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?

[Spikeyball]

Mammylamb, lots of people with disabilities suffer from depression, caused by the shitty attitude of others.

Accessible buses on my local route appeared about 5 years ago. When my son was a baby/toddler/preschooler we had to fold. He is now a wheelchair user. I don't take him on public transport because I cannot face pram battles on top of everything else.

[GreenGinger2]

Um Service you do realise folding isn't the issue. The lack of extra sets of arms to hold 3 under 15 months and the accompanying bags of shit they needed was the issue.

I had a fab folding buggy( Nipper 360). Couldn't have a sling as neck back issues. I had Pnd and was told to get out every day. If even at a slight risk you are told to get out every day.No car.

Sorry banning parents of small children and babies from public transport is ludicrous. These threads are MN at it's worst. A thread posters use as an excuse to pile in,bully and attempt to see who can outdo each other. Is nobody mature enough to think of ways to make a shit system everybody needs to use better? We all pay enough. Trains are extortionate,shit and unreliable. But no same old same old. No constructive discussion just mass bullying and hysteria.

[IcaMorgan]

Cheshire TfL doesn't have that rule which is why I was left in pouring rain for 3 buses in a row last week and there wasn't even a buggy on any of them, just a driver who didn't want the hassle of putting the automatic ramp down. The whole time I was on the phone putting in a complaint to TFL about the first driver, I was on the phone 35:16 .

[LumelaMme]

Ah, x-post with Soar
I can't keep up with this thread. I'd best bugger off now before I really do explode.

[SaorAlbaGuBrath]

Disabled people not disabled being, fucking auto correct!

[MrsKoala]

I don't think relying on other passengers help is a plan you can depend on. What if you can't do it alone and everyone says no? I've never been offered help with my children or buggy on the bus. (i'd happily ask and let strangers hold my children tho, just thinking if that was the only way its a bit risky)

[BeyondTheStarryNight]

Btw, here we have a double pram sized space and a wheelchair space.
This setup should probably be compulsory.

[expatinscotland]

'Expat - I assume people in my position didn't go to any appointments and lived in more misery. I suppose i would have 'survived' but my life would have been much worse and i was already pretty low, so i don't really know.'

And then, after a while, the children grow and don't need a buggy. The person in the wheelchair, however, will still need the chair. The space is only there because disabled people campaigned.

And all this 'mums' and 'mum'. So men with babies and children don't use buses?

[corythatwas]

I am perfectly happy for empty wheelchair spaces to be used by prams and buggies- why ever not?

But as a frequent passenger with a generally helpful attitude, I would far rather by asked to hold someone's twins while they got on a bus than to hold a 45yo disabled man while somebody folded his wheelchair. The first task I think I could manage safely and competently, the second might be a bit of a push...

[MommaGee]

I'm all for disabled rights, they should be treated like they were equal to normal people. But harming normal people, dragging them down to the same level, does not help anyone, least of all the disabled themselves

You think my beautiful 19 month old is abmornal? You think getting off a bus and waiting in the fucking cold would bring you anywhere NEAR to the level of what .y amazing, strong 19 month old has gone through? How many operations did you have last year? How many people made you cry because they hurt ypi trying to make you better? How many people loomed at ypi and judged ypi for the tubes on your face? Oh right, none.
Nothing in the works could drag you UP to the level of my disabled son

[SparkyStar84]

No one is advocating abuse of any sorts.

I think that able bodied mothers should use some planning for what if 'this,that,the other' happens.

Disabilities can occur from birth till old age, so obviously disabled children are covered, if in a p/c or pram, then maybe a small note to advise the bus driver. Like many people use with disabilities that aren't that obvious. Bathroom cards for example. Shouldn't have too but it makes your life easier.

There's so many variables, but I think planning is a big issue. It applies to w/c users like myself too. The main point was that the person who was adamant they wouldn't move, had no reason not to move. That's why this post is so long and so many opinions aired.

