To be livid with this bus driver

[NeitherNowtNorSummat01]

So, I was on a double decker bus today with my 2 year old son. We sat upstairs at the back. When the time came to get off the bus, we pressed the button, the bus stopped and we started to get off. Half was down the stairs, the drivers pulls off, I lose grip of my son (who was holding my hand) and he falls head first down the steps.
Son screamed (and screamed and screamed). Bus driver said 'is he alright' I said 'no, clearly he's not alright... why didn't you wait' and he says 'you took too long getting off the bus'
After a short conversation (I was a bit cross) he kept repeating, next time get off the bus quicker!
Would I be unreasonable to complain to the bus company
(Son is covered in bruises... and I got off the bus and cried!)

What is the OP supposed to do Going? Keep popping up and down the stairs to check for empty seats? OP is not being at all unreasonable in expecting a bus driver to wait until passengers are safely off the stairs before pulling away.

Conditions of carriage are the terms of service, they're what you pay for when you board the bus and they exist to protect passengers, drivers and the bus company. Many of the items in the conditions of carriage document are legal requirements or are mandated by the HSE or the company's insurance providers. The OP acted in accordance with the conditions of carriage and the driver was in direct violation of them. End of.

Oh and when I catch a bus locally people do stand up before the bus has stopped (including myself) but I wouldn't call it etiquette or the unwritten bus law, just a personal choice. It is the bus drivers role to make sure everyone is off before pulling off allowing for those less mobile, slower etc. On this occasion, he didn't fulfil that role, and his reaction was unprofessional.

Could you not have stood with your child when one became available or is that impossible because standing with a two to at your feet when there's nothing really to hold on to or a two yo in your arms impeding your ability to hold on is so much safer??

^dear mn, I got on a bus with my son. It was busy so I made sure I stood in the aisle with DS (2) holding on to me. Unfortibately the driver kept pulling off sharply, cornering like mad etc and DS feel over. I told him to suck it up and stop being so precious. I did concede to pick him up but I got tutted at anyway. Anyway, there still weren't any seats after the first stop so I carried him and the driver braked suddenly. Me and DS went flying, he's not got a cut on his head and I've hurt my arm.
The driver told me I should have sat upstairs and a few other people glared when I told DS to stop crying till he'scold enough to pay his own bus fair. He's not precious or important, he's just a noisy toddler. He wanted me to sing to him to make him feel better but I told him I absolutely would not do that on a bus as other people have more right to make noise than him.
Aibu? ^

Yabu. Pick up your child and get off faster.

YANBU OP - I hope your son is okay - you where behaving in a safe and sensible manner - the driver should have checked the mirrors

I'm saddened by some of the nastier responses - this place seems harsh at the moment

mommagee

Feline have my first ever

This thread is giving me the rage!

I'm just about to go out in the car if I see any toddlers crossing the road I'll now them down if they're not quick enough ok?

If any get in my way in a shop I'll be sure to tut and glare at their mum as I am on a tight schedule and don't want to be late.

Little slowcoaches should stay in the house until they're able to somersault off the top deck of a bus as it passes the stop, thus the bus doesn't even have to change down gears or move into the bus stop. Much more time efficient.

Good on you mines I refukarly tell my 2 to how unimportant he is and me by association. Especially as I'm a SAHM so I'm not even doing anything worthwhile unlike the WOH parents who clearly don't like their kids. Only on MN are the parents of small children so openly despised.
.Might take the horrid thing out in his buggy, that wheelchair space looks like its near the front for swift departure...

Overinvested?

Yanbu op. The bus driver should make 100% sure that anyone getting off is off before pulling away.

Some people will take longer to get off through no fault of their own. I'm 39 weeks pg ATM and suffering badly with sciatica so take a decent amount of time getting up and moving from a seated position...I would be furious if this happened to me right now just because of an impatient bus driver.

Ooh biscuits, reminds me I haven't had breakfast yet...

Definitely complain!

I live in a London and have never in my life seen a sign asking people to remain seated until the bus stops. What do you do when the bus is full, are people allowed to stand?

I do think sitting at the top and at the back of a bus wasn't very well thought through. I work with children and when we go on trips it's pretty standard advice to walk down the stairs in front of them. And in an ideal world, someone downstairs would have given your son a seat, a child so young is entitled to a priority seat, as it is unsafe for them to stand.

It's really difficult with small children and public transport - you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. That said - in London at least - the convention does seem to be that you are ready at the door to disembark when the bus stops, so possibly the bus driver thought that you weren't getting off there after all? Kids do mess about with the stop buttons, so he possibly thought you'd changed your mind when nobody actually got off after a few seconds. I'm sorry your son was hurt.

Yes that's right you should make your way down some steps with a toddler when the bus is still moving and hope it doesn't have to break quick.
Ffs no you should not bloody have to walk down some steps when the bus is still moving esp with a young child.
The amount of times I have seen young children or an elderly person getting thrown about because the bus goes before there even near to seating.
Yes I do understand that they have a schedule to keep to but on most buses I've been on it states to sit and NOT get up until the bus has stopped.

It's so mean to give an unpopular opinion on an opinions forum isn't It? Silly me.

Feline you sound like a nasty piece of work hope you never hurt yourself or need help in public like OP and her child. Like to see you descend steep steps on a moving bus with a toddler in your arms. Have a good day being perfect 💩

I apologise for the remark, I'm possibly over sensitive after someone being deliberately horrible to my toddler on a bus a few days ago, also over seating/safety. But I stand by my opinion that you're being goady.

This thread has at least been fantastic in revealing the most cuntiest of arseholes!

I'm not goading in the slightest, it was a concise opinion and I am just as entitled to post it as you are entitled to get snarky about it.

Definitely complain he knew you were coming down and deliberately pulled away

Quite frankly I am disgusted by some of the replies on here saying basically it's your fault. Anyone who's been on a bus would know there are signs saying don't stand until the bus stops. Obviously as happened in this case it is very dangerous coming down stairs while bus is moving as they could make sudden stops. Every bus I've been on has stopped long enough to allow those coming down stairs to get off.

I would complain as well OP

YANBU