To hate three wheeled /over sized buggies with a passion

[Ryoko]

I know I'm going to get flamed over this but I don't care.

I can't stand the things, I think they are stupid, day after day I see them clogging up the shops and buses, they are nothing more then the baby version of a Chelsea tractor.

I hate walking past them in the shops what with them having spikes on the wheels for off road and they take up far too much space on the bus, the things can't even be folded properly not that anyone even tries to fold em even when someone gets on the bus with a wheel chair.

Why do people buy them? they are so stupid, this is London, there is no off road to be had, why do you need a Travel system that costs more then a small second hand car with your carry cot attachment, car seat attachment etc and then spend all day clogging up small shop aisle with it and blocking the gangway on the bus with it?.

Whats wrong with a simple small, light folding buggy that can be bought for less then half the price and in most cases can carry a child up to an older age then the Travel Systems.

[Alicetheinvisible]

I don't live in London, so probably a bit pointless posting here, but....

I have a 3 wheeler because i need one. I have to take DD across fields, tracks mud etc and a stroller is simply not going to manage it.

I very rarely get on a bus, but i do use the park and ride when going into the city. I fold my buggy up when i need to, despite others not bothering, and that is fine.

I do not have a second buggy because i have no room to store it. If i went to London with DD i would have to take it too.

As an aside, i have only ever had the one buggy for my DD (2.6) where as my sister has gotten through about 6 in the same amount of time. It will also be used for my second DC due in August.

So, that is why people have 3 wheeler buggies

[OTTMummA]

i walk 5 miles at least everyday, i live 30 mins away from london on train, but am surrounded by woodland aswell, so IME i need a good solid buggy for DS when he comes with me on my walks, and for being safe in the busy town centre.
Ive seen babies in umbrella buggys have fag ash tapped onto them because they are so low, and seen a younger toddler run, yes run with the buggy strapped to him into a bus lane!
My DS wouldn't be able to do that strapped into my beast lol.

[weegiemum]

reposting due to keyboard problems!!!!::

I had an umbrella fold lie flat Maclaren from birth.

YANBU! I had 2 years of trying to get dd2 (in a Maclaren Major = disabled buggy) on to buses with huuge prams for tiny babies which people refused to fold - though my daughter was unable to put her feet to the ground due to severe hip pain.

Have any of you who say she's not being unreasonable ever folded a major buggy with a 5year old under your arm? While people roll their eyes and tut and suggest a "child of that age should be walking!"

If you are going to be walking the hills, then get a 4X4 buggy. If not, realise you are not the only person on the face of the earth!

[weegiemum]

Interestingly - just wondered what all of you who "need" 3 wheeler buggies would have done when my dd1 was born 10 years ago and they were pretty much unavailable!

It is amazing how things become "neccesary" when they are there, when before, people did without!

(and before anyone whinges, I'm not talking abotu car seats or serious safety ', I'm talking about buggies. Which are not essential!)

[toccatanfudge]

yes they were unavaiable 10yrs ago and as a result I ran several useless (but quite pricey!) buggies into the ground with DS1 because of the distance I walked and the "terrain" I crossed which none of them could sodding cope with.

[multimummy]

YABU! They're an awful lot more environmentally friendly than a car!
I need mine to bring the shopping home and transport our dc! I can get a couple of kids on mine with the toddler seat on, and a few days worth of shopping plus library books!
One could start an equally contraversial thread about selfish mum's who spend all their cash on ugg boots and highlights and then make their dc's travel round all cramped up in one of those uncomfortable cheap little bone rattling umbrella buggies!

[fernie3]

I have a big three wheeler double. This one -
www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_0_10751_-1__14867_10001_
we dont use it now because my son is 3.5 so walks but we used it until around 6 months ago on the school run.
It is 2 miles to the school so my 3 year old couldnt walk 2 miles each way twice a day, we are not lucky enough to have buses that run on any kind of schedule around that way. It is a fantastic pushchair. It is not actually any wider than an umbrella style double and when my baby born weighing 5 pounds he was comfortable in it which I am sure he wouldnt have been in a lightweight one.

I wouldnt take it on a bus but I did take it around the shops regularly. It is MUCH easier to push around than a tandem style double.

[kittywise]

I have a second hand 3 double wheeler for trapsing across the south downs.
YANBU. It's a bloody nightmare, these silly systems, ridiculous, as are the excuses for buying them. You don't need them. I would rather people were honest and say
" actually I just wanted to spend a shed load of money on the latest pram and look hip and with it. No I don't need it, an umbrella buggy would be more practical BUT, people wouldn't notice me I prefer the look of my expensive monster lime green pram thing."