[KatherineMumsnet]

Hi all,

Many thanks for your reports. Please bear with us while we go through them - rest assured, we are looking.

As lots of you will know, disablist posts are against Mumsnet's Talk Guidelines.

As well as obvious abuse and pejorative language, we take a dim view of posts suggesting that it's wrong to implement measures that enable people with disabilities to live a full life, or which seem to say that service providers shouldn't make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can use services. As well as being potentially disablist, we think that such posts don't fit with Mumsnet's basic philosophy of support and advice for all parents. If you see any posts that you think we need to take a look at on this basis, do please report them to us.

Of course, it's hard to fold up a buggy on a moving bus - especially with a very young baby or more than one child - but the fact is that wheelchair users have priority in law. While we realise that not everyone may have been aware of this, or indeed agree with it, we'd be grateful if posters could bear that in mind in any future posts on the topic.

Our This Is My Child campaign has lots of information about the ways that people can make life a bit easier for disabled people and their carers.

This isn't about limiting valid debate, and of course some people may be posting in genuine ignorance. But where we think posters are refusing to engage sensibly with a debate, or appear to be unwilling to take on board the points that other posters are making, we will take action.

[BillSykesDog]

barbarian given that 80% of my local bus drivers are cunts who get in a strop when they have to kneel the bus I can't really see them being prepared to sit holding a baby for me. Nor am I asking a stranger to hold a baby for me when I have no idea if they're suffering dementia or severe MH problems or if they're in a situation where it would be very distressing for them (failed IVF, miscarriages etc) or they just don't want to.

And I don't see why I should have to go round a bus begging for help and delaying everybody's journey every time I want to travel when I can just get off on the rare occasions a wheelchair user needs the space.

There are so many barriers to parents of multiples getting out and about and they are often so isolated I just don't understand why anybody would put more barriers in their way when there is a perfectly good alternative available if we just get off the damn bus.

[GingerIvy]

But as a frequent passenger with a generally helpful attitude, I would far rather by asked to hold someone's twins while they got on a bus than to hold a 45yo disabled man while somebody folded his wheelchair. The first task I think I could manage safely and competently, the second might be a bit of a push...

cory

[Sirzy]

So which of you "bus companies need to make better provision" are starting the campaign then? Let's not forget that disabled access didn't happen over night it took a lot of time, fighting and campaigning for the changes to be made.

[corythatwas]

MrsKoala Wed 18-Jan-17 18:15:37
"I don't think relying on other passengers help is a plan you can depend on. What if you can't do it alone and everyone says no? I've never been offered help with my children or buggy on the bus. (i'd happily ask and let strangers hold my children tho, just thinking if that was the only way its a bit risky)"

That is really sad. You mean you ask every time and both the passengers and the drivers actually say no? That's never happened to me- that is horrible. At the very least, the driver always came out of his seat if asked.
What do they actually say when they refuse? I'm shocked by that.

[JanuaryMoods]

I expect Trifle thinks it's ok to park in disabled bays, after all her pushchair is every bit as important as a wheelchair.

Give up, people, you can't fix stupid.

[IFartGlitter]

Normal people?! The disabled?! Dragging them down to their level?!

Fuck me.
Fuck me.
Fuck me.

I've seen some disablist shite on here over the years but this takes the piss.

[GingerIvy]

As well as obvious abuse and pejorative language, we take a dim view of posts suggesting that it's wrong to implement measures that enable people with disabilities to live a full life, or which seem to say that service providers shouldn't make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can use services. As well as being potentially disablist, we think that such posts don't fit with Mumsnet's basic philosophy of support and advice for all parents. If you see any posts that you think we need to take a look at on this basis, do please report them to us.

Do we have to report each and every one? If so, just do an auto-delete on pretty much every post by Trifleorbust because it's easier than us all going through and reporting each and every bloody one.

[Spikeyball]

Why would your baby be unsafe or starving?

[Trifleorbust]

JanuaryMoods: Of course I don't, as those spaces are exclusively for disabled people.