I have just complained!!

[Twinkie]

About the f*cking bus drivers smoking on the buses - if passengers aren't allowed why are the bus drivers allowed to do it - the woman on the phone intimated that it is ok if they are waiting for passengers to get on - NO NO NO its not right either way - I hate the smell fo someone who has been smoking let alone having to sit on a bus that stinks of it!!

I am very angry today!!

Letter to the editor of your local newspaper? Along the lines of 'my children shouldn't have to breathe that in' etc etc?

Me at bloody 8 months pregnant shouldn't have to be breathing in their smoke don't know about my children (she at childminders!!) - just gets to me that they think it acceptable - aaaarrrggghhhh - probably wouldn't mind if I weren't pregnant and smoked though!!

They don't know you child's at a childminders though.

I am a social smoker, mainly in pubs when out in the evening, but my ds has asthma and I would be really cross if I had to take him on a bus and the driver had been smoking.

Good for you Twinkie - this would've made me extrememly angry when i was pregnant too.

I think the problem is though SC that Twinkie doesn't feel it's had any effect

I hate it - complained the other day about the fact that poeple on the trains don't give up their seat (I am the pregnant woman who complains about everything now) and that maybe they should start a campaign about it - even offered all you pregnant women as models and this is the reply I got!!

Dear Mrs Gray,

Thank you for your web comment.

I was really very sorry to learn that the age of chivalry; or thoughtfulness, is well and truly dead. It is disappointing to hear that you and many other pregnant ladies are shown no consideration by fellow passengers.

As a matter of courtesy to pregnant passengers with season tickets (who are in their second or third trimester), we do offer the facility of travelling in First Class accommodation at no extra cost. This is in the form of a letter that can be presented to a ticket inspector. To ensure that this policy is fairly implemented, we ask the applicant to send to us the appropriate medical form confirming pregnancy, along with a copy of the season ticket and photocard.

I should add that we offer this as a courtesy, and ask that those who have been issued with the letter of authority must check Standard Class as thoroughly as possible before making use of First Class. This is because we have to balance the needs of our First Class passengers with our wish to make travel for pregnant passengers as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

With regards to your suggestions; a campaign highlighting pregnancy issues, and the notices referring to allocated seats for the elderly and disabled to include pregnant women, they have been noted. They will be brought to the attention of the services department, who are always interested in hearing the views and suggestions of concerned passengers.

I sincerely hope that you find future journeys become a little easier and that respect has not been totally eradicated.

Thank you for contacting us.

Patricia Edwards

Means F All to me as there is no first class on our trains!!! GGGRRR!!!!

I wanted them to jump and say ooohhhh yes you are right people are gits and we are starting armed patrols on all trains to counter this problem!!!

OOoohhhhh Dear now you all know I am Mrs Gray!!

I think more people should complain like you Twinkie. We are good at moaning to friends but when it comes to making a official complaint. Most of us don't. I do. And 99% of the time it makes me feel better as well!!!

I knew that anyway Twinkie
Whether you get anywhere with this or not i still think it's great you complained!
Most people nowadays would think "it's not going to get me nywhere so why bother" and then people really do get away with it.

I had a general rant the other morning when I got on to a packed bus. There was a heavily pregnant woman standing further down the aisle and noone would give up their seat. I said to the driver and anyone else who was listening 'What's the world come to when people can just sit by and let that poor woman stand etc etc' The driver said ' I'm not being funny love (!) but she will choose to travel in rush hour what can she expect' I was so cross, what an attitude. As if given a choice she would choose standing on a bus for 15 minutes in rush hour at 8 months + (am still cross about it)

It's terrible isn't it. One of the ladies at my work was on a packed tube and noticed a heavily pregnant woman standing at the other end and stood up and said very loudly you can come and sit here.
As she began moving down the packed train trying to push through nobody else offered her their seat instead as it would have been easier and some cheeky guy tried to sit down in the seat she had just stood up from.
I must say I had no such trouble on the tube during my pregnancy and was often offered a seat.