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?

Haha sonyaya I need that special wheelchair!

What pisses me off is when my kids were little, I used buses quite a bit. There weren't any fancy buses with buggy spaces then, so I chose a pushchair with bus useage in mind. No, it isn't easy to hold a baby, fold down a pushchair and stop a toddler running off, but lets face it, people have being doing it since buses were invented.

Your right to have a wanky tank of a buggy does not trump my right to get to where I need to be. You have a choice. Smaller buggy/sling/carry the baby. I don't have a fucking choice. I have a large electric wheelchair that only just goes on the bloody bus in the first place. My disability prevents me driving. I have to get to hospital appointments. If the selfish cow with the buggy decides that she is so much more important than me, then I could miss my hospital appointment.

I am frequently moaned at by bus drivers because they have to get off their arse to let the ramp down. My chair is referred to as "that", as in "is that thing coming on this bus". The last five times I have used the bus, I have sent a complaint to the bus company about their drivers' attitude to disabled people. I get back a stock "so sorry but not really interested" reply.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, given the general disablist undercurrent on MN, but I am quite shocked by the utterly shameless attitude of Trifleorbust.

Bye bye trifle. You are an embarrassment to parents and give them all a bad name. Well done that you are "not really bothered" that you being so ridiculously precious enables continued disability discrimination, because that's what it amounts to.

I wish your poor child every health for the future and hope they never have the need for a reasonable adjustment as a disabled person. God forbid, but if this did happen you would be sickened by yourself and the attitude you have displayed.

Thanks for clarifying Sonyaya. Good to hear it. . Nice there is some wiggle room for common sense.

I have to say being in a position with twins where I genuinely can't fold down some wheelchair users have been really kind and considerate to me when I've had things like two clearly hungry distressed babies or it's been very, very cold outside. Such a shame this thread shows there are some people who won't even try and extend the same consideration to them.

Glad to see the vast majority of MNers supporting disability rights. So surprised to see anyone pushing the lamest of arguments to try to trump those rights however. I even have to wonder if those 'arguments' are ring advanced by DM journalist trolls/some such. Because it's just so unfuckingbelievable

Frankly, I would love to see it return to the days where all pushchairs had to be collapsed or were not allowed on the bus. It'd sort this right out, and it worked fine.

Those who are selfish about their newborns will simply come up with another reason once the baby is slightly older. It's the usual response of the entitled.

Clearly taking a bit of a flaming here - am not really bothered. You can all make your choices and I will make mine.

Funnily enough I didn't chose to be in a wheelchair.

I think those selfish fuckwits using W/C spaces with buggies should be told to fold or fuck off the bus.

Disgraceful

Fucks sake Trifleorbust - just learn to fucking drive eh, and spare the general public from the generosity of your ignorance?

I'm so relieved I don't have to encounter such fuck wits where I live.

ginger, how would you work that for parents of multiples? Can we not go out?

If they have a more urgent need to get somewhere then I will move.

Trifle you sound unhinged.

Isn't trifle a troll? I seem to remember them acting like an arsehole on another thread.
Anyway, absolutely delighted with this ruling.About time.

I think the ruling actually gives room for judgement at the time. Reasonable to expect a two year old to get out of buggy, and fold. I had a baby I couldn't use a sling for, nor could I use a buggy as had too much medical equipment attached to carry round. I doubt anyone would have felt it was unreasonable to use that space at that time.

BillSykes No, obviously there would have to be exceptions made in certain situations, I imagine, as some people are disabled and struggle to collapse their pushchair or hold their child.

Trifle

The reason the bus is now so accessible for buggies, as well as shops & restaurants - and places have ramps instead of stairs which makes it so easy for you to take your buggy everywhere, is because disabled people campaigned for accessibility.

Your attitude disgusts me. I hope you never end up with mobility issues and no one helps/gives way to you. Really not really.

ginger, how would you work that for parents of multiples? Can we not go out?

I had a double buggy, fucking impossible to fold/manoeuvre/do anything with. I walked everywhere. Do people using wheelchairs have that luxury? No.

Aww poor trifle doesn't want randoms holding her baby.

Don't worry, should you ever encounter me in my wheelchair, I'm fully crb-ed and can provide references :)

Because it's a wheelchair space. That wheelchair users campaigned long and hard for. Because before they had these spaces, wheelchair users couldn't get on the bus at all.

Trifle I am accusing you of a disability hate crime. you SO are.

I also have a suggestion for you:

tie your legs together for a day so you cant move/walk/stand up.. borrow a wheelchair, sit in it, and try and go out and get on public transport, do not cheat, stay stuck in the wheelchair, and see if you come across your able bodied doppelganger ona bus.

Trifle you just said wheelchairs should take priority over buggies but not prams. If you read all the signs they all say buggies, officially prams are not allowed on buses due to not being able to fold

I'm shocked too.

I am one of those people that bought a lightweight folding buggy SPECIFICALLY to use on public transport. I managed with a toddler and a baby (only 18 months between them). Not all the buses were wheelchair friendly then (only 8 years ago) but hey we managed.

The thing is I could, with a bit of jiggling, get my kids and a buggy, and shopping on a non-wheelchair accessible bus.

A wheelchair user would not have been able to get on that non wheelchair accessible bus.

The wheelchair accessible buses were brought around so that wheelchair users could get on NOT BLOODY BUGGIES.

Some people really need to get a grip.

kitkats I think your experiences are disgusting. Have you thought about borrowing a go pro camera for the next time you go on a bus (even if it's not on, the drivers attitude might soften, if not, you have hard evidence).

kitkat you say there is a disablist undercurrent on MN but there are at least 2 threads today where the majority of posters are battling against the odd entitled poster like trifle

I have two young children (4 and 2) and am almost 38 weeks with my third. I don't drive (dh does) and often catch the bus to go into town with the kids. I walk a lot so have bought a nice big travel system that I'll use on a daily bases. When I bought my buggy I took into consideration the fact I may sometimes need to fold it on the bus and also that my baby will need to be laid flat. So I got one that lays flat, surely that's what you do when you know you will be catching buses. I've also bought a sling so if I know the bus is likely to be busy (often buses are busy at certain times) I can pop baby in the sling ready for getting on the bus so I'm not juggling when already on there. Yep, things have to be planned out and will be hard work sometimes...was my choice to have three children in a short space of time though. And that's just the point, I chose to have children and there are things that I am able to do to make room for others on the bus, even if they are inconvenient. A wheelchair user doesn't get the choice...they can't just fold their chair up! What if every bus has prams on it, do they just never go home?! I'm actually in shock that anyone wouldnt get off the bus or make room for a wheelchair user, shame on you

For those of you doubting Trifle is real, I can promise you that her's is a common enough attitude.

I am one of those people that bought a lightweight folding buggy SPECIFICALLY to use on public transport

Me too. If you know you'll be using public transport then think about what type of pushchair you should get.

Until DS could go in a folding pushchair I used a sling on buses. I did once have a man in a wheelchair ask if i wanted him to move. I have never been so shocked in my life, of course I didn't want him to move I could just fold the pushchair!

I remember standing at a bus stop with my mum and she would fold down the pushchair whilst we waited for the bus. Getting on was much easier and quicker then. Personally, I'd use a sling and fold my pushchair. When dd was little I used to wear my sling underneath my coat even when I took her out in the pram. She was a colicky baby and I needed options! The wheelchair user needs to have priority. A pushchair can be folded. A wheelchair often can't.