Disabled seat on buses

[Spidey66]

So about 10 days ago I tripped over a step and broke my arm. I had a cast on for a week, then it was removed but I still have a sling and am in considerable pain.

I took a brief trip to the high street on the bus for cash today. On the return I got on the bus and sat on the disabled seat nearest the driver. As i was on the inside, my injured left arm was against the window so I felt safe as I feel anxious about others bumping into me, or losing my balance at an emergency stop. I feel I am entitled to use the disabled spot as I have a temporary disability, which given I have a sling is obvious.

An older woman sat next to me on the outside of the seat then a much older lady got on and there didn't appear to be a seat for her. I felt dead guilty (damn you Catholic childhood!) and ended up explaining to her why I wasn't able to stand up for her. As it was, she was fine with my explanation and the lady sat next to me offered her the seat.

So is it is OK for a middle age woman to use a disabled seat because of a broken arm? Noone on the bus made me feel bad except myself but I don't know their thoughts!

Yeah for all MN say they're caring and empathy central, they're not really, not unless your needs meet a tight criteria.

Next time you go on a bus, try boarding it with only one arm while simultaneously trying to avoid anyone bumping into the other one and maybe you will understand my difficulty.

It was not a disabled seat, it was a priority seat. I do sometimes sit in them in 'normal' times but will always hop out of it if someone else needs it. And that need does not always mean age, or permanent disability. I will give it to pregnant women, people carrying small children (who by default will be younger than me) and to others struggling because of injury.

Someone mentioned in a post how on TfL buses the seats further back you have to go up a couple of steps to, another reason why I wanted to use the seat nearest the front. It would be difficult for me to navigate safely up the steps and past everyone while the bus was moving.

To those with complex or permanent disability....of course I'm lucky that this is a temporary condition. I appreciate that in a few weeks this won't be a problem and I'll be back to normal.

The issue was resolved though so I don't know what the fuss was about. The older lady got a seat.

I am shocked that there were people who genuinely believe I should put myself at risk of further injury by not sitting in a seat designed for the purpose I was using it for because in their opinion I did not meet the strict criteria they feel passengers should meet to use them.

Thank you to those who were understanding x

BTW I asked MNHQ to edit the title to make it clearer it was a priority seat but they refused.

Unfortunately those seats are for people unable to stand due to a disability. Not just due to a disability.

No they aren't

They are for anyone that could really do with a seat, with a disability, with a pregnancy, someone who might feel they are about to vom if they don't sit down.

Where I’m from in the Uk all of the buses state those seats are for those less able to stand due to disability, pregnancy etc x

Is what I meant, people who are unable to stand in general for whatever reason, so don’t think arm injury comes under that xx

It does if she can't stand incase she does damage to her arm

I'm sure someone will have said this already...

Why was your cast removed after only a week?

@WhereTheSuburbsMeetUttoxeter I went to the fracture clinic appointment last Friday, they took the cast off and xrayed the arm. I thought they were going to replaster it but they said they wanted to try the sling for a week and review new xrays this week. I asked if surgery was ruled out as I really want to avoid this but they couldn't guarantee this. I don't think its as bad as last time so fingers crossed.

@LilyMatthewsx your posts are full of contradictions. You say they're for people who can't stand due to a disability but not just a disability and used pregnancy as an example. But apparently an injured arm doesn't meet the criteria even though as I explained a number of times my injured arm means I can't maintain my balance on a moving bus and am at increased risk of falls, potentially causing further injury.
.

For those who don’t live in London this is what the sign for the “Priority Seats” says.
Note “those unable to stand”.
The OP is currently unable to stand safely and therefore is a priority. She is perfectly entitled to sit there.

I think some people got caught up in arguing over whether the OP has a disability, be it temporary or not. It’s irrelevant; the seat is for those who are unable to stand and right now, that’s the OP. It does not say “only to be used by someone who has a disability as defined by the Equality Act which means they cannot safely stand on moving public transport” and I say this as someone who is long term physically disabled. I really can’t bring myself to judge someone with an injury using a seat she’s entitled to!

