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.

Candy it is impossible to lift your friend,however mums or grandparents(increasingly more common)travelling with several babies/ toddlers being accommodated by bus companies isn't going to affect that.

You get your wheelchair space.

But buses will need to acknowledge there is a need for buggy spaces and mums folding will need help which should be mandatory and buses will need to stop until they are safely seated.

Clearly bus companies have sat on their backsides doing sfa to provide spaces for buggies,hence parents/carers using other spaces.They now can't so they will have to put the very high bus fares they charge to updating buses.

The fares round here are eye watering and most mums I know could only afford limited trips so get as much done on a single trip as they can.It is pointless spending £7 for nothing.

Also no buggy is perfect.Most of us choose the smallest,lightest,easiest to steer buggy we can afford so as to take up as limited space as poss,that is a priority.It isn't the folding(as has been said countless times)but holding multiple babies and other stuff at the same time.

None of the above stops you using your wheelchair spaces so there is zero need to begrudge bus companies accommodating harassed parents unless of course you want to for the sake of it.

The fact is I suspect they'll have to bring in some procedures anyway on a health and safety basis as said bus companies will be liable for any accidents that occur on bus company property.Expecting a parent or carer to hold 2/3 or more babies/toddlers whilst folding a bugging without any help on a bus hurtling down a busy road is hardly safe guarding and wouldn't look good on any risk assessment.

Wrt moving for wheelchairs, yep, would do this if required - have never been asked to, but I would. Don't need to now because my youngest is 5 and we just go and sit at the back of the bus anyway.

But regarding unsafe buses and accidents - DD lost two teeth being thrown out of her seat on a bus when she was 4. The driver mounted the curb at speed and DD was literally thrown across the aisle and landed on the edge of the opposite seat mouth first. Police and ambulance came, statements were taken - driver denied everything and bus company refused any responsibility.

I've also had an accident when the driver (same route) pulled away suddenly while I was helping youngest (then 3) into his seat. I was thrown backwards and hurt myself quite badly.

DS has also banged his face, and bruised it, on the seat in front when brakes have been suddenly applied.

I have 40 years of catching buses (at one point 8 day) and they're not safe places. I've seen pushchairs tip sideways and wheelchairs moving about too. I've also seen lots of pensioners thrown down the aisle because the driver has pulled away as soon as people are on the platform.

My biggest concern with them is how unsafe they are for passengers, all passengers.

If I knew the first thing about campaigning, I'd push for seat-belts and making sure the bloody drivers give people time to sit down before they start driving at breakneck speeds!

I know this is all irrelevant, just noticed the comments on safety.

Heart spot on.

My dd was thrown under the seat in front when a bus braked suddenly.Having 3 to care for I didn't have enough arms.

I don't even want to think about a bus suddenly braking when a mother had her arms full of 3 babies/ toddlers was standing up whilst folding a buggy.

Retro Stop it. We have all said that if you want buggy spaces go campaign for them. You put forward some reasonable arguments on that point. This isn't a thread for discussing that though, is it?
I didn't spend a significant amount of my twenties campaigning for buggy users because it wasn't necessary. I did spend a significant amount of time campaigning for those using wheelchairs, because it was necessary. So instead of whining, whinging and claiming victimisation, go do some work elsewhere. We've got our spaces and we had to work damned hard to get them, we were told even if they were made available disabled people wouldn't use them. Funny, we were never warned that there would be situations where they couldn't use them.

The simple fact is a buggy space with babies/ toddlers buckled into a buggy locked into place is the safest place.

But buses will need to acknowledge there is a need for buggy spaces and mums folding will need help which should be mandatory and buses will need to stop until they are safely seated.

The simple fact is a buggy space with babies/ toddlers buckled into a buggy locked into place is the safest place.

And this has fuck all to do with the wheelchair space. You want a buggy space, talk to the bus companies. Otherwise, you're just whinging.

You have your wheel chair places.

There is now protection for them.

There will be some consequences(not unsurmountable) for groups of other parents.This needs to be acknowledged and isn't whining.The fact is accommodating said parents would increase safety for all.

If you don't want a discussion don't start a thread in aibu.

well, first of all, I didn't start the thread.

People have already agreed with you that yes it can be difficult managing a number of small children on the bus.

They have also pointed out that having small children is not on par with having a lifelong disability to deal with and has literally nothing to do with the wheelchair space.

So... in conclusion, if parents want a space for them to park their buggies just for them, they can take it up with the bus companies. (oh for a repeat button, how many times, really?)

