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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Made to get off the bus

122 replies

RedCandyApple · 24/12/2021 21:52

I was out today with my son, he had his scooter with him that has led light up wheels, it’s a push along scooter that ride with your feet, the lights on the wheels are powered by batteries, he is only 7. We wanted to get on the bus and the driver asked me if it was an electric scooter, I told him that it wasn’t and walked onto the bus and put my buggy in the pram area then put the scooter under the pram basket, the driver then got out of the seat opened the door and followed me down the bus, he told me it was an electric scooter because he “saw lights” I told him that it wasn’t and that it was powered by batteries, he was having none of it he refused to acknowledge it wasn’t an electric scooter, it’s only a tiny scooter and my son is only 7 there is no way it even looks like an electric scooter. All he kept repeating was an electric scooter because of the lights and told us to get off the bus! He refused to look at the scooter for me to show him it wasn’t. It was pouring down with rain and dark outside but he made me and my children get back off the bus or he wasn’t going to move. I felt really intimidated and got off the bus, even as I was getting off with my children he was pressing to shut the doors before my 4 year old had got off nearly trapping her in them, as I got off I told him I would be making a complaint so went to the front of the bus to take a picture of the license plate, at that point he came out the driver area again and open the bus doors and started shouting at me, I got a very good picture of him aibu to make to find his behaviour shocking?

OP posts:
ASimpleLampoon · 24/12/2021 22:54

Gonna steal This reply for future use. Autism does not mean shitty behaviour. Fed up of people who seem to think that it is.

Rosebel · 24/12/2021 22:57

@Annike4

Bus driver made a mistake, so you are going to get him sacked so you feel powerful. He's probably taken abuse all week from people refusing to wear masks, abusive drunks etc. Get a life :(
So what if he had a shit week (or month)? I get abuse daily at work but because I'm not a complete arsehole I don't take it out on the next customer. Complain until they listen.
RedWingBoots · 24/12/2021 22:58

@Boatingforthestars you are right.

OP TFL have a policy that no electric scooters can be taken on the services they operate. No excuses

The bus driver clearly thought your child's scooter was electric. If you live in London you need to complain directly to TFL plus above TFL's head to your MP and the your London assembly members to point out that children's scooters with lights on the wheels movement is not powered by electricity so they shouldn't be caught under these rules.

Oh and the fact you said they had a battery made your case worse.

Pegasushaswings · 24/12/2021 22:58

OP, report it now as most bus CCTV expires after 10 days or sooner. I used a bus twice with a buggy and both times got grief off the driver, even though it folded up. Didn’t bother after that!

RandomMess · 24/12/2021 23:02

You can write to say that the staff need training on what is and isn't an electric scooter and to take more care with the bus doors!!!

So make it a constructive complaint and if they discipline him that is up to his employers.

So sorry this happened how utterly awful to be forced off especially in the bad weather Sad

flashy44 · 24/12/2021 23:02

YANBU makes sure you complain ,dont let this get swept away.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 24/12/2021 23:04

Even if it was an electric scooter, surely if it fits and you’re not riding it up and down the bus, there’s no issues. What an idiot.

Growuppeople · 24/12/2021 23:06

But why? Since when can’t you take electric scooters on a bus? Why didn’t you ask him? I get multiple buses everyday It just doesn’t make sense

Danikm151 · 24/12/2021 23:08

Definitely complain.
Obviously don’t know the area but the bus company I work for wouldn’t stand to hear of this happening. They won’t know unless you speak up

debbrianna · 24/12/2021 23:10

There are signes everywhere now saying no electric scooters on the underground due to fires caused by scooters. OP, the batteries are the problem.

ChiefStockingStuffer · 24/12/2021 23:12

@Annike4

Bus driver made a mistake, so you are going to get him sacked so you feel powerful. He's probably taken abuse all week from people refusing to wear masks, abusive drunks etc. Get a life :(
No, he didn't. He was a complete and utter arsehole who refused to listen to a perfectly explanation that would have clearly shown him to be wrong. AND to top it off, he booted off a mother and her young children into the pissing rain and dark whilst doing it.

I hope he is sacked.

Original poster
RedCandyApple · 24/12/2021 23:12

The batteries are AAA batteries 🤦🏻 It’s not electric

OP posts:
WonderfulYou · 24/12/2021 23:12

Definitely complain.
Try and remember the time and bus number too so they know who was driving that route.