YADNBU X

Lol apologies

Some harsh responses here. A broken limb is a temporary disability, especially the way bus drivers drive. Screw your Catholic guilt and forget about it

You did nothing wrong. You are less able to stand because of your arm, and in fact went over and above in explaining to the other lady and acknowledging that she might need a seat. Some very nasty unwarranted replies here.

Why on earth did the take the cast off of a broken arm? I've broken loads of bones and never had one off after a week, even for the little breaks.

Next time you go on a bus, try boarding it with only one arm while simultaneously trying to avoid anyone bumping into the other one and maybe you will understand my difficulty.

For someone who twittered on about their "Catholic guilt" re taking this seat, you certainly have been very angry with anyone who said you were unreasonable - including people who have been navigating public transport for many years, while dealing with great pain, and/or with injuries, who would not dream of occupying a seat when an elderly person got on board.

Why bother asking, in AIBU, if you are so certain you are reasonable?

Being elderly is not a disability, and is quite ageist to suggest it. Disregarding my current situation, at 57, I could be considered elderly to a 28 year old….but if I’m on a bus with a 28 year old who is pregnant, or has a broken leg, should they give me the priority seat by virtue of my age? Of course not! Priority seats are for those who need them..

And I’ve no idea why the hospital removed the cast. It was put on in A&E and removed a week later in the fracture clinic. Maybe orthopaedics disagreed with it as a treatment plan? I don’t know. I do know that while the itching drove me insane, I did feel it provided my arm with support and there has been more pain without it, especially at night for some reason. I slept better with it as without it I have struggled to get comfortable (which is why I’m posting at stupid o’clock…slept ok from 11.30 to 2.30, woke for the loo and struggling to get comfortable again).

Oh and while I’ve disagreed with people, I don’t think I’ve been rude. In fact, I’ve had far more vitriol towards me. If you feel I’ve been unreasonably angry, feel free to report me to MNHQ. There has also been a large number of supportive posters so clearly it’s not a case of me asking AIBU, MN saying a clear ‘yes’ but me still being firm that I’m not!

at 57, I could be considered elderly to a 28 year old

Don't be silly. You know and we know what elderly means.

I think you were being unreasonable. You don't think you were being unreasonable, despite posting in AIBU asking if you were being unreasonable.

You felt entitled to take that seat. The end.

But just because you felt I was unreasonable, doesn’t mean the whole of MN did!

Anyway I’ve taken an extra dihydrocodeine tablet which is now kicking in so I’ll try and get some sleep now. Good night.

Are you mute? When you get on the bus tell the driver I need you to not drive off until I am in a seat as I have a broken arm and if I fall it will rebreak and I will need an ambulance"

You are not disabled.

I hope you never are but this experience might give you an insight into what people with permanent disabilities have to deal with.

Anyway I’ve taken an extra dihydrocodeine tablet which is now kicking in so I’ll try and get some sleep now. Good night.

That must be nice, to be able to sleep without waking up in pain at stupid O'clock.

Didn't get back to sleep due to pain and stiffness in my shoulder blade..up having a cuppa now.

No I'm not mute but have you met many London bus drivers? They run by their own set of rules!

Of course i know I don't have a disability. I don't know how many times I need to say I'm very aware that this is temporary. But as also has been pointed out, the seat I was in is not simply for those with disabilities but are less able to stand. In order to ensure this remains as temporary as possible, I need to keep myself safe from further injury.....which means sitting in a priority seat. As pointed out by @Needmorelego in her photos, I was not doing anything wrong by doing so.

Yes I have met lots of London bus drivers. None of them want to have to stop and call an ambulance.

Ok I’ll say that to them next time. However I expect they’ll say ‘’sit on one of the priority seats if you’ve got an injury. It’s what it’s for.’’🙂