If they still complain and are doing nothing to work toward a solution, then all they are doing is pointless whinging and trying to make it out that the disabled are infringing on their rights to be entitled.

I'd love an intelligent discussion, tbh. Not finding it though. Just a lot of repetitive nonsense about the difficulty of being a parent. sob sob

RetroIf you are happy that wheelchair spaces should be made available for wheelchair users and that buggys should be moved from them spaces to accommodate wheelchair users. Why do you keep coming on to this thread complaining about buggy spaces? this is not a thread about bus companies lack of provision for buggy users, it is a thread about wheelchair spaces on buses been vacated for wheelchair users and that this is now supported by law.

If you have an issue about the lack of provision for buggys and parents then start a thread asking if you are right that something should be done about it.

You are hijacking a thread and pissing off a lot of users of mumsnet by your constant arguing of a point that does not need to be argued here as its completely irrelevant!

You have your wheel chair places.
Yes, we do. Seemingly given somewhat grudgingly.

And yes, I know you can argue on any thread you damn well like, but it's all so bloody minded and pointless, Retro

Yes it is Dawn continuously not acknowledging there will be issues to accommodate said enforcements,continuously bullying and insulting anybody who highlights them- utterly pointless. It's as if you begrudge any mothers with buggies even stepping foot on buses.

Oh and I most certainly don't begrudge wheelchair spaces so don't even attempt to lay that on me along with racism and being a bigot.

There will be some consequences not unsurmountable for groups of other parents.This needs to be acknowledged and isn't whining.The fact is accommodating said parents would increase safety for all

Exactly. Not at all insurmountable.

If you want issues acknowledged, then start a campaign. Or, parents can now just do what we did before accessible buses and just get on with it by being prepared and using common sense.

Seriously, stop with the bullying accusations. You are NOT being bullied.

Retro We have all stated over and over that nobody is bullying you. We have all acknowledged that there will be issues and that there are issues. We have all made eminently sensible suggestions as to how to resolve those issues, yet still you claim victim status. As for begrudging anybody space on a bus, well, have you read what you have written, it's completely ridiculous.

No need to start a campaign thanks.

Just raised the issues on a pertinent thread on aibu on a parenting site just the same as hundreds of other issues get raised on threads in this forum.

No need for more than that.

Anybody reading who agrees can do what they want with said issues raised and discussed,I certainly don't have a moral obligation to.

Dawn you may have stated there was no bullying but sorry Zi and others reading this don't agree.

And no I have certainly not claimed victim status thanks and actually it was me who suggested ways of dealing with the issues you just attacked me for raising them.

Dizzy you're on the wrong thread nobody has refused to fold.

Retro Are you reading another thread and then replying to it on here?
You have claimed victim status an number of times. You keep shouting 'bullying', that's what claiming victim status is. And I'm awfully sorry, there are those that do agree with me.

Ditto Dawn

No need to start a campaign thanks.
Just raised the issues on a pertinent thread on aibu on a parenting site just the same as hundreds of other issues get raised on threads in this forum.
No need for more than that.

This says it all. There's really no point to complaining but not being willing to DO something about it. If there's "no need for more than that" then it's a non-issue IMO.

Well then the vast majority of threads on MN are non issues as posters don't start campaigns re every post they type.

People post about poverty,climate change etc.....you name it it's posted about.However posters don't start a campaign every time they post,how ridiculous.

This Is a thread about wheelchair spaces and buggys must be folded or removed for a wheelchair user to access the space for them.

It is not a thread about the lack of provision for buggys and parents, so IMO you have not raised an issue on a pertinent thread. IMO you have raised an issue solely for winding people up.

If you felt that this issue was something that was in need of discussion you would have started a thread of your own and discussed it there.

Excluding one group for another isn't progress imvho.

Perhaps a bit of thought and compromise wouldn't go amiss.

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

All I'm saying is before you froth and demonise all buggy users a bit of empathy wouldn't go amiss for those with multiples

multiple mums don't have the option as they don't have enough arms.

And if they are already on they can't get off.

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.

And if they are already on they can't get off.

I got bored, that's just up to page ten.

Well then the vast majority of threads on MN are non issues as posters don't start campaigns re every post they type.

People post about poverty,climate change etc.....you name it it's posted about.However posters don't start a campaign every time they post,how ridiculous.

Well, there is the This is my child campaign. You know, the one about making life a bit easier for those of us dealing with children with disabilities, breaking myths, gaining access and equal opportunities et al.