time. This was also not with the twins - this was DS3 when he was about one so easy to manhandle.

Yes if bus companies provided a guarantee that said driver would fold,escort and ensure said mother was safely seated with her babies/children before driving off I'd be happier.

They will also need to start thinking re buggy spaces as with more people using buses and the elderly/disabled having priority over front rows too buses will get increasingly less attractive and difficult for new parents to use.

I still think a special buggy bus would be a good idea. We have the fold down seats where I live (East Midlands). If they had a bus that had the fold down seats along both sides that maybe ran once an hour then all wheelchairs and buggies can get on?

Miss don't see why all buses couldn't be like that.

In the 'old days' the elderly/disabled seats were marked as 'elderly and parents with babies' they had a sign and everything and actually, there was less space, as the aisles didn't need to be wide enough for a wheelchair to get through!

Still managed though.

don't see why all buses couldn't be like that

Maybe someone could start a campaign?

Great.

Yes, people with disabilities were locked away (either in hospitals or in their own homes) in the old days, Retro, as they could not access public transport. So they campaigned to be allowed equality of access. Several years of campaigning later, they were successful. Only to see parents who had managed fine before steal their spaces and refuse to budge. So they had to seek a court judgement to make it clear who the space was for. The court ruled in favour of the wheelchair user.

If this issue doesn't bother you enough to campaign for buggy-spaces as well, why does it bother you enough to come on this thread and tell people with disabilities and their carers that you are more important than them because you had three babies in a very short space of time?

Miss so the disabled people would then be relegated to taking the "special" bus that only runs once an hour, while everyone has more frequent service? How is that not detrimental to the disabled? Segregation, seriously??

So how do you think the spaces were achieved in the first place without campaigning?

By the goodness of bus operators' hearts?

The trouble is, where I live (rural area) there ae lots of bus companies, some with very old knackered buses. The bus I used to catch with the dds and ds everday to school was an old coach, with steps up and no luggage space or wheelchair space at all. I had to get ds out of buggy, put him in a sling (at 2) fold buggy put under coach in special luggage hold) - it was a palaver to say the least! Other buses are like little mini buses.

Also on some routes the buses are very infrequent.

You're twisting.

I didn't say I was more important,I said if I was already on I and other multiple mums would find it hard and in some cases impossible to fold.

I also said bus companies will need to acknowledge this.

Report away. MNHQ obviously believe some posters have every right to express views that would be deleted if they were racially related yet they're allowed to stand when they're about disability.

Yet those on the receiving end are not allowed to retaliate or question that view as they get reported with threats of suspension.

Nice that, eh?

Yes Hazey our buses are only every hour and a relatively short journey costs £££££.