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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking the buggy off of the bus for a wheelchair

288 replies

GoAgainstNicki · 21/12/2022 15:46

I know in other places in the UK, there are buses that have no back doors so there’s a space for a wheelchair user and then buggy users. It’s not like that in London so the one space that’s available is for wheelchair users. Buggies are allowed to use the space if not needed by a wheelchair uses but need to get out of the way if necessary.

There’s been quite a few times where there’s been myself and another buggy on the bus when a wheelchair has needed the space. Each time, the other parent refuses to get off of the bus (even when I’ve got on first), so I get off to make space for the wheelchair. I also don’t like embarrassment so I’m not going to argue with another parent when a wheelchair user needs the space.

Now I’m always happy to get off for a wheelchair especially as buses come super frequently. However my issue comes with drivers not giving me a ticket to say that I’ve already paid to allow me on another bus. Just a few days ago, I didn’t have much money on my oyster but enough for my journey. I needed to take two buses within the same hour which I could afford with the money on my oyster. A wheelchair wanted to come on so I started to get ready to get off, no problem. I asked the driver if he could print a ticket as I no longer had money on my oyster (the one hour was up) and he said no!

Luckily a bus driver let me get on without paying but AIBU here? Why can’t it be standard practice for drivers to give you a ticket stating you’ve already paid if you have to get off for a wheelchair user?

OP posts:
Badgirlriri · 21/12/2022 15:48

I didn’t even think about this OP! Totally unfair for you to have to pay again so YANBU.

PeekAtYou · 21/12/2022 15:48

I agree. They should issue the ticket every time for people like you who get off early.

gogohmm · 21/12/2022 15:48

Why can't you collapse your pushchair, that's what we had to do when mine were small (and carry it up steps!)

pieceofpasta · 21/12/2022 15:49

Yes I agree. If they can't provide the service to you then they should refund or provide a ticket for you to use on the next one.

GimmeBiscuits · 21/12/2022 15:50

Also makes me think that instead of wasting money on new logos and rebounding, bus companies should be making their vehicles more accessible for more users.
It is unfair that you should have to pay twice to make one journey because the vehicle you are using isn't adapted sufficiently to accommodate it's range of users.

OneTC · 21/12/2022 15:52

In our area you don't need to extend your oyster, it stays validated for 30 minutes or whatever and if you scan it again you don't get charged again

WaltzingWaters · 21/12/2022 15:53

Absolutely, they should refund or provide a ticket for another journey if they’re not providing what you’ve paid for. Very kind of you to change buses and awful of the driver not to acknowledge that and give you a ticket.

BertieBotts · 21/12/2022 15:53

This is why I always found it stressful. I wouldn't have been able to afford another ticket, and you haven't always got an all day/all week ticket.

GreenPeacock · 21/12/2022 15:54

The Hopper fare gives you unlimited bus rides in an hour with your Oyster so you don't need a validated ticket anymore. tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/bus-and-tram-fares

HermioneWeasley · 21/12/2022 15:55

Why don’t you just fold up the buggy and hold the baby?

GreenPeacock · 21/12/2022 15:55

Oh wait I think I've misunderstood. You'd gone over the hour at this point?

Sigma33 · 21/12/2022 15:56

If you in London then you won't be charged - you can use an unlimited number of buses within an hour for the 'single' fare of £1.65.

Moraxella · 21/12/2022 16:01

I’ve often wondered this as I get 2 40min buses, so the hopper fare applies to the first but wouldn’t apply to a third bus otherwise it would be a rolling hour and you could go on infinitely

Waitingfordecember · 21/12/2022 16:01

I never thought of this but of course you shouldn’t have to pay twice!

Buses to my nearest city centre only come every 45 minutes so I have never dared use one with a pram. It’s not worth the risk of having to get back off.

jtaeapa · 21/12/2022 16:02

HermioneWeasley · 21/12/2022 15:55

Why don’t you just fold up the buggy and hold the baby?

It sounds easy but isn't.

Cass289 · 21/12/2022 16:02

They should be giving you a ticket OP and next time I’d be refusing to get off until they do!

For those saying just fold up the buggy. It takes 2 hands to fold up my buggy and my baby can’t sit or stand independently yet so it would be impossible for me! Different if they’re a walking toddler with good enough balance to stand for long enough on a busy bus.

NameIsBryceQuinlan · 21/12/2022 16:03

I thought the new tfl rules were you can take multiple buses within an hour anyway? Only charged once

GreenPeacock · 21/12/2022 16:03

Sigma33 · 21/12/2022 15:56

If you in London then you won't be charged - you can use an unlimited number of buses within an hour for the 'single' fare of £1.65.

This is what I thought but the OP does say that the hour was up, I missed it first time. So if you are say on the journey home, or the second bit of a journey in the hour and get kicked off your bus then you do have to pay again.

9am, get a bus. 9.55am get bus home, 10.05am get kicked off bus for wheelchair = hopper expired so bus driver should give you a ticket to transfer.

Notanotherone6 · 21/12/2022 16:03

HermioneWeasley · 21/12/2022 15:55

Why don’t you just fold up the buggy and hold the baby?

Fine, as long as you've not got a cart load of shopping with you. It's not always that simple.

clarrylove · 21/12/2022 16:04

Fold up umbrella buggy would help.

somethinsomethin · 21/12/2022 16:05

Cass289 · 21/12/2022 16:02

They should be giving you a ticket OP and next time I’d be refusing to get off until they do!

For those saying just fold up the buggy. It takes 2 hands to fold up my buggy and my baby can’t sit or stand independently yet so it would be impossible for me! Different if they’re a walking toddler with good enough balance to stand for long enough on a busy bus.

I've never been on a bus and had to fold where someone hasn't seen me struggle and offered to hold DD while I got it up on the rack. If not I'd just ask the nearest person, surely?

NameIsBryceQuinlan · 21/12/2022 16:05

Oh you'd gone over the hour wow that's a long bus journey.

Yes driver should have given you something

Fuwari · 21/12/2022 16:06

For those saying just fold up the buggy. It takes 2 hands to fold up my buggy and my baby can’t sit or stand independently yet so it would be impossible for me

I was a single parent with a small baby in a buggy in the days when you simply couldn't just wheel it on. Hence I spent time practicing at home how to do it one handed and hold the baby. Sometimes I'd have a handbag and shopping with me too. Better that than having to get off the bus.

Samcro · 21/12/2022 16:06

no one gets "kicked off" a bus for a wheelchair user. thy rightly get asked to vacate the wheelchair space.
yes of course they should get a ticket to use on another bus if the choose to get off if a wheelchair user needs the space.
why not start a campaign?

Anywherebuthere · 21/12/2022 16:07

HermioneWeasley · 21/12/2022 15:55

Why don’t you just fold up the buggy and hold the baby?

It's not always so easy to do this.

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