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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to use tube escalators with pushchair

141 replies

LegoVsFoot · 27/04/2023 07:26

I was chatting with my friend who thinks it's unreasonable that I don't take my buggy up or down tube escalators. My stop has a massive one so I go to the next and walk.

I know some people do but I think it looks really dangerous especially when they're so steep. AIBU?

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 27/04/2023 07:27

I thought you had to fold buggys? It looks terrifying to me, no way I would do that.

Heroicallyfound · 27/04/2023 07:28

Do what suits you, you don’t need to justify it!

Personally I wouldn’t fancy handling one of those escalators with a pushchair and child and presumably bag(s) too.

Tradescantia252 · 27/04/2023 07:28

Is is dangerous (or could be?) and you're not supposed to - but what is the alternative?

Unless your stops are near enough that you can walk from one which has a lift (not many).

PuttingDownRoots · 27/04/2023 07:30

Of course YANBU. People do and there's their own choice, but as individuals keeping our children safe is our first priority

NoIncomeTaxNoVAT · 27/04/2023 07:31

Its totally fine for you to do that if you want to so YANBU for that but you shouldn't judge what others choose to do so i voted YABU for that. Im perfectly happy amd confident at taking the buggy on the tube - and to get to a tube with a lift, I'd need to take 2 trains and at about 45mins onto every journey, so im not going to do that.

Wowzel · 27/04/2023 07:31

Once you've done it a few times it is really easy. I couldn't have lived in London without doing it

Yerroblemom1923 · 27/04/2023 07:31

We just got a cheap one from Mothercare that folded up really easily and quickly for the Tube or used a sling/baby carrier-style thing. You have to fold pushchairs so something lightweight and quick to collapse is the answer.

NoIncomeTaxNoVAT · 27/04/2023 07:32

NoIncomeTaxNoVAT · 27/04/2023 07:31

Its totally fine for you to do that if you want to so YANBU for that but you shouldn't judge what others choose to do so i voted YABU for that. Im perfectly happy amd confident at taking the buggy on the tube - and to get to a tube with a lift, I'd need to take 2 trains and at about 45mins onto every journey, so im not going to do that.

Gah! Meant to say i would need to take 2 buses! Oh for the edit button

TrueScrumptious · 27/04/2023 07:35

Well, it’s up to you, but it’s normal to take a pushchair on the escalators. I used to do it.

sallylondon · 27/04/2023 07:36

I think you're much more likely to come to grief with a folded buggy and a babe in arms. It's really not difficult to roll onto the step and lift one set of wheels (front or back, depending if you're going down or up).

I would argue that it's much more hazardous carrying the buggy (with baby in it) up and down short flights of stairs which the underground is peppered with. Especially when you're in your own on reliant on a stranger to help.

That said, if you're near enough to walk between stations then why not? Very few, particularly in the central area, have step free access though.

Jibo · 27/04/2023 07:38

I think you're a bit U - fine if you can get home with a one-stop difference and a longer walk but what if you need to go somewhere else? Have you tried doing it when you've got another adult with you so that they can carry DC and you can practice doing escalators with the empty buggy? There is a bit of a knack to it.

Catsmere · 27/04/2023 07:42

Aren’t prams, buggies, wheelchairs etc banned from escalators everywhere? They certainly are where I live (Australia). Way too dangerous for the child, the adult and anyone below them, I would think.

WoodenFloorboards · 27/04/2023 07:43

Your choice. There are lots of buses and the number of tube stations with step free street to train access is gradually improving.

Personally I preferred not to take the pushchair on escalators unless DH or someone else was with me for extra support (a lot of the time I had a Phil and Ted which was very unwieldy or was inexperienced and nervous or pregnant). But I've been on tens of thousands of tube escalators and never seen any incidents.

Catsmere · 27/04/2023 07:44

ETA I’m boggled that the Tube doesn’t have lifts at every station with stairs or escalators. How the devil are people supposed to manage?

WoodenFloorboards · 27/04/2023 07:51

Catsmere · 27/04/2023 07:44

ETA I’m boggled that the Tube doesn’t have lifts at every station with stairs or escalators. How the devil are people supposed to manage?

The Victorians weren't great on disability accommodations. If TfL couldn't operate a station unless it had full level access then they'd just have to shut a bunch of central London stations with disastrous consequences.

The theory is that accessible transport is provided by the bus network (since c. 2000) and the tube network is being upgraded to full level access gradually.

WoodenFloorboards · 27/04/2023 07:53

And yes, you are explicitly permitted to take single unfolded buggies on tube escalators - the alternative of forcing you to fold them would be less safe I imagine.

TheHoover · 27/04/2023 07:56

Oh Jesus I have nightmares just thinking about this scenario.
Who ever said its not allowed is correct - a simple risk assessment could tell you why. But people take risks every day so…..

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 27/04/2023 07:59

I used to do it all the time many years ago - no choice when you catch them frequently. Would make sure the chair was facing upwards - so would go on backwards if going down with the pushchair above me.

Wouldn't have wanted to do it with a massive push chair though.

mynameiscalypso · 27/04/2023 08:02

It's very normal to take a buggy on the escalators on the tube - they even have guidance on the TFL website on how best to do it safely. I would always use a lift if there was one but otherwise, it's quite easy to jam yourself in.

WoodenFloorboards · 27/04/2023 08:04

TheHoover · 27/04/2023 07:56

Oh Jesus I have nightmares just thinking about this scenario.
Who ever said its not allowed is correct - a simple risk assessment could tell you why. But people take risks every day so…..

No, they weren't correct. This is from the TfL conditions of transport.

Not to use tube escalators with pushchair
Wilkolampshade · 27/04/2023 08:08

It absolutely IS allowed:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/terms-and-conditions/ticketing-and-travel-conditions-of-carriage

... But you're not 'unreasonable' not to.
Personally, was hugely grateful for the ability to do so when mine were tiny, but then the next stop was some distance away....

Not to use tube escalators with pushchair
Yerroblemom1923 · 27/04/2023 08:14

Just use a harness and ditch the buggy. That way you're hands free to carry your bag and hold the rail.

Topseyt123 · 27/04/2023 08:16

I see people do this and think it looks extremely dangerous. I know I wouldn't have been able to do it when my children were that age. I don't have the best balance anyway.

Unfortunately, an awful lot of tube stations still don't have lifts because they were built during the Victorian era when those with any form of disability were barely even acknowledged, much less catered for in public buildings.

The system is being upgraded where possible (and it may not be possible for all stations), but it is a very slow and expensive process. You do gradually get to know though which stations do have lifts, or "step free access" as they call it.

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 08:18

So don’t do it. You don’t have to.

Equally other people are happy to.

BananaCocktails · 27/04/2023 08:20

I used to do it but if your pushchair is particularly heavy or big I’d say don’t do it
I did it once with lots of shopping bags ( yeah I’m an idiot ) didn’t realise the weight and as the escalators starting moving up the pram started to fall backwards and I could not control it and keep myself up luckily someone ran to help me
never did it again