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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Disabled seat on buses

365 replies

Spidey66 · 13/06/2023 17:37

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!

OP posts:
WomblingTree86 · 13/06/2023 20:55

I am disabled. I think it was fine for you to use the seat if that was required to avoid further injury.

Original poster
Spidey66 · 13/06/2023 20:56

wafflyversatile · 13/06/2023 20:52

Neither is being older.

Show quote history

Or pregnant, and pregnant women are well within their rights to use them. I've explained already 'disabled seats' was the wrong term. It was a 'priority seat' for those less able to stand.

OP posts:
flagpie · 13/06/2023 20:59

FeigningConcern · 13/06/2023 20:22

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).

Crazy, isn't it?

I'm also disabled and have no issue with OP using the seat. In fact it's not my business why anyone uses a seat.

funinthesun19 · 13/06/2023 21:00

stormytwilightnight · 13/06/2023 20:43

@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.

I agree. Why does the woman with the broken arm have to move when there are other people nearby who could move?

OP clearly has a major injury and people on here are ok with her being put at risk.
People are really showing themselves up when I bet they’re usually so big on protecting vulnerable people. What’s so different about a person with a broken bone that she can’t use? Sounds pretty vulnerable to me!

morningtoncrescent62 · 13/06/2023 21:00

You couldn't stand safely and there was someone more able to stand than you who offered her seat. Can't see any need for you to feel guilty.

NextTimeItsOver · 13/06/2023 21:04

I wouldn't have used the seat if I were you but I can see your reasoning. I think being temporarily injured is not comparable to being disabled. Being disabled is something that's long term. You can't be temporarily disabled.

The definition is set out in section 6 of the Equality Act 2010. It says you're disabled if: you have a physical or mental impairment. that impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities

Looking on google it looks like Some of the signs for London buses priority seats say they are for people "less able to stand" along with elderly, disabled or pregnant people. So for some buses people who are not disable (or pregnant or elderly) are allowed to use the seats.

MyEyesAreBleeding · 13/06/2023 21:12

I have several disabilities (invisible of course), I always give my seat up for an older person. No question

IdLikeToBuyTheWorldACoke · 13/06/2023 21:46

I'm disabled long term. Movement disorder (not parkinsons) with balance issues and muscle contractions. It is debilitating but it isn't life limiting. I have a reasonable quality of life compared to those with issues such as Parkinson's, Stiff Person Syndrome etc but I am classed as disabled and struggle on public transport.

I use priority seats if I need them (some days I manage better than others) . I don't think "well, someone with a worse disability needs it more than me because their life is worse generally" because the issue isn't who has the worst life generally, but who is unable to stand on a moving bus? I would consider someone who has a broken limb would struggle just as much as me if not more so, whilst someone with a disability like Downs Syndrome or MS, or cancer which could really difficult to live with and shorten life may or may not be able to use a bus easily. It depends on how capable someone is of using a bus safely . This is why I don't think disability top trumps applies to public transport.

I would definitely consider the OP to have a legitimate need if her broken arm was causing her to be unable to stand safely . Ditto someone who is pregnant .

Yes I have been in that position where the have been in the priority seat, and the other PS are full and another person with a disability (or someone who is pregnant or elderly ) has got on. It is hard for them but it means they may have to wait for the next bus. Just as I cannot turf someone out of a priority seat if they have a need. That happens too and I have to suck it up and wait my turn.

If someone with a need for a PS is taking up the space and another person with need for one comes on it is first come first served, I'm afraid. You can't hold up a bus with a competition as who is more disabled . How would you assess that ? Unable to stand safely is unable to stand safely .

IdLikeToBuyTheWorldACoke · 13/06/2023 21:46

MyEyesAreBleeding · 13/06/2023 21:12

I have several disabilities (invisible of course), I always give my seat up for an older person. No question

I admire that . You're a better person than I am, that's for sure.

Hesma · 13/06/2023 21:49

YABU, you’re not disabled and should have given up the seat

IdLikeToBuyTheWorldACoke · 13/06/2023 22:27

SouthCountryGirl · 13/06/2023 17:48

Not ever disabled person is entitled to a blue badge.

