To not pay my bus fare (London bus)

[KatRee]

Got on the bus today with my 1-year-old in the pushchair and my 3-year-old, who was walking. We went through the doors at the back to get directly into the wheelchair/pushchair space.
As soon as we got on, the announcement was played: “For your child’s safety, please stay with your buggy.” There were no seats, so my eldest also had to stand with us and hold on tight to keep his balance. I needed to supervise him to make sure he was doing that.
There were people standing in the aisle, so I couldn’t easily get to the front to tap my card to pay. So I ended up not paying.
This has happened maybe 2 or 3 times before since I’ve had kids and I always feel like I’ve done something wrong! But I’m not really sure what’s expected.
Usually we either get on at the front if the aisle is clear, as I have a little pushchair that fits down it, or we get on at the back, I quickly put the brake on, my eldest sits down and I run to the front and back to tap before the bus sets off.

Was I unreasonable not to pay today?
YABU – It’s basically stealing – pay your fare!
YANBU – For the love of God woman, supervise your small children and don’t worry about depriving TfL of £1.75!

YABU

You could have left the buggy and the three year old for the 15 second journey to the front and back to the buggy park. Or you can pass your card down the queue of people and have them tap for you.

I've seen mother sending the walking child on at the front with their pass to tap the reader while they enter by the exit doors.
Guess it depends on the height and reliability of the child.
You might come a cropper if an inspector gets on.
I encountered one last week.
But I was legit so no problems.
Maybe you could email tfl for advice.

I’ve seen parents step on the front to tap their card, then say to the driver ‘I’ll get on through the middle door with the pushchair’. Otherwise, when you exit the bus you could quickly go to the front door and tap your card then. There are ways to pay your fare if you try.

They used to have readers at the rear doors. On what planet are we thinking leaving toddlers by themselves on a crowded london bus is ok?

Nobody died

Agree and don't worry about it

Yanbu! Fuck TFL, taking my bloody money in the middle of the night!!

It's annoying, but it's because they don't know how much you will travel in one day, so take it post midnight when it's calculated as the final amount.

Tedious if you forget and think you have the money to spend then though, I agree!

I simply pay and ask the driver to open the back doors for me. Or keep the doors open for me. Bus drivers tend to wait if they know the situation.

But do what’s right for you. I preferred having tap machines at all the doors. So much better for anyone who needs back door access only.

You should never send a 3-yr old to the front of the bus on their own (as previously suggested) - buses start suddenly and accidents happen. Neither should you leave little ones on their own, or pass your card to others - ridiculous! If there wasn't somewhere to tap as you got on then it's TFL's problem and not yours. Don't give it another thought.

I use London buses almost every day.
Loads of people don't pay.
I doubt the driver even noticed.

Assuming you couldn’t get on at the front because the aisle was blocked then I think it’s fine. I wouldn’t leave the buggy or the 3 year old to go to the front unless I could be sure it would only take a matter of seconds, I’ve come across too many crazy people on London buses.

Its getting the notification during the night that annoys me 😄 - just reminds me how much everything bloody costs!

It's true though, it does make sense to do it like that

I get far more aerated about buses being delayed because of bus nutters than I do about the odd mum and pushchair getting on at the middle door and not paying.

YABU, I’ve never in my life witnessed anyone being unable to push their buggy down a packed bus.

Your luck will run out soon and you’ll get fined.

How else can a travel cap work?

Really? My South London buses get so full sometimes that Flat Stanley couldn't squeeze down the aisle.

Definitely this. What 3rd world country doesn't have tap points at both doors!

That’s silly.

People just stand aside and let the buggy through.

Or you tap your card and ask the driver to let you in the exit door.

😄 I'm just having a moan

The second point fine, and does happen, the first is impossible at rush hour.

It’s really not.

I’ve been travelling through London on rush hour buses for over 40 years, and have never seen anyone unable to do it.

Stand aside where when the bus is completely packed. There is nowhere for people to move to let a buggy through.

a driver once shouted at me when I attempted to board a bus through the back door (with a pram mind you!)

So I’ve never done that again lol and always come through the front. We had a small-ish pram though, people will move out of the way.

And I think you should try more to pay the fare

Maybe you have, but picking one up outside my station in between 5 and 7, you can't.

People in having different experiences in different parts of London shocker.