Pram debacle on the bus

[bibetyboo]

Boarded the bus today with 9mo asleep in pram, underneath of pram half full. In the designated pram area there were a couple of shopping trolleys that had been left by two elderly passengers. The driver asked for them to be removed so that I could fit pram in, but both of them contested that I should not have been let on the bus and ought to have waited for the next one.

The driver looked at me and apologized and I replied that it was fine, I would just stand with her somewhere out of the way (the gangway really). It was pissing down with rain, and buses here come every hour.

Whilst standing with pram, both trolley owners began to mutter, enough so I could hear, about my being on the bus. That I ought to have waited for the next bus, that it's ridiculous as in their day they would have to take the pram down. I was entitled and privileged. Lots of sighing and eye rolling.

At this point I'm fuming. I've let it go, not challenged the trolley parking and am just trying to get home. Acquaintance of trolley owner begins to witter on about how on earth he will get off the bus with 'that woman and her baby'. Trolley owner explains nice and loud, 'she'll just have to get off in the rain'.

Patience. Reached. The bus is PACKED at this point. I ask 'acquaintance' to mind his business and asks both trolley owners why they are so hateful towards a young woman, getting on the bus with her baby, followed by, in the fog of rage, telling them to simply 'fuck off'.

All parties were silenced and the remainder of the bus journey was tense to say the least. It involved a few three point turns and reversing to allow other passengers OFF and ON.

Now I feel terribly guilty that I shouted at an elderly person.

EQUALLY, I've come to realise there is an old sun culture within the elderly or let's say 'older' community. This bizzare disdain for the 'youth of today' who have 'never had it so easy'. Lol, come see me when we remortgage next month (HELP).

Was I unreasonable to tell them where to go?

They're being unreasonable, those areas are priorities for Prams & wheelchairs NOT shopping trolleys!
Good on you for giving it to them 😁

Of o was on that bus I'd of given you a high five 🖐️

You're all assuming that the space the trolleys were in was for wheelchairs and buggies. London buses for instance have wheelchair spaces. If a wheelchair isn't in that space then it's fair game for any use, buggies don't get secondary priority. Where were the trolleys meant to go if the buggy went in the space they were in? Wouldn't they then have been blocking the aisle? They were unreasonable making sarky comments

Posted too soon...but you were being unreasonable expecting them to move (depending on what the usage policy is on the wheelchair space is.)

You were in the right - until you swore at them.

At that point you lost all respect and your behaviour was no better than theirs.

Yes, but the pram still should've been taken down and not blocking the aisle space - so what they said is perfectly correct and exactly what Stagecoach themselves describe.

Thats complete bullshit @Eunoia That space is for prams and wheelchairs, NOT a the overflow area for all the things that random pensioners happening to be carrying. The TROLLEYS should have been moved to accommodate the PRAM.

@bibetyboo I’d have told them to fuck off too. Good for you

YANBU shopping does not take priority over a child. They're selfish cows.

Was it a Stagecoach?

There was room, it was just occupied by their trolleys.

Wheelchairs should take priority over prams, but shopping trolley bloody well shouldn't.

I don't blame you, they deserve to be put in their place, because people are too polite that's why they continue to do it and get away with it.

No it's not complete bullshit. You're supposed to take prams down rather than block the aisle, especially in a packed (as the OP describes) bus. So both parties were as wrong as each other. OP had no right to aggressively challenge and swear at elderly pensioners when she was just as wrong as they were.

If the trolley-owners had done as the driver requested, the pram wouldn't have been blocking the aisle.

They deserved it, I’d have made them move their crap too!

Oh gods sake of course we can swear at rude pensioners.

They don’t suddenly drop dead because you told them to fuck off.

Sometimes, they need a good telling off as some are incredibly entitled and fuck off is the only language they know

Nope. Nonsense @Eunoia .

There WAS room for the pram. It was simply being taken up by the shopping trolleys of 2 idiots. If OP got on and so did another pram/ wheelchair user, then a pram would need to be taken down.

No need to take a pram down to accommodate selfish idiots who ALREADY have seats, but also fancy spreading all their belongings over the bus.

Youre clearly selfish too though, so I’m sure you’ll never understand the point

Regardless, she easily could've taken the pram down, which is what you're supposed to do. Both as wrong as each other in terms of bus etiquette and rules.

I would have done the same and then felt guilty about it afterwards once I had calmed down. They sound like people…not!

Agreed.

The driver is in charge of the bus. He/she asked the pensioners to move their crap so that the pram could have been accommodated. If he/she had asked the OP to fold down, I'm sure that the OP would have obliged.

People are often really rude to wheelchair users on busses

YANBU. They were rude and entitled.

I'm in London and get buses almost every day. There is always a pram on (or me with my pram) i have never seen anyone take it down.

I don't understand how they can be so devoid of Empathy.... They would want you to stand in the rain for an hour with a sleeping baby instead of move their trolly - it's mind boggling

Was there an alternative space for them to stow their trollies?

I mean, I'd have suggested one...

Op had every right to tell them to fuck off! Not only were they entitled by taking up space not designed for their trollies they were also rude and goady. Good for you op.