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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think people with umbrella strollers should fold on the bus?

36 replies

gezelligheid · 21/12/2022 15:22

I've just been waiting for the bus at a bus station (a few different buses doing different routes) and I had 4mo DS in his pram with carrycot, and there were 2 other women with prams. One had a foldable umbrella stroller with a child about 3.5 years old in.

They got on first and I tried to get on and asked if the other woman could fold her pram down and she refused saying she's not folding it down just to put it back up again. She told me I should fold mine down if I want to get on (the carrycot needs to be removed, and then it's a 2 hand fold and I had nowhere to put DS if I did that) and there's no point in her putting hers down because then she will need to put it back up again. Meanwhile her child was shouting to get out of the pram.

In the end I had to wait until the next bus on that route which was 30 minutes because I couldn't take my pram down without taking it apart and couldn't hold DS whilst doing that.

Is it unreasonable of me to expect people with older toddlers to fold down their umbrella strollers on the bus in favour of people with tiny babies?

OP posts:
PeekAtYou · 21/12/2022 15:26

I don't think that you can have a rule about this. Maybe the mum can't control the 3 year old out of the pram ? A moving bus is no place for a 3 year old to walk around if they are the fidgety type. Did she have bags like shopping ? Were there enough seats ?

It would have been nice if she did fold her pram (30 mins is quite a long time to wait) but letting a 3 year old loose might have caused inconvenience to everyone.

Theunamedcat · 21/12/2022 15:28

You need a pushchair you can fold for buses

Laiste · 21/12/2022 15:28

This is an interesting variation on the pram/pushchair/wheelchair theme!

I'm on the fence tbh. I was going to ask if she got the toddler out of the pushchair - i was wondering if the child was a handful and better kept in the pushchair white on the bus - but you wouldn't know as you didn't get on.

Unhelpful reply - sorry :)

LadyDanburysHat · 21/12/2022 15:28

Yes, I think she should have, especially with a child old enough to sit on a seat. However, you should also have a pram/pushchair that you can fold on the bus too.

Heyln · 21/12/2022 15:29

It is annoying but they're entitled to travel on the bus too and might have a difficult to contain 3.5 year old. Sometimes we can't tell other people's situations by looking at them.

Laiste · 21/12/2022 15:29

while on the bus

SnackSizeRaisin · 21/12/2022 15:30

Hmm I think all pushchair users should be prepared to fold them and if she was there first then it's tough luck if you didn't want to fold yours. If a wheelchair user got in then of course she should either fold hers or get off.

Laiste · 21/12/2022 15:31

If you're going to be doing a lot of travel on buses you should get something easily folded OP.

You'd have to fold or get off if a person with a wheelchair needed the space.

Anewhoo · 21/12/2022 15:31

You have to have first come first served or they’ll be carnage! Who would get to pass moral judgement about what children need to be in the pram, why should the non foldable pram have priority, etc. The bus driver has enough to get on with without refereeing pram disputes!

Laiste · 21/12/2022 15:31

x post!

ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 21/12/2022 15:31

It would have been nice of her to do that, but if you are going to be a frequent bus user it would be good if you could also work out a system not to take up a wheelchair space - because ultimately a wheelchair and their occupant would take president over both of you.

Sirzy · 21/12/2022 15:32

Persoanally (unless being used as a disability aid) then I think anyone using the bus with a pushchair should have one they can easily collapse.

but otherwise you have no more right to the space than anyone else does just because of your choice of pram.

wheelchair users (including specialist buggies for disabled children) get priority and beyond that it’s first come first served.

DuplicateUserName · 21/12/2022 15:33

It's up to you to buy a stroller if you're travelling on buses.

PeekAtYou · 21/12/2022 15:33

I agree that all buggies need to get off for a wheelchair.
What I've learned through my many year on here is that you don't know who has invisible disabilities. Maybe she can't carry her 3 year old off the bus ogle or physically restrain him if he decides to get down from his seat etc

Needmorelego · 21/12/2022 15:34

You shouldn't use a pram on a bus. They are too big.
The 'buggy space' was never intended for prams.

