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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think a big dog has no place in the wheelchair/buggy area of a bus

162 replies

yessirnosir · 01/06/2010 13:48

I think I may know I ABU, but I've just been on a bus journey that made me very uncomfortable. When I got on the bus with my nearly 3 year old DD I saw someone get on the bus via back doors with a Phil & Ted and two sleeping small children. As I got on the front I heard her say to someone who was in the wheelchair/buggy area, 'this area is for buggies' I thought she was just asking him to move as she saw me coming, but she looked pretty annoyed, and as I got to her I saw the boy she had been talking to had a large dog. When I say large I mean much bigger than a staffie, but with that bull terrier type head. He was the sort of dog I would have steered my child well clear of normally, and while that sounds really predjudiced, I know my kids aren't always as good with dogs as I'd like, they tend to get overexcited. I always make them ask the owner before they stroke a dog, no matter what breed, and take them away if they start getting overexcited and honestly, I would keep them away from a dog with a huge jaw, with any sort of studded harness/collar, held be a chain attached to someone who doesn't look capable of responsibly looking after a goldfish. In this situation if any of the children had started to want to stroke the doggy they were trapped at eye level with a dog that the owner had to hold back throughout the entire journey. I stood with me between my dd's buggy and the dog, but felt uncomfortable with the situation as obviously did the other mother.

I just wonder if a dog like this really has any place on a crowded bus. A crowded bus is unpredictable, children are unpredictable as can dogs be. I know there is a body of people who will say it's about the owner not the dog, but the owner didn't fill me with confidence, he didn't look old enough to be responsible to look after a dog that strong. I would say it would be hard to say one dog is OK, another not, and also probably not appropriate, after all who decides, and who knows which dogs can be trusted and which not, so is there a place for any dog on a bus (except obviously working dogs)? Or should I have just got off if I wasn't sure my child and that dog were not a good mix?

And please can we stick to this point, not the usual dog lover/dog hater thing.

OP posts:

dorisbonkers · 01/06/2010 15:11

Why don't you carry your child in a wrap? No need for buggy space and the wolves can't reach?

tethersend · 01/06/2010 15:12

I am trying to say that no animal has the right to travel on public transport. If said animal is taking up space which results in people who do have a right to travel on public transport not being able to board the bus, then it needs to get off.

helmethead · 01/06/2010 15:16

One thing I have learnt is that a Phil & Ted and buses do not mix well. I have had so many "buggy wars" on buses, where I am on and another P&T wants to get on but no room, being asked by the driver to fold it up on several occasions. I have given up on buses to be honest not worth the considerable hassle. Either bus driver rude, other passengers rude, other buggy owners rude. If children are asleep keep walking would be my advice.

iamreallysilly · 01/06/2010 15:17

Just because driver has allowed dog on bus doesn't mean its ok for it to be sitting in buggy/disabled area, and driver prob turning a blind eye/getting on with driving bus but if other passenger politely asked driver about the dog, the driver may decide to intervene and ask boy wi big dog to move

Mingg · 01/06/2010 15:17

Buses operate on first come first served basis though. Buggies too are allowed at the driver's discretion so following your logic the parent and child can stay on but the buggy must go if other people cannot board?

darkandstormy · 01/06/2010 15:18

Well I am afraid I would not be moving with my dog for anyone if driver had let me on with my dog.OP would have to go and have a panic attack/cack her pants whatever elsewhere.

OrmRenewed · 01/06/2010 15:20

Perfectly reasonable to ask for dog to move IMO providing there was somewhere for it to go.

tethersend · 01/06/2010 15:21

"Buses operate on first come first served basis though. Buggies too are allowed at the driver's discretion so following your logic the parent and child can stay on but the buggy must go if other people cannot board?"

If by this you mean the buggy as an object must go, then yes, it should be folded.

If you could fold a dog up and put it in the luggage rack, then it could stay too.

darkandstormy · 01/06/2010 15:22

Then again my little jr terrier would be on my knee in case some idiot trod on her,as they feel it is their "right" as they are afterall human and can do as they please.

darkandstormy · 01/06/2010 15:24

What are phil and teds by the way?I have never had the misfortune of coming across one of those.

tethersend · 01/06/2010 15:24

They feel it is their "right" to tread on your dog or get on the bus?

TheFruitWhisperer · 01/06/2010 15:25

This isnt going to go down well but I deplore huge buggies on buses anyway.

When I was young bus drivers wouldnt even let you on unless you folded it up. That space on the bus isnt a right, its a privilage.

