Taking the buggy off of the bus for a wheelchair

[GoAgainstNicki]

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?

And if a wheelchair came on, you could just walk your dog elsewhere in the bus.

I don’t understand why the wheelchair user has priority if you both need the space? So I understand if it’s an older child in a stroller, that will fold down - you can all get on. But not a young baby in one that doesn’t fold down.

I wouldn’t move personally, I’m sure everyone would be outraged but I really don’t get why they can’t wait for the next one.

Not if its a massive dog. You'd have to get off.

@Devoutspoken technically it is the 'Wheelchair Space" but when people are sensible and have a small buggy then there is generally no problem with the space being shared.

Because it is a space for WHEELCHAIR USERS. That prams can use if it's free.

A quick Google on the experience of being a wheelchair user on public transport would cure your ignorance and lack of empathy.

A wheelchair user cannot fold up their wheelchair. Parents have the option of buying a pram that folds.

I wouldn’t move personally, I’m sure everyone would be outraged but I really don’t get why they can’t wait for the next one.

They can't sit in any of the other seats. The only way the bus is accessible to them is that space. The bus has to be accessible to them by law. The only person who has priority over a wheelchair user in that space is a wheelchair user who is already in that space.

Jesus.

I don't know whether this is a post-covid thing but I remember on more than one occasion in those mythical pre covid days a parent taking their baby out so they can fold and just handing the baby to the nearest person with a "here hold this a moment" 🤣
People are obviously more reluctant to touch other people's babies these days (oh I miss tickling babies little footsies).
In my experiences a bit of coordination and helping each other out everything usually works out fine.

Yup, you would, if you could not sit at the back and let dog sit in the aisle. I suppose we need to accept that buses are primarily there to transport humans.

I am happy to learn but I won’t have discussions when someone insults me.

you lose the power of your point when you’re rude.

@Ocrumbs I was on a bus recently where this big gangly dog plonked himself down by the door and stretched himself out like a massive rug and would not move (much to the embarrassment of the owner). Everyone had to step over him to get off.
But bizarrely everyone thought it was funny because the dog was quite adorable.

Someone with a baby has a lot more choices in how they get around, they can pick prams suitable for public transport, they can collapse the pram and sit down, they can use a sling, they can walk if needed.

a wheelchair user doesn’t have those choices.

Add to that the fact that the only reason there is an accessible space in the bus is because disability rights campaigners fought to make it happen. They fought for a wheelchair space. Sadly a not to small minority of parents seem to feel entitled to this space no matter what rather than realising they are basically borrowing the space until it is needed by a wheelchair user.

reasonable adjustments for a disabled people are a legal requirement. Having a baby isn’t a disability

Oh for pity's sake - this was not that difficult and nor was it shit.

We had umbrella fold pushchairs which were a vast improvement on the heavier type my parents had a wrangle and fold up on buses.

The OP is not unreasonable on the subject of continuing tickets and if a child is using a pushchair as a wheelchair then you need the badge and you can use the wheelchair space.

Everyone else needs to fit around that, including planning for traveling with lightweight gear which can be folded up and not taking half the nursery when you go out.

In London you can get an onion delivered within an hour, there is no actual need to carry "bags of heavy shopping" with a pushchair as there was for previous generations in the city.

@HelsyQ if you wouldn't move, the bus driver should phone the police and have you put off.

Yeah I agree. Or you have to get a small lap dog if you get buses.

My experience is from 2012. I lived on an Army camp several miles from town (not through choice, thats where the Army sent DH). Beyond the camp was a small village.

We had 3 buses a day. None on Wednesdays and Sundays. They were always rammed.. including often 4 or 5 pushchairs. So waiting wasn't an option. We all had to get on. So... we folded. Shopping in a backpack. Nothing underneath. Bus driver was patient... especially at Tesco bus stop! I did it when absolutely necessary only. I cried with joy the day I got my license.

OP has the option to get off Bus driver should help with that when she's making their life easier. I used to fold on London buses when visiting so that twin (and triplet!) Mums could get on.

OP.. I hope you can get a Medical Equipment badge as many people have no understanding of disabled children.

Really? I didn’t know that.

where I’m from, which is more rural the seats for wheelchair users and pushchair are all the same. I’ve never seen this situation occur either so my point is all hypothetical tbh.

I guess they would have had good reason for implementing it though which is fair enough.

Wheelchair users have put up with this shit for years. I can understand why some people may be angry enough about it to come across a little rude.

Yes. There are about 50 other seats on a double decker that a perfectly able bodied person can use. There are priority seats for people who need them. This is just ONE space for wheelchair users. It's not hard to get out of it when a wheelchair user needs it.

If you can, you should and if you can't, then people should accept that. Does that mean I'd have to get off for a wheelchair user if there were two buggies on already? Does that mean I have to wait sometimes for three buses?

"Ooh 40 years ago you'd have HAD to do it...". Well frankly 40 years ago my eldest wouldn't have survived for me to have to do 15 miles each way for hospital checkups with his twin brothers and an o2 cylinder so it's a rather moot point.

oh fair enough, I get that. I found everything you wrote informative and helpful thank you.

Except from having a baby isn’t a disability, I know that, that was a bit unnecessary/rude/sarcastic. Probably wouldn’t have read on if you’d led with that which would have been a shame because you changed my mind.

Fold up prams aren't even a new concept (pictures taken from Google).

Yes yes it does (unless you are in a wheelchair)

nah, it’s never a good place to start when you’re looking for change. You turn people off immediately.