Another buggy in wheelchair space thread

[MsAR]

I got on the bus at the same time as a wheelchair user was queuing to do so. The driver told the wheelchair user there wasn't room, so I quickly checked and saw it was a buggy and a shopping trolley in the space.

The driver told the wheelchair user there would be another bus in a few minutes and they didn't seem to mind and weren't particularly insistent about getting on.

Was I being unreasonable to step in at this point and tell the driver that the person with the buggy should get off as wheelchairs have priority? He was pretty annoyed when I did, and kept repeating that there wasn't space.

I'm in London, and there are clear signs on every bus stating this is the case. I've often had to get off a bus when a wheelchair needed to get on and would never question if asked to do so.

Would it also be unreasonable for me to complain to TFL? I know I'm being a busy body but the driver's attitude really irritated me! I'd like the mumsnet jury to help me decide what to do, if anything.

I think there's a difference to a pram with a little baby and a pushchair with a much older child capable of walking. I think to dismantle a pram whilst holding a small baby on a moving bus is extremely dangerous it's not something I would do but then I rarely take the bus for this reason. Taking a small child who can sit on your knee or on a seat next to you and folding the buggy down is a different kettle of fish and is easily done. OP I agree unfortunately people don't want to accommodate others.

Yeah them pesky wheelchair users taking up space. I mean, it's no different to being a baby in a buggy. Someone will just push you home. Or you'll grow out of it.

Someone using a wheelchair only has one spot on an entire bus. Someone with a pram can fold and sit anywhere. Pretty clear who needs the spot more.

Someone is comparing pushing themselves in a wheelchair to pushing a baby or toddler in one? Did I read that right? A friend is a wheelchair user, pushing 13 stone of himself is not the same as pushing a baby! FFS.

You don't actually have to collapse if you don't want to, you can ask the driver for a transfer ticket. And I believe Sadiq is making it so that all bus transfers don't incur a second fare so even easier.

Happy to admit I was being unreasonable on this one but if I'd been that mum in the wheelchair space I would at least have liked to have been given the opportunity to fold the buggy or get the next bus myself. Thank you for your responses. I won't be a tit and complain to tfl.

Wheelchairs have priority because the spaces are there because wheelchair users fought for them. However parents have decided that the spaces mean a licence to get a huge enormous 4x4 of a buggy

I have a disability that effects my joints so there are times that I can't fold the buggy without causing myself damage. If there is anyone on the bus that can help then I enlist them to hold DS and I explain to the driver that I can fold the buggy down but I can't lift it (and I say why), I ask him/her to lift it on/off for me. Sometimes the driver will help with this, other times if it's fairly quiet and I'm not going very far then they'll let me squish the buggy in on the opposite side to the accessible space, there's a single seat on that side with a seat sized empty space next to it so the buggy fits in the gap.

It's do-able and it's something you have to accept when travelling by public transport. For all its a ball ache having to fold, it's a bigger ball ache to not have the choice.

The wheelchair user has priority because it is a wheelchair space. They exist because people with disabilities campaigned for them.
I never take my son who uses a wheelchair/sn buggy on public transport because I cannot face the battle with buggy users on top of all the other difficulties of taking out a child with severe disabilities.

No you should complain

Wheelchair users should take priority

Don't know about London buses but locally there's two available spaces. I would imagine it would be easier for the buggy to be folded rather than trying is dismantle a full size pram whilst at the same time holding a baby. In thy scenario it should be the buggy that's folded.

Oh god, I hate this argument. And YABU on this scenario given that the wheelchair user didn't seem to have a problem waiting for another bus.

I have to get public transport due to a disability and if I had paid an extortionate amount I wouldn't take kindly to be asked to get off and get another bus with a baby in tow.

Whilst I agree for older children in buggies that it may be easier to fold down but with an infant it is not so easy.

However parents have decided that the spaces mean a licence to get a huge enormous 4x4 of a buggy

Not all parents.

This is not a 'them' and 'us' situation of wheelchair users vs pram users. It's a situation of reasonable people vs unreasonable people.

Bus companies should do a education campaign pushchairs welcone if the fold. Same way hand luggage is allowed if it fits in a space. If you know you are going to be regular bus user don't get a 4x4.
Then everyone fits

Exactly. The space is for wheelchairs. If you have a big fuck off buggy then maybe the bus is not for you.

I agree with a pp who said that by complaining to the driver it made the wheelchair user look incapable. If they were OK with the situation then it is not for anyone else to get involved however much you think it's not fair. The person has a right to speak for themself.

You should complain if you feel strongly about it. It would be a hassle for me to get a sleeping baby out of a pram and fold it up whilst wrangling another child and shopping bags but if it's between that and someone not being able to get on the bus I would feel terrible about it and would do what I could.

Kids are only that little for a short time and whilst sometimes every day feels like it's neverending it isn't really that long until you can get on the bus and go and sit on the top whilst the person who has to use the wheelchair has this every day. I think people can be so selfish. No one is saying you have to get off, you have to fold your pushchair.

Yes it's annoying esp when you have another kid and shopping but the inconvenience to you isn't as bad as someone else not being able to get on.

I wouldn't be able to fold my pram up & put my 2 year old bolter down to do it, he'd probably run of the bus. I'd have to get off the bus & wait for the next one if that happened. I do think you shouldn't of interfered when the wheelchair user and bus driver had already had a chat and the wheelchair user was happy to wait for the next one, I'd of been mortified for both of them that you were making a bigger deal than it had to be.

Interestingly, a lot of wheelchair users can transfer to a seat if needed or walk a short distance. Helping them fold their wheelchair helps too!

Ffs its awheelchair space so a wheelchair takes priority over a buggy

I guess things are a bit different in London. There often are buses every 5 minutes. I might feel differently if I was on a bus route where they only came twice an hour. The signs on the buses are clear enough though so I will continue to make way for wheelchair users.

reins and hook them.round your leg..

problem.solved

I just hope all the non movers never endupin a wheelchair, or that their sleeping baby never does

I can't believe this issue has come up again. Why don't London buses just have a space for a wheelchair and a space for buggies? The buses where I live do, so.I have never seen something like this happen.