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?

And those going on about twins. They had twins in the olden day's and people still went on the bus.

Bishop

Everyone who wants equal space for buggies, get out and campaign for them. As it stands, you're currently riding on the coattails of disability rights campaigners and taking advantage of their hard fought battles to gain equal access to public transport.

Generations of women managed to take babies and children on buses before these WHEELCHAIR spaces ever existed.

"have less rights than disabled people"

Fewer.

Yes Piglet?

Sirzy And if you move your pram out of the space intended for wheelchair users then there is no reason both you and the wheelchair user can't get to their appointment on time! actually no there's a two limit on the bus. On the new buses round here one side is buggies with a sign saying you may need to fold and one is for wheelchairs with a sign saying move for a wheelchair. You could easily fit two buggies and a w/c but oy a maximum of two allowed at one time.

I know not all disabilities are visible, but there are options with a baby like a sling. Obvs Trifle isn't a crunchy mother. IN days gone by you'd have to have the buggy folded down to get on the bus. Surely whilst you're waiting you can transfer DC to a sling?

Life in a w/c 24/7 or as in, in it all waking hours is not fun. There's so much that isn't accessible. Still shops that you can't access or major chains that make trying to get around a nightmare with being poked in the eye with a coathanger or having to eek past a massive display hoping on your life it doesn't topple.

Life is a lottery, I became unwell at 5 years old. There was no warning at all, it just happened. Like the other Mum said accidents happen with life changing disabilities. I'm so sorry that happened to your daughter.

I think it was KitKat, it's a common attitude with a lot of bus drivers, like we're an inconvenience. I would take it up with your MP to get some action against the company.

All my DC survived on my lap from an earlyish age. As I said is disabled folk have children and don't have the option of a buggy. People were more than happy to help control the other DC whilst I was assisted onto the bus. I don't need a CRB check, I'm grateful or was grateful that people were kind enough to help.

I'm glad of today's ruling, I'm sad that there still will be issues with Mum's not moving. But grateful that the vast majority of MN's are on our side.

Maybe it won't be just the bus driver you face but passengers too offering to assist you so the W/C bound person can have that spot. If you refuse I can't imagine you'd receive positive feedback. But you could get a bit of fame as people would love to record the tantrum & share.

I hope you understand that many disabled people are housebound except when they need to leave, life is hard enough already without facing someone questioning their self worth.

There's the whole bus to be special and justified and unreasonable and chunter in. It takes a special level of cuntiness to insist on doing it in a wheelchair space.

bishop although some people put twins in stretchies the manufacturers say it's dangerous and don't recommend it. Having tried it myself I agree and they're certainly not suitable for the sort of not-short trips out that involve buses.

I have a twingo which I'm going to try for the first time this weekend. But you can't use that until they have decent head control so with twins often being early that can be up to 6/7 months.

Unless you're quite an experienced slinger who can make complicated ring and wrap slings, slinging is not a simple or easy option in the early months for twins. And for larger groups of multiples no option at all.

Compulsory folding is a terrible idea. Compulsory getting off if you can't fold is a much better idea.

Personally I think that on the spot fines to those that refuse to move to ensure it's enforced would be a good idea too.

Surely you know there's st least 7 peadophiles on every bus just waiting to run away with a baby oh and factor in the smugglers two.

And most people are up and running normally 3 weeks after giving birth never mind 5! Most people have older kids and you know have to crack on with the school run etc.

Good grief

I haven't read the thread.
My routine as I got to bus stop was to put baby in sling, organise bags, put ticket in teeth, fold buggy and sling it over my should with a strap. Get on bus, swipe ticket, perch or sit if possible.

Everyone else did the same. I wasn't superwoman. It may be inconvenient, but less so than needing to use a wheelchair.

The simple answer is more space for both on buses. Not everyone is in a position to fold their pushchair / pram / buggy. Not e everyone with one is a selfish bitxh who is just off for a quick coffee with her friends. People have hospital appointments, jobs, school etc. And yes you can leave earlier but of your journey involves several buses and its an early appt, there's a limit to how many times you can say yeah sure I'll wait in the rain with the baby cos we're less important than anyone else on the bus

Servicesupportforall: If you believe what most people on MN seem to think, everyone is a potential paedophile. Now I don't think this, at all, but I am still not going to ask a stranger to hold my baby while I fold a pram. Not a chance.

Oh whinge whinge whinge. Where did I put my tiny violin.

The simple answer is more space for both on buses

Yes...so go petition it then.

On the spot fines would be brilliant but again who will police it? What would the bus driver do if someone refused to get off, refused to pay and then became aggressive

Not to mention Trifle that in this day and age not everyone is willing to hold you child for fear of something happening! Or on a busy bus when you can't actually get to the people sitting down - hi lady holding on as the bus goes round a corner, hold me 4 week old please?
Might help is drivers didn't pull off the second the doors shut

My routine as I got to bus stop was to put baby in sling, organise bags, put ticket in teeth, fold buggy and sling it over my should with a strap

No, not superwoman, but I couldn't do this. I am not physically strong and I wouldn't be able to carry shopping, a baby and a pram onto a bus.

Trifle why are you acting as if that's your only other option

God help your child(ren) being raised by such an ignorant mother

*So you're back to the get off the bus cos whatever YOU have to do is less important than EVERYONE ELSE. Not just those using a wheelchair but all the able bodied too whose seats could easily be converted to fold up seats.

So screw you mom who needs to get to nursery and work or the doctors or whose child is due a feed and a nappy change and its raining because you're just not as important*

Once again, very slowly for the PFB lot. You are not less important, but you DO have the luxury of walking and therefore getting to these places in another way. Like PP have pointed out, wheelchair spaces on buses were hard fought for by disability campaigners, so it's a bit rich that you commandeer them and play the entitled card.

In short, get over yourselves. Being a parent doesn't make you special.

hi lady holding on as the bus goes round a corner, hold me 4 week old please?

Of course this is ridiculous and everyone here must know this.

FizzBombBathTime: As if what is?

Please try to rein in the insults if you want any other replies.

But we don't need to do we Soubriquet, cos its much easier to vilify all parents of children with pushchairs as lazy, selfish etc.

My need to get my child to a hospital appt isn't any less significant than anyone else's need to travel. I always try and park in the buggy space over the wheelchair space and have oy ever

I am not physically strong and I wouldn't be able to carry shopping, a baby and a pram onto a bus.

The hearts of the wheelchair bound throughout the land bleed for you. Not.

trifle, I am five foot tall, weigh 8 stone and am the weediest person in the world and even I could hold the baby under one arm and fold a buggy! You don't need to be Geoff bleedin' Capes.

Having small children is a fairly small era in most people's lives, so extra planning, allowing extra time, or simply not going so far is a temporary thing. It's not the end of the world if your choices are limited for a few years. People who use wheelchairs are likely to be restricted for significantly longer.

Oops only ever been on one bus where there was no space for a wheelchair user and she happily waved the bus on, vs the number of parents left as bus stops due to lack of "space" due to the two-rule