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Not all disabilities affect mobility either. If someone told me, as a mobility impaired person they were more entitled to my seat because they had a facial disfigurement or learning disability or something I might feel bad for them and the challenges they face but I don't think I would move. I wouldn't be rude or unkind I just wouldn't move. . Unless it Was one of my unusual good days when I could manage

ohsuzannah · 13/06/2023 22:44

Rubbish from some posters!
Of course you are entitled to use a disabled seat, you have a perfectly good reason. I've had a badly broken arm and I think you are very brave even travelling on a bus!

EggInANest · 13/06/2023 22:51

Our buses have ‘priority seats’ for anyone who needs it.

Travelling by bus with an arm in a cast or sling is bloody awful. You can hold on, you don’t feel safe to stand while the bus is moving, the jostling, the knocking bags…

IdLikeToBuyTheWorldACoke · 13/06/2023 22:58

Alargeoneplease89 · 13/06/2023 18:10

Yeah, your not disabled so shouldn't of used the seat. What happens if a wheelchair needed to come on and driver carried on because you were taking a seat and assumed no space.
Lots of people break arms and manage to use public transport.

Wheelchairs users don't use the priority space, they use the wheelchair space.

LifeIsPainHighness · 13/06/2023 22:58

Spidey66 · 13/06/2023 17:40

So it's OK to risk further injury to my arm by standing?

What magical protective quality does a disabled seat bring that a regular seat doesn’t?

Fancy making an elderly woman scramble around for a seat on the bus. Don’t blame Catholicism either - you feel guilty because it was selfish and unnecessary

funinthesun19 · 13/06/2023 22:59

being temporarily injured is not comparable to being disabled. Being disabled is something that's long term. You can't be temporarily disabled.

I think you certainly can depending on your injury.

And if not, you are certainly vulnerable in a way you wasn’t before your injury. And it’s that vulnerability that makes you need a seat on the bus.

Alittlebitolderandeeperindebt · 13/06/2023 23:17

Buses here (London) dont have disabled seats
They have priory seats .

Do buses in other areas label seats as disabled ?

caringcarer · 13/06/2023 23:35

You're not disabled OP. You don't have trouble standing or walking. You sound entitled. If a disabled person got on I hope you would have stood up for them or moved to another seat.

XenoBitch · 13/06/2023 23:46

YANBU - there are no "disabled" seats on public transport... just seats for people less able to stand for whatever reason. Said reason could be permanent or temporary. There is not a Blue Badge scheme for seats on public transport.

I hope your arm gets better soon.

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 13/06/2023 23:53

Spidey66 · 13/06/2023 17:40

So it's OK to risk further injury to my arm by standing?

My word your self obsession is magnificent! You are not disabled and you have no entertainment to a disabled seat. Jeez!

stormytwilightnight · 13/06/2023 23:53

@LifeIsPainHighness It obviously doesn’t, but as the seat is at the front, it meant OP didn’t have to go further down the bus. Put yourself in her shoes, if you only had use of one arm, would you be quite happy to make your way up and down a moving bus, I doubt it very much. Why should only OP move seats, if the bus was full, others could give up their seat for the elderly woman.

flagpie · 13/06/2023 23:57

@Lovepeaceunderstanding

You know it's not a disabled seat but a priority seat? You have absolutely no right to be assigning them to who you see fit.

XenoBitch · 13/06/2023 23:58

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 13/06/2023 23:53

My word your self obsession is magnificent! You are not disabled and you have no entertainment to a disabled seat. Jeez!

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If OP had a leg in a cast and was on crutches, would you say the same?
There are not disabled seats on buses. They can not be policed like parking spaces can.

Catchasingmewithspiders · 14/06/2023 00:00

I have two disabilities and I still dont think you are being entitled and unreasonable. Having full use of only one arm whilst trying to protect the other injured arm can make you feel vulnerable and off balance.

If bus drivers didnt assume everyone has perfect mobility and bus companies didn't do timetables that mean bus drivers can take an extra minute to have everyone seated before they drive off this wouldn't need to be an issue.

It seems madness to me that its illegal not to wear a seat belt in a car but on a bus you are expected to try to make your way to a seat on a moving vehicle.

Catchasingmewithspiders · 14/06/2023 00:01

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 13/06/2023 23:53

My word your self obsession is magnificent! You are not disabled and you have no entertainment to a disabled seat. Jeez!

Show quote history

If the OP had further injured her arm she could have ended up with a permanent disability. But apparently wanting to avoid that is self obsessed 🙄