Wheelchair user on the bus

[Penguinpower]

Yesterday I was taking my grandmother (in a wheelchair) to hospital on the bus (London bus) and unfortunately it was rush hour as appointment was 9.10

When the bus turned up it was completely rammed and no way we could get on. The bus driver yelled down the bus that people needed to get off to let the wheelchair on and he would give people a ticket so they could get on another bus for free. Unsurprisingly people did not want to do this, a couple of people did but most people ignored and my grandma was uncomfortable with the situation and told the bus driver not to worry. The next bus that came was also rammed and so I called a taxi.

So this is more of a WWYD but do you think people should get off to let wheelchair on or not? I’m in 2 minds as around 10 people would have to get off to let us on and they could then get on other buses easier. As easier for them to squeeze on. However, they have paid for the bus and as it is rush hour they would most likely be heading to work as no one would choose to be on that busy a bus if they didn’t have to be.

My grandma doesn’t think they should have to get off and I think I probably agree but the bus driver obviously thought they should. So what do you think?

Dobby they're not "giving up the spaces". They're moving to let the wheelchair user into their ONE wheelchair space! Where they move to is their problem. Tough. Shouldn't have been in the allocated wheelchair space in the first place! Stop making other passengers problems a wheelchair users problem. This is akin to the current issue of transwomen pushing into womens spaces. Butt out everyone, sort your own problems out! Lobby for more pushchair spaces like disabled people lobbied for a wheelchair space, fgs!!

Shouldn't have been in the allocated wheelchair space in the first place!

I don’t think that’s the issue. The issue isn’t people using the space, but refusing to allow a wheelchair user use of the space if they need it

If a bus is too full to allow a wheelchair user on then I hope no one else is allowed to board either.

I don't get how you decide who gets off. People don't get on busses intending to stand in the wheelchair space, you find what space there is and there is a lot of jostling and moving as people get on and off.

I don't get how you decide who gets off

The persons in the relevant space

That is the problem with having the standing capacity including that space. It should not include that space.

In the city I live, a number of us have emailed the city bus company requesting that the wheelchair space be gated off somehow. Suggested they make a small increase on all fares, to help with costs.

“I don't get how you decide who gets off

The persons in the relevant space“

As SnuggyBuggy says no one necessarily gets on a bus intending to stand in the wheel chair space, later passengers just shuffle on to a bus pushing the people already on the bus into any available space. So a passenger may find themselves forced into the wheel chair space whether they meant to be there or not. Arguably the later passengers who forced the earlier passengers into the wheel chair space should get off as it was their presence that led to the space being used. Who would referee that argument??

Perhaps there should be a rope or something else to prevent any standing in the wheel chair space?

I really wouldn't want to be on a bus with that argument taking place