Prams taking up the entire pavement

[giadak]

Hi all.

I was wondering if I could possibly get some opinions advice. I was walking down the street the other day. Two ladies were walking with their prams (towards me). As they were walking side by side - and engrossed in their conversations - they didn't seem to notice me walking too. I then said: 'Excuse me, could I get past, please?' They refused to move and gestured that I was in the road. Granted, it wasn't overly busy on the streets, but there were cars coming and going as it was around the time of day that the school finishes.

I know that it is 'easier' for me to walk in the road, but it's also potentially dangerous. One of them could have stopped for a whole second - so as to free up space on the pavement - I could have walked past quickly - thanked them - and that would have been perfectly fine for everyone.

I've also had experienced instances where parents just stand and chat in the street and again - there is no choice, but to walk in the road.

Worst of all - on that occasion, one of their older kids (who wasn't the one in the prom obviously) sped off on his scooter - and they didn't even notice.

Is it unreasonable to be annoyed? I'm the first to help women with prams up the stairs at train stations, I'm the first to offer my seat to anyone that may want/need it - young or old - able bodied or not. I do try, I really really do - but I feel like some people now are just taking advantage. Yes, it might be easier for me to move/walk into the road since I don't have a prom etc.... but why should I have to - and every time...?!

Please help/advise! I'm not trying to start a war - I'm genuinely curious and not sure what to do and/or how to feel.

Thanks.

I've never seen such bad manners. Where do you live

Eggs, I'm in a part of London quite notorious for being Baby City.

I spent my pram pushing years with other mums and never had an issue like that.

Much more likely was that someone (and I may get flamed for this but it 90% women of a certain age) getting in my way on purpose. So much so that on more than one occasion the person with them would give them a shove or tell them off!

I asked one woman why. She was blocking the aisle in Boots and I was waiting patiently at first, I know a buggy takes up space, but after several minutes asked her if she would just move out of the way and she said no. Her reply? "We had it hard".

Vindictive cow!

At the service at motor way or at the mall, I have seen my child hold the door for people.(taught at school as a good manners.)
Some just walk straight through without thanking him.
It's a very good life lesson. Some people are rude. Just don't become one.

I think this is down to people being rude and just happen to be pushing a pram. I had 3 under 3s including newborn twins in a buggy and regularly had to walk in the road or around parked cars, dogs mess, dogs and owners, other prams etc some people just don't notice, others are rude, most are nice it's just the way it is. Now there are regularly 3 of us walking along with me holding 2 hands and I'm made to feel very awkward as if I'm taking up too much space sometimes I want to explain that 4 people even if 3 are small just take up more room!

All kinds of pedestrians have it in them to be twats hogging the pavement not just Pram pushers.

Dog walkers
Runners
Bike riders
Big groups of walkers

Rootvegetables, I don't think you should feel awkward, most people get it. It's either you show gratitude or not to others, and if you do, your children will grow up to be a nice person.

DH always reckons that it's an entitled MC form of behaviour - it drives him mad. And the same parents never remonstrating with their children for their bad manners...

Yes, Enidthecat, drivers not stopping at crossing, particularly when it's pouring down with rain, makes me too. And it seems to be becoming more of a thing.

So you prefer women to be vulnerable and subservient?

No, but I do expect them, as I do all people, to have manners and be aware of their surroundings.

ReelingLush18 MC?

middle-class.

Thanks MichaelBendfaster

Im pushing a double Pram at the moment. It's a beast. Would you mind stepping into the road for me? I often take up the breadth of the pavement all by myself around here
Not really, I don't wanna put my buggy in the road any more than you do

Fuck that.. I'd stand on the pavement on the inside so they'd have go past one at a time

Just stand still so they go around you. I have also recently taken to shouting rather loudly "Get a fucking bell!" after cyclists who speed past us in the park. So I may not be the best person to answer.

@Ladyroookwood

I don’t think you’ve read my post properly nor in its entirety.

I’m not sure how you’ve come to the conclusion that I ‘prefer women to be vulnerable and subservient’. As I said, I’m the first to help women, but I’m also the first to give up my seat for anyone. Man or woman. Able bodied or not.

Yes, they were engrossed in their conversation, but certainly did see me coming. It was the equivalent of looking down at your mobile phone and hoping you’re invisible so you don’t have to give up your seat. This is exactly why I politely asked if I could get past - or ‘made a big deal’ as you put it.

I didn’t decide they were to ‘give way’. I simply wanted to walk on the pavement - as people should. Them included. The fact that I wasn’t ‘encumbered with babies/toddlers’ has no relevance. At no point would I have made someone else walk in the road for me - not then and not ever. Pram pusher or not. I simply wanted for everyone to be able to walk on the pavement. Don’t think that’s a big ask.

Another reason in this instance was because - as I stated in my OP - cars were coming and going given the time of day.

Bear in mind, the reason I posted initially was because this is also a common occurrence. If it was a one-off, it’d obviously be less peeving.

I do agree with you on one of your genius sarcastic points - that anyone (pram pusher or not) who gestures that anyone else should walk in the road - yes - certainly doesn’t know their place in society.

prefer women to be vulnerable and subservient

I wish I’d spotted this gem earlier - it’s hilarious! Since when did having basic manners come under the banner “vulnerable and subservient”?

I would expect any pedestrian blocking more than half the pavement to make way for someone coming towards them wherever possible. Regardless of the genitalia of all parties involved.

I’ve just remembered one particular Pavement Hogger from my primary school run days. They blocked the pavement with themselves and a child held by the hand on each side. After many occasions where they made no acknowledgement of me standing on th muddy verge having moved out of the way for them I started simply standing still on the pavement until they passed in single file. Was I expecting this person to be “vulnerable and subservient” too? They were, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, a man.

I was waiting ages for the lift with a group of people and a lady with a pram came along just after the lift arrived and there wasn't room for everyone. She pulled an obvious face at having not been given priority and no one letting her take their place. I could hear her muttering about lazy and using stairs as the doors closed

Actually people using lifts unnecessarily really annoys me! If you're able to use the escalator/stairs then do so and leave the lift free for people who don't have that option! I often see elderly people with mobility aids and mums with crying babies/toddlers waiting ages for the lift because it's full of people who couldn't be bothered to find the stairs/escalator. Often there is no chair outside so people less able to stand can be stuck for 10 minutes or more while it goes up and down. I would never take the lift unless I have to.

the one time we were not considerate, was when we were going down the steep other side of a level crossing with a double buggy fully loaded with non walking toddler/baby and shopping, and gravity had a considerable part to paly in our progress.

No need for vulnerability - just go one in front of the other for a couple of seconds?

I've been expected to go into the road with my pram before now so that school mum's can stand on the pavement and chat by their cars. I've walked into the road by myself if it's been safe, but I'm not doing it with my baby. Some people are just selfish and rude.

Nope in the same way you can't tell by look at someone that actually pushing that pram is taking pretty much all their pain tolerance for the day and so maneuvering it out of the way for someone else to pass IS asking too much.

Yanbu op it's bad manners, I agree not make eye contact and just keep walking they will soon move when they see you aren't going to go around them.
I usually just say excuse me as if do it to make me seem less rude also and not like I'm just barging through.
I've probably photo bombed many a tourists picture because while one is posing on a pavement and their group are happily taking snaps at the edge of the road I'm not then going to walk essentially in the middle of the rd and go around them when there is only one posing plum standing on a pavement with plenty space.

It's not hard to go into single file for a few seconds so as not to inconvenience others.