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.

TheVillagePost as I mentioned earlier upthread, that is because many, like the one who barged right in front of me in the bus queue last Sunday, sadly give all of you a bad name. These incidents are not isolated. They happen regularly. Which is why people expect such entitled behaviour to be displayed at some point.

But you make it so hard! It must be really hard living with a disability. I'm sorry you have to face monumental daily struggles. But if people haven't experienced that their understanding of it won't be as great as yours. You need to educate them and you can't educate people if you leap on every mistake they make and twist their words and use every available opportunity to have a massive go at them. Why not try to rise above, be polite, explain your cause, ask for support. Like the poster who talked about changing their six year old and linked to a petition. I signed that petition. Not every able bodied person is an enemy just because they haven't experienced and therefore don't fully understand how difficult life us for those with disabilities.

TheVillage My post yesterday was in response to the instant judginess of someone coming to the bus stop with a pram. I thought it was just unnecessary and annoying.
I wouldn't say those things I mentioned if someone in a wheelchair started hinting to me, but it's still irritating to be instantly judged just because I am waiting for public transport with a pram at the same time as someone who is in a wheelchair. Yes I know it's a small "problem" for me that someone is hinting at me, but its still annoying when I know who that space is for.

I'm just going to take DS out of his buggy and fold it down if this ever happens (it's never happened before) before they even get a chance to hint at me. I hate it when people speak to me at the bus stop as it is.

Me too samcro. Still not many posts to go until it's closed

hey guess what we are not teachers. we are not here to educate.
we can't teach people to read via the internet.

fanjo just coffee? You're not even making tea for us non coffee drinkers? God you're so entitled!

Why should the people who are leading indescribably difficult lives have to always be polite and be responsible for educating people who can't process - hang on that woman is in a wheelchair so her life is probably a great deal harder than mine - without having to have it patiently explained?

I think we are just going round in circles now. I'll leave you all to it because I'm bored.

If I lived with the frustration of disability day after fucking grinding day I'd get sick of being polite and sweetly educating people.

And I never said baby changing facilities should be swapped. I simply feel that people with disabilities and their carers should have their own dedicated space - by law.

Bored. How nice for you that you have the option to withdraw from the whole issue because you're bored.

TheVillagePost but in a way, you (generic use of the word not targeted solely at you) have experienced it. Given the endless posts of I can't hold baby, and fold this/ the accessible toilets that make your life easier so you don't have to change baby on your lap on a dirty floor/ the ramps that enable you to get about with your buggy so much easier etc etc. It's the same thing that makes your day out with babies and DCs easier and is the same thing that enables a wheelchair user can even get out the door and travel in the first place.

Sorry scrapped not swapped.

I was bored a day ago but if i don't do this I have to work.

Pagwatch you can come and do my housework instead if you wish.

Meand - you may hate talking to people at the bus stop, believe me I do too, especially when there is the chance they could tell me to fuck off, when I say that ds is in a disabled buggy so I can't fold it down. The trouble is, it is hard not to be on your guard and presume that people are going to give you the arse, and the driver is going to turn their head, when you look at them for support - it only has to happen a couple of times to start thinking, 'ah, so this is the way it is'

As for educating people, jeez louise, I work, I'm a student, I have 3 kids - I am pooped, so apologies if not every ignorant, unthinking comment is responded to with a well thought out mini lecture on how to be a decent human being, or basic equality 101 (something even my 9 and 10 year old can grasp).

The other day my ds went on a school trip, it was just for the complex needs resource base, as a charity pay for all special schools to go on the trip. As I walked back from work, I heard 2 parents from the mainstream part of the school moaning about how unfair it was that they had this day and their children couldn't go. What do you with that? Argue with people that you have to stand next to at the school gate? I am so astounded by some peoples lack of empathy and the entitlement that their children are missing out on something that the disabled children have, that actually it just hardens my shell. I have to navigate my son through this world - how would you do it??

sooty I am not withdrawing from the issue, I am withdrawing from talking to you lot because I am bored of talking to you. The issue itself is a different matter.

No, no...please don't go.....

Of course you're withdrawing from the issue because you don't like being challenged so you're "bored".

Don't let us keep you.

So TheVillagePost - see, you write a long thought out post, you tell your story, you give people information that would help educate them about the lives of disabled people.....and you get, 'bored now'

Is it any surprise that people lose their patience.

This is not just to you, but to everyone - educate yourself, disability is something that will touch all our lives, through illness, old age or accident - we share our world, we are a society - educate yourself.

I would love to shocked at the comments from those parents hazy, but sadly not.

I did about 10 years of educating on here. When I first arrived on MN I used to get talked about as being so nice and reasonable . Shocking what a tidal waves of dickheads can do.

MrsDeVere

You nailed it. I want to roar but it's actually really depressing.

I believe I may have just hit that wall, Pagwatch.

Come and sit on the pissed off bench with me Hazey.
It's a big bench.