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.

So glad I've got a car and don't travel by bus!

Honestly, it's no wonder cars are so popular if this is the reality of travelling by public transport.

One solution might be to design better buses with more fold up seats to create more floor space.

This thread does feel a little 'people with push chairs shouldn't be on buses' to me.

It's a v odd thread given its on mumsnet. I think some mothers may be of much older adult children who can't remember the feeling of being a newbie mum of twins on your own.

Before all the hissing vitriol- I agree on the use of wheelchair spaces. I don't agree with getting personal and crusade-y on an argument that has many different and valid viewpoints.

It's very odd and a little depressing. Very much that 'you brought it on yourself by having children'. Is being nice to other people way too much to ask these days?! Apparently we should all go out and buy (with all the spare cash floating around) a lightweight stroller just in case one day we might need to fold it on a bus. I've never come across this and would gladly get off the bus if needed. I've got two under two and severe SPD so I'm going to stick to making my day to day life easier and not worry about the odd situation where I might need to move for somebody (which of course I would!).

Don't give those wheelchair users special treatment. It's what they want. .In fact get rid of ramps and they can try to drag themselves upstairs.

Oops.

Don't install lifts either. That is positive discrimination.

Fanjo that's seriously disingenuous, no one has said anything remotely resembling that (earlier in the thread some people did but they got resoundly shot down)

Oops.

Don't install lifts either. That is positive discrimination.

Will ask mNHq to delete my extra posts

Oops.

Don't install lifts either. That is positive discrimination.

Will ask mNHq to delete my extra posts

I have a disability which makes folding my pushchair difficult. I would gladly get off the bus for a wheelchair. It has only happened once (I don't use the bus much due to my disability, also can't drive, so have to stick to local area). On that occasion I started getting off and was stopped by the driver who said he could easily fit both me and the wheelchair in - and he did.

But there is no question that the wheelchair should get on. I only have a few years of using a pushchair, not a lifetime, I can cope with the inconvenience for that temporary time.

Ellie - that's appalling your poor little boy. If we ever, EVER comment it would be to answer a question that DD would ask and it would always, ALWAYS be a positive comment. "Cripple" is just horrendous

The travelling with a buggy issue is a temporary one that can be avoided by the use of a sling, or by walking with your own two legs, perhaps driving.

Except for some people it really isn't that easy - but like I said I would always move without quibble for someone who needed the space.

When DD was around 2 we moved to a rural location and I now drive everywhere.

But then of course you get told that "no-one can possibly NEED two cars, use public transport"

The amount of vitriol on this thread against people with 'large' buggies or who may not be able to fold is insane! So many posters have now pointed out many valid reasons why they might not be able to fold (disability, SPD, etc) so why all the judgy comments? As long as people are prepared to vacate the wheelchair space then what's the problem if people choose to use a larger buggy for reasons that aren't immediately obvious but are helpful to them?

Those with valid reasons [due to their own disability] are not being judged.

Those who choose to buy large buggies because that is what they want are and they make up the majority.

Apparently we should all go out and buy (with all the spare cash floating around) a lightweight stroller just in case one day we might need to fold it on a bus

No, if you know that you will use buses at some point, then it makes sense to get a buggy that enables you to do so in the first place. Umbrella fold up buggies are much cheaper than the big ones anyway.

nurseroscoe

If it is safe and reasonable to fold the pushchair then a person should do this out of courtesy and respect

No, not out of courtesy and respect. They should do it because the law says wheelchair users have priority.

I give up. Clearly when all the PPs have judged people with 'large' buggies they have asked each and every person whether they have a valid reason to do so and are therefore only judging those who don't. FFS.

Exactly jaded

You stand more chance of not actually having to fold it if you do so.

Strollers jam into much smaller spaces so you won't necessarily need to use the buggy bay

Ok OhnoGeorge. Every single big buggy wheelchair space hogging person also has a valid reason why they can't use an umbrella buggy. Course they do. So no one should judge them or assume.

Meanwhile in the real world...

I always used to worry I'd sound smiley or sanctimonious on these threads but sod it.

I have used public transport in and off,on occasion with 4 son's, 3 with autism.without EVER touching the wheelchair space. Including when I had 2 under two and was stuck on busy commuter run.

Frankly if I, as a rather useless unorganized woman can, so can anyone without a disabled child.

That's not what I meant at all. All I'm trying to say is - why does anyone even need to be judged??!! If someone is on a bus with a buggy, big or small, and they're not in anyone's way and they will get off if a wheelchair user needs the space why should it matter to anyone else if they've got a bigger or smaller buggy?! Maybe they do have a 'valid' reason for having one, maybe they don't, but who cares?! (Apparently lots of people on this thread).

It's just not a very nice way to treat people, as PPs have said, new mums struggling with twins, PND, SpD, the list goes on - can't we just try to accommodate everyone wherever possible?

I don't think the size of buggy matters (other than a small one being easier to fold), it's whether the person using it is a dick or not that's really the issue.