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Original poster

Bus companies are not required by law to force parents with buggies to make way for wheelchair users

466 replies

DuelingFanjo · 08/12/2014 11:12

story

First Bus wins wheelchair court judgement - Bus companies are not required by law to force parents with buggies to make way for wheelchair users in designated bays on vehicles, senior judges ruled.

Might be a controversial opinion but I am glad.

OP posts:
claig · 08/12/2014 23:59

Yes, grovel, you are right. But could they not have foreseen what would happen when they made the Disabilities Act and included something about this kind of thing then.

Some disabled people chained themselves to buses to get the wheelchair spaces and now it seems it can't be enforced. It is a bit of an insult really and I think they need to sort this out quickly.

ilovesooty · 09/12/2014 00:00

Because of today's ruling, that place is for whoever gets there first

How bloody depressing.

sanfairyanne · 09/12/2014 00:34

disgraceful ruling

TheBooMonster · 09/12/2014 01:08

I for one have never left my pram hulking great tank of a travel system up and allowed a wheelchair user to have to wait out in the cold. Neither have I left it up leaving another pram user out in the cold I would be ashamed to do so. I think they should have ruled in favour of the wheelchair users because far too many people with prams in my city at least think it's acceptable to leave their prams that are empty apart from shopping up and refuse to fold it down to allow other pram or wheelchair users access because they were there first and whilst they can't legislate against the selfishness of the minority it's a step in the right direction if there is a clear law

Babiecakes11 · 09/12/2014 01:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lweji · 09/12/2014 01:21

I still don't get why the bus company was involved. The person not leaving the wheelchair space free should have been prosecuted.

SunnaClausIsComingToTown · 09/12/2014 05:12

Our buses have a wheelchair space and 3 buggy spaces, as I said before. There is also a notice that says the buses can hold so many seated passengers and so many standing passengers or so many seated passengers, a wheelchair and so many standing passengers. The number of standing passengers allowed is reduced if there is a wheelchair on board.

The only possible reason to leave a wheelchair passenger at the bus stop would be if the bus was already at capacity. It wouldn't be right or fair to make 2 or more standing passengers leave the bus in order for a wheelchair to be allowed on.

That circumstance would be very rare, in my experience, though.

AuntieMaggie · 09/12/2014 07:46

Just because you did practice folding your pram doesn't mean that everyone can and I physically can't fold mine without two free hands because there is a catch on either side let alone whilst holding a baby.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 09/12/2014 07:48

Get a different one then if you are not happy to refuse to fold for someone using a wheelchair. I suspect you are though and probably are feeling justified now.

Sirzy · 09/12/2014 07:54

Exactly fanjo - or even do something really daft and say to someone on the bus "excuse me could you hold the baby for a few seconds?" or "could you give me a hand to put the pram down please?"

MostHighlyFlavouredLady · 09/12/2014 07:56

If you buggy isn't fit for purpose, change it for one that is.

I wouldn't mind a policy of only having umbrella strollers on buses. As a bus user I also get annoyed at tanks taking up what could be 3 stroller spaces. They go from birth so no excuses.

Lweji · 09/12/2014 08:06

The only possible reason to leave a wheelchair passenger at the bus stop would be if the bus was already at capacity.That circumstance would be very rare, in my experience, though.
it depends on the route and where the person in the wheelchair goes in. Most buses into central London at rush hour are pretty packed, for example.

SunnaClausIsComingToTown · 09/12/2014 08:16

Where the chair goes doesn't really matter. Two less standing passengers are allowed on when there is a wheelchair there. Health and Safety, I suppose.

I don't think any reasonable person would say that two passengers have to get off to let a wheelchair on. I can see that causing problems.

Obviously non-folding buggy parents should leave but how would a driver decide which standing passengers should leave? It's just not practical, especially if those people stood up to let someone more in need of a seat have one.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 09/12/2014 08:18

So noone in a wheelchair can travel in rush hour in London then if buses are packed?

They need to leave spare capacity.

sanfairyanne · 09/12/2014 08:20

they should now only let folding buggies on, and have them agree as part of the condition of travel to fold it up if required

hazeyjane · 09/12/2014 09:05

If it is not physically possible to fold your buggy and hold the baby, then ask so done to hold the baby or to help you fold the buggy.

curiousgeorgie · 09/12/2014 09:31

Most people wouldn't want to hand their baby to a stranger...

curiousgeorgie · 09/12/2014 09:33

MostHighlyFlavoured - but what about people who find themselves using the bus infrequently, or even just once. I have a large 2 piece pram and I drive, but a few weeks ago I had car trouble and had to take the bus back from where I was. In your scenario the driver wouldn't let me on?

OddFodd · 09/12/2014 09:42

If you can't (or won't) fold your buggy up to make way for a wheelchair user when necessary, get a taxi.

TinselHalo · 09/12/2014 09:46

So am I supposed to taxi everywhere odd seeing as I'd fall into the category of 'can't fold'? Because if so, that's discrimination too. On a day where my disability is flaring up I can't fold my buggy but because it's a hidden disability I probably look like one of those selfish cows sitting there refusing to fold, especially as I don't wish to justify my reasons by discussing my private medical information in the middle of a bus.

BackwardFlip · 09/12/2014 09:52

The great thing about all this is that we are now all much more aware of wheelchair users and their issues on public transport. So hopefully more mothers will fold up their buggies now than before to make way or buy suitable buggies for bus use. More bus drivers and passengers will hopefully be a bit more insistent that the buggy somehow makes way for a wheelchair user. I will be more confident now to offer my help to a mother so she can fold up her buggy to make way for a wheel chair if need be. And if a mother complains about this then more of us will tell her she is being selfish and unreasonable to the point that she will fold up her buggy or then go out and get one that does fold up like a MacLarens or mothercare pushchair for future use on public transport.

OddFodd · 09/12/2014 10:21

Tinsel - I was talking to CuriousGeorgie about her particular situation. You have a disability as you've already said which prevents you from folding a buggy. But most buggy users don't. However I will make sure to exclude you specifically in any general points that are in reference to that majority for the avoidance of doubt.

curiousgeorgie · 09/12/2014 10:24

OddFod - that's ridiculous. Anyone who 'occasionally' uses the bus should get a taxi? It will never happen. All prams will always be accepted, you can't discriminate against someone's buggy Hmm

OddFodd · 09/12/2014 10:31

I wonder if there could be a blue badge for buggies too?

TheFairyCaravan · 09/12/2014 10:31

Why can't you discriminate against someone's buggy? Is a buggy protected by law now?