Athenen0ctua · 21/12/2022 15:40

gezelligheid · 21/12/2022 15:22

I've just been waiting for the bus at a bus station (a few different buses doing different routes) and I had 4mo DS in his pram with carrycot, and there were 2 other women with prams. One had a foldable umbrella stroller with a child about 3.5 years old in.

They got on first and I tried to get on and asked if the other woman could fold her pram down and she refused saying she's not folding it down just to put it back up again. She told me I should fold mine down if I want to get on (the carrycot needs to be removed, and then it's a 2 hand fold and I had nowhere to put DS if I did that) and there's no point in her putting hers down because then she will need to put it back up again. Meanwhile her child was shouting to get out of the pram.

In the end I had to wait until the next bus on that route which was 30 minutes because I couldn't take my pram down without taking it apart and couldn't hold DS whilst doing that.

Is it unreasonable of me to expect people with older toddlers to fold down their umbrella strollers on the bus in favour of people with tiny babies?

You can get fully reclining umbrella strollers suitable from birth. I don't think a carrycot is suitable for public transport if it's that difficult to fold it down when needed.

NumberTheory · 21/12/2022 15:40

I don’t think folding push chairs on buses is practical most of the time. Buses are rarely stable enough to do it, drivers rarely wait while you fold or give you time to get everything together safely when you need to get off, there’s no where safe to put a child or baby while you fold, there’s rarely anywhere safe to put the push chair after you’ve folded, and buggies are also frequently holding bags that you would also have to find space for and manage while folding and looking after a child. I’m not surprised people don’t do it.

Original poster
gezelligheid · 21/12/2022 15:42

I think next time I need to get the bus anywhere I'll use the baby carrier to save any hassle unless I really really need the pram.

With umbrella strollers for the bus, I was under the impression they were only suitable from 6 months due to not being a firm flat surface? Luckily I don't get the bus that often, so hopefully it won't be an issue common enough for me to buy another pram.

OP posts:
cavily1806 · 21/12/2022 15:43

Hmm I see what you mean but remember having to fold mine for a lady with a (older) baby in a pram with DD1. I was wobbling around trying to fold it and carry the multiple bags of shopping that I'd had hanging off the handles while the bus drove off and DD screamed for me as I'd had to ask an old lady to hold her for me while I did all this. It didn't feel very reasonable as a request at the time

PeekAtYou · 21/12/2022 15:44

I had a Maclaren that was suitable from
birth as it lay flat but a carrier is probably the best idea for a while.

Athenen0ctua · 21/12/2022 15:44

gezelligheid · 21/12/2022 15:42

I think next time I need to get the bus anywhere I'll use the baby carrier to save any hassle unless I really really need the pram.

With umbrella strollers for the bus, I was under the impression they were only suitable from 6 months due to not being a firm flat surface? Luckily I don't get the bus that often, so hopefully it won't be an issue common enough for me to buy another pram.

No, you can get fully reclining ones

Thunderpunt · 21/12/2022 15:45

What you needed to do, on seeing 2 pushchairs ahead of you in the queue, was to have legged it back to the previous bus stop and got on first....

Original poster
gezelligheid · 21/12/2022 15:48

Thunderpunt · 21/12/2022 15:45

What you needed to do, on seeing 2 pushchairs ahead of you in the queue, was to have legged it back to the previous bus stop and got on first....

That's smart! A bit naughty, but smart! 😂

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/12/2022 16:03

I get the "fold" argument, and am long past the buggy phase, but where do people actually put folded buggies on busses now? Ours have zero luggage storage, so where would a folded buggy go? Especially if you then have to put the 3yp on your lap too.

clarrylove · 21/12/2022 16:08

How about a sling?