To think it's common sense to let a w/c user have the w/c spot

[SparkyStar84]

I've just seen the ruling on disabled people getting priority in disabled spots on buses. Isn't that common sense. What kind of person would deny a w/c user the space because 'pushchair'?
I'm a w/c user it makes it easier in a way to get about with children, though I know some w/c users still have a buggy.
This is about the parents who refuse to move, when asked, by someone who might have an appt or something important to get too. Not saying the parent doesn't. But isn't that the point of foldable buggies over great big travel systems?
It just bugs me that people have had to leave the bus because a parent wouldn't move. As a parent with kids of many ages, also remembering times gone by, the purpose of easy foldable buggies is that you can decamp when on the bus.
Do you think it's an issue that buses need to provide buggy spaces too?

Trifle if you had a student that was in a wheelchair and they wanted to get on the bus while you were with snowflaketrifle, would you shift? Or would you 'stand your ground' and look like an utter fool, embarrassing yourself, the wheelchair user and everyone else on the bus?

It has everything to do with your profession.

Your disablist attitude has everything to do with your profession. For parents like me it is frightening.

stitchglitched: I am not disablist so my students have nothing to worry about.

why the need for the massive unfoldable prams.
I thought these were for knocking old ladies over on the high street.

Oh Christ you a teacher!

Please say you are winding us up. Please.

And more to the point, my blood would run cold knowing a disablist bigot such as yourself was allowed to teach my children.

I can never understand why people make such an unholy fuss about this topic. It's very, very rare that you have to fold for a wheelchair, as only a minority of people with disabilities use a wheelchair, and even fewer of that group use public transport.

It is, however, very, very likely that people have to fold because there are already two or three buggies on board - and most people manage that or wait for the next bus without much of a grumble.

Your posts are disablist as are your actions.

FizzBombBathTime: What difference would it make if it was one of my students wanting to get on the bus? They would be with their parent or carer presumably, so not reliant on my actions as a teacher. Obviously I would be very apologetic if forced to stay where I was because my child needed me to stand my ground, but it would have nothing to do with my role as their teacher.

I have a one year old and a nearly three year old. We travel around a lot and use busses frequently. I have a big double buggy because it also needs to carry all my weekly fruit shop some days, the changing bag, toys etc.

There is absolutely now way I could fold this buggy on a bus whilst making sure my two kids were safe.

I therefore have to get off if a wheelchair user needs the space. It's annoying, especially if it's raining or the kids are tired etc. But in contrast to being using a wheelchair (in most cases), my dilemma is temporary. I have to suck it up for another year or so and the problem will go away.

Same applies to those travelling with newborns in non foldable buggies. Although slings really help here.

Of course there are always exceptions. Maybe your child is really sick and you're on your way to the hospital. That should take priority. But that's a tiny minority of cases.

I will admit having a very big pushchair

It collapses but still takes up a lot of space when folded

I need it to be big and bulky though. I have a very bad back and I'm on strong painkillers for it, could be for the rest of my life.

I can't use strollers. They hurt my back more. So the big pushchair helps because it's something to lean on as I walk.

Glitter I would imagine if the right of wheelchair users to access the space they fought for was better upheld then we would see more wheelchair users on buses again. I know at least 2 who now avoid them because they are so disheartened about never being able to access the only space they can actually use.

I can never understand why people make such an unholy fuss about this topic. It's very, very rare that you have to fold for a wheelchair, as only a minority of people with disabilities use a wheelchair, and even fewer of that group use public transport.

Perhaps because some of us have been the ones that were in the wheelchair or had a child in a wheelchair and were not able to get on the bus because the people with the prams/pushchairs wouldn't move or fold. More than once.

FizzBombBathTime: Well, sorry to hear that. You would have the choice to take your child to a school where people shared each and every one of your opinions. Can't think of what other recourse you would have, though.

Oh, and it wasn't very rare. It was a fair number of times, sometimes more than once a day.

I don't know how you can post that and then claim to not be disablist!

Anyway surely you would know one of your pupils and their carer well enough you could trust them to hold your baby while you collapse the pram?

RacoonBandit: Sorry, no.

Trifle you're talking about breaking the law, so when you end up in the daily fail 'teacher refuses disabled student access to bus because of pram wars', all your students and colleagues would find out what a nasty bigot you are. There's no room for bigots in education.

Sirzy: Some of my pupils I would trust to hold my baby. Others not so much, as I am sure you can imagine. But I wasn't the one who raised the issue of my pupils - this is nothing to do with the main debate.

You would stop your disabled student getting into the disabled spot on the bus, because you need to "stand your ground for your child" you are a delight!

Bubblebathwater: If I didn't need the space I wouldn't insist on occupying it over a stranger. That the person requesting me to move was someone I knew wouldn't and shouldn't matter, as I would move for anyone if that was a reasonable option.

I seem to remember being astonished that you were a teacher on a previous thread too, about rape. If posters are regularly horrified by stuff you post to the point where they question your profession then maybe that is something you should reflect on.

Someone with a pram should always move if a wheelchair user needs the space.
Personally I don't like the fold up buggies, so I only ever use the proper pram, which is fairly big. But I'd always move or get off the bus if I had to.
Where I live the buses do have a space for a wheelchair one side and a space for a pram/ pushchair the other side though. So it's a lot easier. When possible I put the pram in the pushchair space, so the space for a wheelchair user is clear. But if there is already a pram in the pushchair space I put the pram in the wheelchair space. But would always move or get off if I needed to.

trifle did you read my post explaining how you are behaving in a disablist way by not accommodating the wheelchair user, even if unintentionally? I think you do display a lack of awareness of disability issues.

I don't think you ever answered me as to whether you think I as an able bodied person without children should move from a priority seat for you and your child, and if so why?

Former babe, not everyone wants a stranger to help them. And not everyone likes slings. Personally I think they are so dangerous and I'd never ever use one.