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!

Who on earth would pass their card to a bunch of strangers?

That was a totally batshit idea.

I know, that is the one of the most batshit comments I've read on MN!

I remember trying to take DD on the bus in her buggy to school

First of all, we would have to miss busses as they'd be too packed, we could miss two or three in a row

If we managed to get on, it would be through the rear and I'd have to squeeze past people to go to the front to pay - I'm chatty (I'm sure that'll surprise you) so had no problem asking someone to hold my buggy whilst I made my way there and back

Then, a wheelchair could come and I'd have to squeeze us in somewhere to allow the chair - luckily this was a few years ago, and there wasn't the outcry that there is now for buggies in wheelchair spaces (understandable)

DD was 5 as well, but needed the buggy due to autism - it was so stressful as I dreaded being shamed for having her in the buggy that I really couldn't cope with it 😩

Completely understand the op

I can only assume it was made by someone who lives in a tiny village where there's a bus once a week and they're related to all the passengers, whether legally or not.

I'm in London. People do regularly pass their payment card down the bus and ask the person closest to the driver to tap in. I've seen it many times and also tapped in for people.

On a London bus it's a fairly frequent sight tbh! They can't go anywhere! They're wedged between the doors. And of course, the very vast majority of people are decent.

Nope! It was a comment made by a born and bred Londoner who has seen and done it many times

Fair enough, I've never seen it, and am genuinely surprised it happens.

No chance I'd engage in that sort of thing.

Maybe back in the day with an oyster card, not that I saw it then but with a debit card? Madness.

In theory, London busses are supposed to wait until you're safely settled so you should have time to get to the front and tap. But drivers never seem to be prepared to be patient for young children (seem somewhat better for elderly passengers, but not always, assume they have time goals to meet) and I think they can make it quite dangerous (even without a buggy), especially when it's crowded. Since they don't do that and you risk not having time to get off if you try and do it at the end of the journey, I don't see a good alternative. Presumably, TFL's desire for speed is greater than their desire for payment, so YANBU.

I'm glad someone else has also witnessed this 😂.

Are you really suggesting she send a three year old onto a bus via a different door, alone, to pay the fare? Seriously???

But it's not really. They can't go anywhere with it! Even if they were that way inclined, which most people are not.

Yes, that is as irresponsible as playing pass the parcel with your bank card. Do people really do that?

I live in Croydon, I'm not chancing it.

😂 Fair enough.

I'm in West London, it's a different world.

Heh, indeed!

Our buses contain all life. They're fab, but keep your wits about you.

Surely most people use their phones or a credit card, not an actual oyster card nowadays?

Yeah, no one would give their bank card to a complete stranger.

You should come to London! It'd blow your mind to see it happen!

There are more people using Oyster cards than you'd think tbh, but I've seen it with cards of all kinds. Not sure I've ever seen a phone go down the bus though! Maybe that's the line!

Good luck in proving to your bank that you've not been negligent if something does go wrong with this action!

Usually people go to the front to tap in, so yes you’re riding for free. I see parents going to the front to do this.