It’s one thing to say you’re not allowed on the bus - that’s completely his choice whether he had a valid reason or not, but to get out and shout at you is very rude and unprofessional.

Canigooutyet · 24/12/2021 23:20

I wouldn't have got off the bus. I would have taken out the batteries and put them in my pocket/bag to show him it's not an issue.

Although technically he was right. The scooter is able to light up so is electronic. Not all e!electronic devices require mains. It's about the circuitry and what happens.

ExtremeIroning · 24/12/2021 23:22

TBF I think scooters have been banned if they have batteries because they have been catching alight. But your scooter would be ok

HaveringWavering · 24/12/2021 23:22

What an idiot he was. As if a 7 year old would have an electric scooter! What happened next, did you get the next bus or have to walk?

Was this TFL?

Pinkypenguin · 24/12/2021 23:23

@thefourgp

Wonder if he is on the spectrum and doesn't understand.

I don’t like it that there’s always a poster suggesting someone’s on the autism spectrum when they’re being a total dick. The two don’t go hand in hand.

You should absolutely report the bus driver. What a disgusting way to treat you and your children.

I know. This drives me crazy and is so insulting to people who are on the spectrum. It happens on practically every thread where someone's being a tosser. That or they may have Alzheimer's, even where the OP says the person's always been like that.
HaveringWavering · 24/12/2021 23:24

@Canigooutyet

I wouldn't have got off the bus. I would have taken out the batteries and put them in my pocket/bag to show him it's not an issue.

Although technically he was right. The scooter is able to light up so is electronic. Not all e!electronic devices require mains. It's about the circuitry and what happens.

The OP’s son’s scooter is as dangerous on a bus as a toy with batteries in it, like a remote-controlled car. Or a rampant rabbit.
Scautish · 24/12/2021 23:27

@sleepyhoglet

Wonder if he is on the spectrum and doesn't understand. You certainly need to flag this. So unreasonable. Had you paid for a ticket as well? I would be fuming and would have tried to refuse to leave. I wonder what the other passengers thought
Yet another bigoted, ignorant ableist statement from yet another Autism-bashing MN poster.

When is MN going to address this, rather than just deleting (when reported)? Ableism relating to autism is a HUGE problem here.

debbrianna · 24/12/2021 23:27

Yes, 7 yes can have an electric scooter. My neighbor. Most of them didn't/don't have the big chunky chargeable batteries like adult ones.

DirtyDancing · 24/12/2021 23:30

@Annike4

Bus driver made a mistake, so you are going to get him sacked so you feel powerful. He's probably taken abuse all week from people refusing to wear masks, abusive drunks etc. Get a life :(
Oh please. For goodness sake, firstly he was wrong & being a dick. Secondly OP didn't say get him sacked- make a complaint. It's unacceptable and at the very least the driver needs to understand the error of their ways so it doesn't happen again.
lastchristmasigaveyoumyheart · 24/12/2021 23:32

@Annike4

Bus driver made a mistake, so you are going to get him sacked so you feel powerful. He's probably taken abuse all week from people refusing to wear masks, abusive drunks etc. Get a life :(
I doubt he will get sacked, but hopefully he will be re-trained on the difference between an E scooter and a 7 year old's scooter with light up wheels!

If he wasn't doing anything wrong, why did he need to act so aggressively towards the woman when she took a photo of the bus?

OverTheRubicon · 24/12/2021 23:41

@debbrianna

There are signes everywhere now saying no electric scooters on the underground due to fires caused by scooters. OP, the batteries are the problem.
You know that your phone also has a lithium battery, and phones have causes many fires? Unless you think that anyone with a smart phone (or smart watch, or a bag containing a torch, vtech toy, or vibrator) should also be chucked off the bus, it makes no sense to kick off a child with AAA batteries.

There are specific issues with some of the scooters due to lack of regulation and quality issues, and also their much higher voltage. AAA batteries have been around a long time, are highly standardised and have a voltage of around 1.5 V. Scooters are neither of the above and tend to have 40+V. Hugely different circumstances.

starfishofbethlehem · 24/12/2021 23:46

It does sound like he over reacted, however if you look at the terms and conditions of travel, drivers have the right to refuse to allow any item onto the bus.

Ohmybod · 24/12/2021 23:53

I think bus drivers put up with an inordinate amount of flack from the public. But in this case, the driver sounds completely in the wrong and I’d be raging. Complain, OP, and hope he gets a talking to that prevents him from doing this to someone else.