[NormalityBites]

There are very very few people that NEED a buggy at all. If you want one, I guess that is fair, but please don't complain about the limitations it then places on you. Big buggies and bad attitudes in tandem do cause other people problems, and that is the root of the matter. I'm sure it's possible to have any size of buggy and cause trouble with it - only the bigger it is the more people notice.

[Miggsie]

I know someone who got one of these because she was the sort of person who had to have the "best".

It didn't fit through the front door of her bijou Edwardian "cottage" (in West London). I will not mention her low glass coffee table and how she thought a toddler boy would "treat it nicely as it is mummy's favourite".

I found this fairly amusing.

I feel sorry for the sibling stuck in the back seat of those double length ones...they get a wall of bright orange/pink/green canvas at 10cm from their face and if they want to see any scenery they would end up with a crick in the neck.

My 6 yo DD walks 6 miles pretty regularly, but then her mean mother threw the buggy away when she was 2, so she has had plenty of practise walking!

[Trikken]

yes they are essential.

[weegiemum]

The biggest issue Ithink is not in shops but on public transport where people with monster buggies refuse to fold for people in real need! (wheelchairs/disabled buggies)

[multimummy]

Oh and 10 years ago 3 wheelers were available. Prior to that. I would have used a silver cross pram like my mum or grandma did! I guess the 3 wheeler is the modern day equivalent.
I use a 3 wheeler that is practical for my needs and ensures my child is comfortable too. I rarely use the bus as i find in my county they are too expensive.

[Pootles2010]

You're right most people don't need to go on 5 mile walks whilst living in london - maybe they like to?

I think people forget what a nightmare it is being a first time parent, having no idea what you're looking for, being totally overwhelmed by all the choice, you just go for what you think will be best for baby surely? And not everyone can afford to go out and buy another when they find the 3-wheeler is too big.

[toccatanfudge]

when I was given the Quinny I did occasionaly take it on the bus........because I don't drive and once in a while then yes - the bus was required,

I have an umbrella one for DS3 now, that is awful, I hate it, the wheels are already wobbly from the amount of us, he's crammed into it, but I still need one for him and so I'm stuck with it.

[toccatanfudge]

I didn't get a 3 wheeler until my 3rd child......wish I'd had one for my first and second though

[NormalityBites]

but surely they can afford to sell it, Pootles.......

[Pootles2010]

weegie- don't they just get booted off? I know the busses in our area (east yorkshire) will give priority to wheelchairs. If there's no room for a wheelchair user who wants to come on, the buggies have to be folded/get off and wait for next bus.

[kittywise]

A pram is essential? Oh in that case don't let me forget to tell all those thousands of mothers in other parts of the world who haven't got one say the amazon rainforest, remote African villages etc etc. What were they thinking?

[weegiemum]

I wonder if I got the only ever decent Maclaren buggy then?

Cos I walked miles (don't drive!), had 3 children in it over in total a 7 year period and then was able to have it serviced and passed it on to a friend.

I really did walk miles every day with it!

[LittleMrsHappy]

Oh the stupid argument that I hear and see all the time drives me silly.

" dd1 was born 10 years ago and they were pretty much unavailable!!

what you mean a twin spinner washing machine, tumble dyer, all that makes individual lives easier!

same as weaning, computers, new medicines, new health equipment etc....

or should we stay back in the 1990's AS simply we didn't have the advanced technology to improve our health and Day to day living.

Its just plain STUPID! argument to say this statement! (not your who Ive quoted, but just in general)

OP, why post on AIBU, if you clearly dont think you are , now I LOVE MY pushchair, and I love travelling in London with it, if you dont like it TUFF! and JOG ON! only hopefully my beautiful pushchair wont hit you on the ankles or stop you from doing your precious shopping!

[Ryoko]

"You don't own the pavements any more than the mothers with buggies and from the sounds of it you are just as rude as the people you are complaining about."

It's being born here, in West London 31 years ago and being barged into by 6 foot tall men etc when I'm small, having buggies rammed into the back of legs, almost being hit by cyclists wizzing down pavements and being shouted at by them when crossing the road when there is a green man etc etc (all the other things that arrogant sods do in London). that has made me rude.

You get what you give, I am polite to those who deserve it, for example after 40 weeks of pregnancy someone actually offered me a seat on the bus a couple of days ago, apart from being shocked I said thank you.

But when for example some sod on a bicycle is behind me on the bridge ringging there stupid bell when there are no cycling signs up and no where to move too anyway, they will get an ear full from me.

[NormalityBites]

I can't imagine ever choosing to take a pushchair on a bus, it must be a nightmare. Even more so for wheelchair users. I can't imagine facing a wall of angry mothers with giant pushchairs being kicked off the bus every time I wanted to get on. How awful.

[Pootles2010]

Normality - possibly, can't say i've seen how much you would get for a second hand buggy on ebay though? Would it be enough to buy a new umberella-style?