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.

Buses should be adapted so that any wheelchair user can safely embark and have access to a safe space in which to travel.

Parents with babies and toddlers should also be able to embark and travel safely.

Folding buggies while maintaining control of babies and toddlers on a moving bus is not something that sounds very safe to me - you're not allowed to travel in a moving car while babies and toddlers climb all over the seats and floor, are you? So yes, buses should be adapted so that there is plenty of 'floor space' for both wheelchairs and buggies.

Why do bus companies need to acknowledge that, Retro? Has there been another court case to force them to? They certainly didn't create wheelchair accessible buses until forced.

If you cannot cope with your babies and folding your pram, then you need to get off the bus. That is what the law says and what I would expect you to do.

They can acknowledge that it's difficult. And then IMO they can rightly ask you to fold and/or move, as the wheelchair space is for wheelchair users as a priority.

Absolute rubbish Gobby I have said nothing that would be deleted if concerning a racial discussion.

Not twisting at all. Merely surmising what you've voiciferously posted over and over. That you really couldn't comply with the law, that you simply HAVE to break the law because of your circumstances.

When suggested you do something you say you don't care enough, that it doesn't affect you. Fair dos but if you don't care enough why continue to post?

I continue because my kids face an unfair world with attitudes that quite frankly stink and I'm never going to give up until I see true equality for them. Which tbh I may never see in my lifetime.

All these suggestions as to what should happen, but no-one bothered enough to actually start a campaign for it. Terrible apathy - or is it just that certain people feel entitled to steal the wheelchair space with impunity?

Yes Spikey and as I said that is shit.Booting a new mum onto a dual carriageway on an hourly service is not on and said bus company should think ahead for all it's passengers.

Saying mums of multiples can't travel on buses is exchanging one group for another.Why can't it be suggested that bus companies who charge a fortune look after all it's customers?

But smudgy buses also don't have seat belts to restrain all passengers, so that argument could collapse that way.

Buses aren't cars.

Let's be clear, Retro, are you equating someone who chooses to have children with someone with a disability that requires a wheelchair?

Because Retro there's been no campaign. No law to mark them do it, unlike the campaigners for disabled people who put up a 35 year fight.

I'm continuing to post because I can and because I will not be called a bigot or racist for simply highlighting an issue.

Oh and I don't generally give into bullies either.

Gobby - no, buses aren't cars, but really you have to be pretty able bodied and unencumbered to negotiate a moving bus. Babies and toddlers, or people trying to carry them as well as fold a buggy, don't fit into those categories.

I'm seriously close to chucking my laptop out of the window.

You think you are being bullied? Try a day in the life of a person with disabilities and then come back and tell us about bullying.

At least in the pre-internet days we only had to put up with face-to-face abuse.

Funny that. Neither do I.
Some views on this thread would have been deleted if they'd been based on race. I didn't name the posters that did that, but the majority (but not all) of the offensive posts have been deleted now.

And let's be clear. If the mum had the foresight to prepare for her journey properly, and also folded the pushchair at her stop, she wouldn't be risking getting ejected at a dual carriageway now, would she?

Nothing more frustrating than getting on the bus with your child in their wheelchair and having 2-3 women crammed with their pushchairs into the disability spot, all refusing to look at you, and muttering amongst themselves "I was here first, I'm not folding or moving" while your child is falling apart because they are so exhausted and/or ill and you just want to get them home or to their hospital appointment or wherever you are going.

Jaded I think I said if bus companies guaranteed to stop,fold and escort I wouldn't be concerned- or did you choose to ignore that?

The fact is bus drivers can't or won't see and don't stop.They don't generally help either.If they let little old ladies stagger down a fast moving bus with heavy bags I doubt they'd jump out of their seat to help a new mum.

If bus companies guaranteed the above with consequences if it didn't happen I for one wouldn't have any concerns.

Noone is saying you can't travel!

Everyone needs to ask for help from other passengers and clearly state to the bus driver that they need assistance by not driving off whilst sorting yourself out - and complain to the bus company if they do.

The difference between ds in his buggy the other week and the lady with 2 babies in their buggy, was that ds's buggy can't be folded - at.all.

Chuck away Spikey,I had pms voicing concerns and the fact is bullying is bullying whether you like it or not.

if bus companies guaranteed to stop,fold and escort I wouldn't be concerned

Then try pushing for bus companies to guarantee this, rather than whinging and acting entitled to the wheelchair space.

Voicing concern and raising an issue is not whinging or being entitled.

Booting a new mum onto a dual carriageway on an hourly service is not on and said bus company should think ahead for all it's passengers

Or said new mums should think ahead for their journeys.

Get smaller buggies. I don't buy the i can afford it line. Load of bull. You can get an lightweight one hand fold buggy very very cheaply.

Argos have a sale on at the moment. Ive been and bought a lovely, easy to fold, but sturdy buggy. Thirty quid including the rain cover.

They have a few on sale for less than fifty.

If you can afford hundreds on some ridiculous tank you can afford that. Or choose a cheaper tank and get the buggy that way.