Who cares if he didnt move. Other people have a right to travel with dogs in the same way you have a right to travel with your buggie.

mumofthreesweeties · 01/06/2010 15:25

I would not be very happy to be standing beside any huge dog. FWIW, I am not a dog fan at all so I would have actually chosen the option of not getting on the bus and being stood next to one.......... (Remember this is MY opinion Mners, I know I will probably be slated by the dog lovers) but I am so not into dogs. YANBU at ll

wannaBe · 01/06/2010 15:25

actually I have heard of instances where people with buggies have been asked to get off so a person with a wheelchair can get on. So yes, buggies are not a right either and person with buggy could be asked to leave at driver's discretion..

I agree that not unreasonable to ask person with dog to move if there is a need, but not reasonable to ask person with dog to get off purely because someone is afraid of dogs.

Harimo · 01/06/2010 15:25

So, you are really saying that you would find it absolutely acceptable if I boarded a bus with my two kids and dog, and then got 'removed' half way to my destination???

Because the driver 'changed his mind'???

FFS?! What planet are you on????

I travel ALL THE TIME with two kids and a dog.

Thankfully your view is a minority.

Harimo · 01/06/2010 15:26

I actually would REFUSE to get off a bus on the basis that another passenger was afraid of dogs - if my dog had done NOTHING to offend that passenger.

I would. I'd stage a sit in

With my screaming, wailing babies

mumofthreesweeties · 01/06/2010 15:27

sorry that should read 'than being stood next to one' typo

NormalityBites · 01/06/2010 15:30

YABVU

First of all, it's not a wheelchair/buggy area. It's a wheelchair area. If there are no wheelchairs wanting to use it then other bus users can - for buggies, or luggage, or dogs. You have no universal right or need to put a buggy on the bus. Your child can go and sit on a seat, the dog cannot. Move your child if you don't want it near a dog.

You can wish he hadn't brought the big dog on the bus all you like and YABU for that, but the minute you started thinking 'maybe he shouldn't be able to...' you became VVVVU

darkandstormy · 01/06/2010 15:31

actually my dog has "chappie" breath anyway,so sorted, the bus would be cleared.

Mingg · 01/06/2010 15:31

Tethersend - "If by this you mean the buggy as an object must go, then yes, it should be folded." Folded is not the same as being told to leave though is it. You can't fit all the buggies on the luggage rack anyway so in that instance you would expect the buggy to be thrown out?

tethersend · 01/06/2010 15:32

Harimo, you seem quite angry.

The OP states that there was no room to fit the buggies in the space- she had to stand with her buggy in the doorway whilst the dog was in the buggy space.

"So, you are really saying that you would find it absolutely acceptable if I boarded a bus with my two kids and dog, and then got 'removed' half way to my destination??? "

Err.. yes. I have had to get off the bus with my buggy when a wheelchair needs to get on halfway through my journey!!!! Would you say that was 'because the driver changed his mind' about letting us on the bus?

People have a right to travel on public transport. Animals don't. They are allowed on, but not at the expense of other passengers. I fail to see why you are angry about this.

wannaBe · 01/06/2010 15:33

I once had a passenger complain about the presence of my dog on a bus. He got on, walked past my dog and started to go off on one about how it was "out of order that these dogs be allowed on buses. taking up space that could be occupied by humans." The dog was lying underneath the seat so I fail to see what space she was occupying. I might add though that he'd come out of the legion and had clearly had one or two too many to drink. His wife was sat next to him saying "shhh, just shut up will you!"

So on and on he went for the duration of the journey, with all the other passengers, and the driver telling him to shut up.

Then when he got off he stopped next to me and bent down to stroke the dog saying "Oh but it's such a beautiful animal, such a lovely dog." At which point I lost it and said "don't you dare stroke her now that you've sat behind me for the past ten minutes slagging me and her off. If you have an opinion fair enough, but don't then start being nice when the majority don't agree with your opinion. Now piss off and leave us alone." He left after that, and staggered and fell down the bus steps. I have to say I did at that.

TheFruitWhisperer · 01/06/2010 15:33

Is this were a guide dog, would you still feel that buses are not the place for dogs?

You cant say 'thats different' either as you have already pointed out that 'it would be hard to say one dog is OK, another not'

Sounds like Dog Fascism to me...

tethersend · 01/06/2010 15:34

Mingg, as I said, if you can fold the dog and fit it in the luggage rack, then it can stay.

Mingg · 01/06/2010 15:37

Like Normality says wheelchairs have the right to the wheelchair spot. If a person in a wheelchair wishes to use the bus the driver will clear the wheelchair area of buggies, dogs and able bodied people. If there are no wheelchairs then it is first come first served.

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