Not to use tube escalators with pushchair

[LegoVsFoot]

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?

I’ve always been scared of this too 😂 I always find the lift

God I went everywhere with pushchairs, never knew there were rules against it till later

I’m not surprised at all, I’ve seen several buggies tip on the bus but I’ve never seen so much as a wobble on a tube escalator. Mine has almost done it a couple of times- got halfway over and I’ve been able to pull it back because I had hold of the handlebar. I was adamant I really don’t understand the posters saying take the bus instead because it’s safe because my experience is exactly the opposite.

Yea I’ve seen loads of buggies toppling back on buses. Parents/carers park the buggy and buggar off to the back and sit down. One had a go at me for not stopping it tilting, when I was holding my own one straight. Before I had time to respond a lovely passenger told them basically were to go.

Probably why they started putting that annoying announcement on the bus about staying with your buggy, it’s mad that parents need to be told not to leave their child unattended! I always held onto mine. I still won’t use escalators personally but that’s my decision but I’ve never left my buggy unattended on a bus either 🤷🏻‍♀️ if your buggy tips on a bus it’s obviously going to be less serious that if it fell down an escalator we can all make our own judgment.

i had my daughter on tube escalators from a week old - no stations near me have lifts and we have no car - so if i want to go anywhere / have days out I have no choice really

I have a yoyo pram so it's light and easy to manage! my change back is a small backpack so it's not attached to the buggy

also couldn't use sling for a while after c section!

but did when she was a bit bigger - prefer having the buggy though if out all day as like her to have a nap in there!

Practice! Take the buggy, pop some hea y shopping in it instead of baby and go up and down all day

Does your friend actually think you are unreasonable that you don't use them, or were you saying that they are dangerous and people shouldn't, and she was saying that was unreasonable of you?

Latter seems far more likely.

Statistically, you're far more likely to be injured crossing the road than on an escalator, but no-one is suggesting staying at home all the time.

I did it once and honestly had nightmares after thinking about what could of happened and can’t bring myself to do it again!

Surely if it was so dangerous TfL would be advising single buggies also be folded like other buggies? By them saying it was fine would mean there would be legal cases and
lots of news about how unsafe it is

Walking an extra 15/20 minutes to the nearest station with a lift is hardly a zero risk option anyway. Walking is one of the most hazardous means of transport per mile, far far worse than cars or public transport, because you're at the mercy of any random who's got their hands on a vehicle.

Catching a bus instead is a negligible risk if you hold onto the buggy firmly at all times and are steady on your feet yourself - there are a lot of low level injuries on buses but they're mostly either user error or on the stairs.

I've seen people struggle, thankfully no one ever hurt, and your choice is a reasonable one.

A folded buggy is more dangerous.

Folded buggy at least two things to hang on to - baby and buggy
Unfolded buggy with baby strapped in, there’s only one thing to hold on to.

I did it with an umbrella light buggy. I found it much easier going up than down. And can’t do with shopping bags or heavy DC (or DC not strapped in securely) esp going down - totally understand why some would prefer to walk further. I found going down had to bend over as you are standing higher up than the buggy. Going up is easy..