Buggy on escalator

[CassandrasCastle]

is this a huge no no? I did it in John Lewis today because I couldn't be bothered walking all the way to the lifts, and the woman behind me told me to be careful 😬 I told her thanks for the advice, although may have been slightly sarcastic in tone. I've taken the buggy on escalators in the tube etc. as well

YABU in fact in most places it has a sign to say (usually very small on the bottom of the escalator) no buggies.

I wouldn’t
My friend saw this go wrong for a parent once. Just a minor misjudgement on the step going down and the pushchair fell from top to bottom. Thankfully child unharmed. Parent and those around very shocked. Some shops have a central pole just before the top or bottom of escalators to stop people taking a chance which I think is a good thing.

She probably felt she had to say something to protect your child. You may do it all the time but it only takes one time and your child wiggling unexpectedly for it to end as a traumatic event. They probably have signs advising against it for their insurance. Just use the lift and stop being lazy.

I took buggies on the tube escalators weekly from when DC were weeks old
The only comments I ever had were people asking if I needed a hand

Can’t see the issue
You wheel the buggy on, you hold on to it, you wheel it off

Unless it’s a double which stops people walking up or down the outside, how is it anyone else’s problem or business

Well personally I would never have done that. It just doesn't seem safe to me
But I have seen others do it...

For the sake of a few steps to the lift, is it really worth the risk?

All escalators have a sign on saying no pushchairs. But I used to take mine on them with no issues.

When my DC were small our tube stop only had escalators, ie no stairs or lift. I did it hundreds of times with no incident. In general if the lift is an option take it, but no biggie if not.

how is it anyone else’s problem or business

Well until it goes wrong, which it can, and the pram is hurtling down the escalator towards them of course!

Once saw a pram fall down a very steep escalator. It was horrible. I don't know what happened to the child as I was rather young at the time and my family moved me away from the scene. Not worth the risk.

I never did it. In most places there are signs forbidding it.

I don't have great balance, so wouldn't have felt safe with a buggy on an escalator. I think they look very unsafe.

Totally depends on the buggy and the strength of the person pushing it. I had a bugaboo bee and could pick it up and carry it up and down stairs if I had to - I used to be VERY strong . Going on escalators I collapsed down the handle to change centre of gravity: was very safe.

No way would I ever go on an escalator with our other buggies (silver cross and mountain buggy) - totally different kettle of fish. Also tried friends buggies which I think would have been totally unsafe on escalators. So my answer is : depends!

@Sirzy

how is it anyone else’s problem or business

Well until it goes wrong, which it can, and the pram is hurtling down the escalator towards them of course!

Is this another MN hypothetical catastrophising situation that never actually happens, like hotels catching fire if you leave a DC asleep in a room, or cars catching fire if you leave them strapped in while you pay for petrol..?

In decades of living in London and getting the tube daily, and years of using the tube with a buggy, I have never seen or heard of anyone dropping a buggy down an escalator

It’s probably less of a risk than a drunk woman in heels falling down one, so maybe let’s catastrophise about that next..?

I was behind a buggy on an escalator up once when the mum got the wheel stuck as she was getting off. It caused chaos as a whole lot of us bunched up behind her with nowhere to go, having to step backwards down a moving escalator in order to not end up squashed. It could have been disastrous if there were children or elderly people with me. It's really not a good idea.

Depends how confident you feel I think. I’m not that confident but my husband is. I wish I was as there are so many places I can’t go as there are barely any lifts at most tube stations!

Isn't this the reason most escalators have poles at the bottom?

Every escalator I've seen has had signs saying no buggies anyway - it's just not safe to balance something like that when the wheels can catch so easily.

@whereislittleroo

I was behind a buggy on an escalator up once when the mum got the wheel stuck as she was getting off. It caused chaos as a whole lot of us bunched up behind her with nowhere to go, having to step backwards down a moving escalator in order to not end up squashed. It could have been disastrous if there were children or elderly people with me. It's really not a good idea.

This! All the people saying it's fine I've done it loads of times and it's no one else's business are really selfish. Stop doing it.

I've spent a very long time pushing a buggy round London, and never for one minute considered taking it on an escalator.

I'm not at all risk averse, but that sounds insanely dangerous.

I've voted YANBU although agree with PP - it depends.

I have taken buggies on escalators more times than I can count (I assume all of these 'they all have signs saying don't' 'I would never do that' people didn't ever need to use the tube with a buggy - most stations don't have lifts, and in many cases the stairs are definitely a less safe option. Sometimes I preferred the sling for public transport, but when I was hauling two kids and all our crap for the day, yes I used the buggy!). I always felt a bit heart in mouth, but I was strong and focused and had chosen a buggy (also a bee!) which fitted and balanced well and I feel you can't entirely do away with risk but I was an acceptable risk to me. And when you've done that enough times, it starts to feel a bit silly to inconvenience yourself (and often others) by diverting to a lift, contributing to a queue for people who absolutely do need the lift etc.

This is one of those things that many feel is a guidance/ rule that doesn't apply to them. Until the day comes that they or someone they know has the misfortune to have an accident.

Then they'll be creating merry hell at all and sundry and anyone who'll listen and threatening legal action and all sorts.

I’d never do it in a shop - there are always lifts and it’s just not necessary, plus there are signs saying not to do it. I have done it on the tube on occasion because I’ve had to - many many stations don’t have lifts. Like a pp I have a bugaboo bee which I can lift if needed and it has a wrist strap. I still hate doing it and will often put the baby in the sling so I can drag the buggy. Accidents happen and it doesn’t bear thinking about!

@CassandrasCastle

is this a huge no no? I did it in John Lewis today because I couldn't be bothered walking all the way to the lifts, and the woman behind me told me to be careful 😬 I told her thanks for the advice, although may have been slightly sarcastic in tone. I've taken the buggy on escalators in the tube etc. as well

Well the signs on all escalators saying no buggies should be a bit of a clue.

I've never done it.

A long time ago I had to rescue a woman with a buggy who was in trouble behind me coming down. Thankfully I righted it for her before all 3 of us would have gone tumbling down. She was lucky I was there at all. Stepping onto a descending escalator always gives me the creeps, I usually seek out a stairs or lift instead.

We take the tube a lot, where there usually isn’t any choice except to use the escalators, so I don’t believe that a shop escalator is really any different and I use them all the time.

My husband and I disagree on this. He always thinks we should go on the escalator because the queue for the lifts is often long, but I'd much rather just wait a couple of minutes for the lift.