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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wheelchair vs buggies. Showdown on the bus

323 replies

SweetiePi3 · 14/05/2023 19:30

Today wasn't a good day for me. I had to go to the Princess Royal hospital. I waited for the bus, but when it arrived, the ramp wasn't deploying properly.
After the 3rd attempt, I lined up my chair, and as it came out, hanging an inch or so from the ground, I stormed up the ramp and into the bus.
Coming back, I had to change buses. The bus was full with three buggies in the wheelchair space.
The driver opened the back door and told me he had asked them to make space, but they refused.
I put my good foot in the doorway, preventing him from closing it and driving off.
He told them that I was holding the bus hostage until they made space. One mum folded her buggy, and one moved out of the way.
The third still refused, and while I was trying to explain the law to her, over her shouting, her partner started yelling at me.
I asked them what the sign said, but they said they were there first. I told them that the bus went move until I'm on it.
Meanwhile, people were leaving the bus. They gave in and took their buggy off while I boarded the ramp, then came in after me.
The bus driver drove off with the four of us lined up, one folded buggy, the other two, and me

OP posts:
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Looneytune253 · 14/05/2023 19:33

Good for you for standing up for yourself. You absolutely shouldn't have to though. There's some really scummy people in this world.

Zapx · 14/05/2023 19:35

You have priority. Well done for standing up for yourself. The bus driver should have been having that argument with them not you though in my opinion

theotherfossilsister · 14/05/2023 19:42

It's rubbish that happened to you, I'm sorry.

SausageMonkey2 · 14/05/2023 19:43

Good for you. Sad you have to. What a world.

Reasonableadjustments · 14/05/2023 19:45

Well done you. But it is terrible that you had to do that, so sympathies.

Floralie · 14/05/2023 19:47

Sorry to hear this OP but sadly not surprised. Wheelchairs absolutely have priority and its a shame some drivers don't ensure this is the case. Appreciate it can be tricky for them but it's part of their job. I got the bus a few times with a pram when DS was small and the driver would always say the pram needed to be folded (and offered to help), and that if it couldn't be the space would need to be vacated if someone with a wheelchair needed the space, all of which is fair.

TomatoSandwiches · 14/05/2023 19:48

Good for you but you shouldn't have to have resorted to this, I will and have always advocated for people using a wheelchair when there is a buggy in place before hand and the gentle shaming nearly always works, non wheelchair users need to stand up for the right thing in the same situations as well imo, make it publicly unacceptable for this behaviour to continue.

Sirzy · 14/05/2023 19:48

Good on you!

you shouldn’t have to fight like that but until people start to behave like humans the more people who do fight the more it will help those who don’t have any fight left in them.

Eurodiva · 14/05/2023 19:49

Well done OP but the driver should have intervened .

GeneHuntsCowboyBoots · 14/05/2023 19:50

I’m another who thinks it’s frustrating/annoying that you should even have to do this but I’m also so glad you had the strength to advocate for yourself. Well done!

Mamai90 · 14/05/2023 19:53

I'm so sorry this happened to you, I'm shocked that they didn't immediately move. You shouldn't have had to hold the bus up, firstly they should have moved but just as importantly the driver should have made sure they moved!

I'm on public transport daily with a pram and if someone came on with a wheelchair I'd move as soon as I saw them. If I couldn't put the pram down I'd just get off and wait for the next one. I can't even imagine anyone refusing, entitled walkers!

Divorcedalongtime · 14/05/2023 19:57

Idiotic behaviour in their part, of course you are in the right

NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 14/05/2023 19:58

You should contact the bus company I think. The CCTV will show that the driver didn't do his job properly and needs training on how to respect the law on disability.

KnottyKnitting · 14/05/2023 19:58

Jeez what sort of an awful uncaring person ( clearly a crappy parent) thinks their non disabled child in a buggy is more important than a disabled person in a wheel chair? Disabled people should absolutely take priority in these situations- the bus drivers need to step up and make sure those in real need get to travel.
Well done for standing your ground!

Treasureboxkey · 14/05/2023 19:59

I don't often use the bus but had to last week for an appointment.
I got DS out before the bus arrived and folded it but was surprised to find, when I got on, that there was nowhere to store it.
I ended up having to put it back up.

I would have absolutely moved it if a wheelchair user had needed it but I don't know what I would have done with it. I would have been absolutely fucked if I'd had to get off as I would have been very late collecting DD from school.
Bus companies really need to think about making it easy to store prams to help to avoid problems like this.

I'm really sorry that you we're shouted at OP, that's really horrible and must have shaken you up.

KarmaStar · 14/05/2023 20:04

Good for you op.must be on the bus cctv .ask for a copy to attach to a complaint.
Hope you are ok.
Why people with buggies are so entitled I don't know.

C152 · 14/05/2023 20:10

I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience, OP. You shouldn't have been forced into that position. Those with buggies should have moved out of the wheelchair space without being asked and, when they didn't, the driver simply could have calmly stated that the bus would not be departing until they did make space for you.

wednesdayrobyn · 14/05/2023 20:12

I've moved off the bus plenty of times with my buggy to let wheelchair users on. It clearly states wheelchairs have priority. Unfortunately there are lots of entitled idiots that only care about themselves and sadly the bus drivers rarely intervene.

nocoolnamesleft · 14/05/2023 20:17

Good for you. But no way you should have been placed in that position.

PollyPaintsFlowers · 14/05/2023 20:17

Good on you OP!!

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 14/05/2023 20:17

The bus driver should have done more imo!

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 14/05/2023 20:18

You have a legal right to access public transport and a case law precedent in the highest court in the land, stating that access to the wheelchair space is vital to realising that right and so you have priority. Don't let any ablist twats make you doubt yourself OP.

JellyBelly50 · 14/05/2023 20:18

I would have moved my buggy out of the way or folded for you, you are not being unreasonable at all.

ohnonowwhat · 14/05/2023 20:19

Definitely complain, driver was totally wrong to put you in that position.

Deathbyfluffy · 14/05/2023 20:22

Complain to the bus company - it’s the driver’s job to get you the space.
I’m fed up of this society where people just take the easy way out as they have done - good for you for standing up to them!

Entitled parents are a real pain.