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!

The 12 month rule doesn't apply for cancer or terminal illness.

My husband has Cerebral Palsy and if there were no other priority seats available he would ask you to move if you were on the same bus as him.

A broken arm is a disability, fuck me I've heard it all now.

A priority seat is not a "disabled seat" if you felt less able to stand or vulnerable due to your arm it's fine by me, though obviously someone else might come along who takes priority over you due to their needs.

Or facial disfigurements

No rules apply to who can use those seats, they simply state that they are for “those unable to stand” - they do not equate to a wheelchair space (although to be fair, on my buses, most of the priority seats are the fold up ones in the wheelchair space, and anyone sitting on them should move for a wheelchair)

Its not equivalent to a blue badge space where there are set criteria to use them. In fact, the example pictures show a pregnant lady, and pregnancy is most certainly not a disability nor does it last a year or more, and most pregnant people are young.

Just to be clear. On TFL buses priority seats are separate to wheelchair spaces. I was not taking up a space needed for a wheelchair user.

If you don't agree with people who say you are unreasonable, why do you even post? I would say you should have found another seat and not sat there in the first place. Use your other arm to hold onto the seats if the bus moves

I know you wasn’t. But your situation made me think of my DS. And when he was out of the wheelchair he was on crutches, and went on the priority seats. I don’t see why he shouldn’t have.

I regularly see comments like this come up. People can post about whatever they want but nobody has to change their mind if counter arguments aren’t compelling enough.

I've acknowledged others have said they felt I was unreasonable and I understand why. Where does it say I have to agree? I'm injured, vulnerable as a result, and want to avoid further injury which is possible and could lead to surgery and an even longer and more painful recovery. I tried to avoid this by sitting in an area designated for those less able to stand, which also caters for others with short term injuries, pregnancy, disability etc. I don't know if the other lady was less able to stand than me, just that she was older than me, and I'm not far off 60.

The first page are people who not broken an ATM...op you certainly ok to use a disabled space as the ability to hold on safe when bus moves is reduced.

You was right to use that seat OP. If you fell you risked further injury to your arm. I’m not sure what is so difficult for people to understand about that.

Arm not atm

Oh and if I use my good arm to navigate the bus, it leaves my bad arm vulnerable to being banged and injured.

Oh Jesus. It's the disability Olympics on this thread. The OP needed to use the seat for a valid reason. She is disabled by her arm at the moment and of course she shouldn't risk her health to move down the bus or risk standing. Whether her disablement is temporary or lifelong or not as bad as MS, a stroke, or any other condition you'd like to name is irrelevant. It's not a fucking competition.

Btw I have a chronic health condition and lifelong disability (if that matters).

You’re right it’s not a competition. Just because her disability is temporary, doesn’t mean she should be put at risk.

I got temporary leave from hospital, to get emergency clothes and bits and bobs down the road after a bad birth (baby very prem hence emergency shop) I was stitched very sore and still had preeclampsia so very high blood pressure and on loads of meds... it appeared I didn't look "Ill" enough 😂 so an old guy sat on my lap when I couldn't get myself up to move quick enough haha I had to stand, when I got back to ward, I was moved to being monitored in a room with nurses as my blood pressure had rocketed and they were worried about seizures.

Not sure why they let me out though looking back in such a state 🤦‍♀️

But idk it's hard to know where to draw the line as everyone is effected differently. I would think yanbu if it's free, but if someone needs who can't walk, then someone further back should give you their seat, but person who can't walk get front? X

From wiki: Priority seats have been designated in public transport vehicles by certain transport operators to allow elderly, disabled, pregnant women and the injured to ride public transport with an equal degree of access and comfort as other people.

You were perfectly correct to use the seat, that's what they're there for, to allow you equal access with people who don't need them, or don't need them as much as you do. Just because a current injury is temporary doesn't mean that it doesn't count, it's still has the same outcome in terms of problems on public transport for that day!

But also I would expect driver not to move until your safely sat in event of a full bus and to not dare try and tackle the stairs 😬😅 I go flying even in top top condition!

@bumblebee2235 I've long ago stopped using the upper deck except for very long journeys.....too much turning around plus my knees aren't too happy with stairs!

Ps hope you've recovered from your difficult birth now x

@Spidey66 I haven’t read all the thread, just the first page, but I am surprised at the replies you have been getting. I think you were just as entitled to that seat, I can imagine it would be extremely difficult trying to navigate a moving bus with only one useable hand. I don’t see why it had to be you gave up your seat, if the woman sitting next to you hadn’t, someone else nearby could have, but obviously chose not to.

YABU, you are not disabled.

Not sure what a 'disabled' seat is. On london buses there are 'priority' seats for 'anyone who needs them'. Anyone can and does sit in them but we are asked to give them up for those 'less able to stand'.

Being old doesn't automatically mean less able to stand than someone with a broken arm. Also being old or pregnant is no more a disability than having a broken arm is.

Neither is being older.