Was told I don't give a shit about my baby today.

[Flossam]

My pram is (unfortunately) too big to fit through the front of the buses where I live (london) but luckily buses here have back doors too, which many people use to get on and off them. I got on the bus today at the back, and as I was doing so heard the hydrolics go for them to shut, but obviously the driver realised I was getting on and stopped. Anyway, I went to the front to pay and the driver said to me 'You pull a stunt like that again on my bus and you won't get on' I had to ask him to repeat it, and then tried to explain to him that I was sorry but I couldn't fit through the front. He said I should of 'asked' first. Anyway, I wasn't too bothered, walked away having paid and two more passengers got on. To the first he said 'did you see here with that bloody pram?' And to the second he said 'obviously dosen't give a shit about here baby'.

To this I saw absolutely red and went to the front of the bus again, when he repeated what he said again, and told me I could of killed my baby (I don't think so strapped in to a secure, if bulky pram). I told him I would complain and asked him his name, he laughed, asked him the bus number, again he laughed. I decided I couldn't stay on and got off the bus at the next stop, then thought about it and asked for my money back. Surprise, surprise, he refused. I went home again, cried all the way home, and have phoned a complaint through, but still felt the need to rant here, sorry. Did he really have any right to call me that? I think it's hard enough to be a new mum without people casting such dispersions over you.

thank you for that socci. Will not respond to her if that's what she's about.

I agree socci!

His rudeness and swearing was inexcusable.

In my local paper there has been an ungoing ding dong between elderly bus users and mothers. Mothers even with double three-wheelers believe they have a right to bring them on board buses even if they are are blocking the aisles. Elderly people have been saying, they have a hard enough time getting on and off buses without having to squeeze by pushchairs which often don t have their brakes on and bash against their legs.

I don t understand why people can t collapse their pushchairs, as I always did. That why there would be more room for more people - and wheelchair users too - in the limited space downstairs.

Just because we have children, doesn t mean we have divine right to invade others's space and compromise safety.

No wonder you saw red flossam I have had similar experiences with London bud drivers I have a techno xt a very light and small buggy. A few weeks ago I wanted to go on the bus for 10 mins to meet a friend, the Q was large and there were already 2 buggies in it, the bus driver refused me, the next bus came and he refused me too, the next one came and guess what?? I ended up walking home getting DD in her sling and carrying her as it was only a short way. I hate the way the same " if you want to come on fold that buggy" I feel like making him wait 10 mins whilst I struggle to get DD out hold her and fold the buggy (near impossible) get the bags from underneath it and get is all on the bus. I can't imagine what it would be like with a toddler as well.

We're all supposed to use buses more but I wonder if the people who say this have ever been on a bus in their life???

As someone else said what would they have said to a wheelchair user.

I know it's an extra expense but a lightweight stroller is a godsend if you can get one.

Vp- Apoligies if i sound harsh here, but have a go at those people you mentioned who bang their prams against people legs (though frankly, though i use buses contanstly as i don't drive and have NEVER witnessed any such thing) but not at flossam who is clearly upset about an experiance she had that was absolutly not her fault in any way.

try all that with DTs sweetkitty. Maybe our lovely mayor will think of ways to help us mothers that don't want to be trapped at home out.

Btw, when dd was first born and for the first 4 months or so, i struggled terribly feeling low and depressed and took all of my effort to get into town. I had an enormous pram at the time (a travel system) and it was bulky, I was considerate of other passengers, but i never would have dreamed of taking her out and carrying her and an increadibly heavy buggy.

Smaller stollers are easier to manovour and i have found mine a godsend, but they can be expensive.

Flossam, just to reiterate, you were treated appallingly. (sorry to rant but this thread has annoyed me)

Oh! I think that bl**dy bus driver was totally out of order. They haven't got a clue have they?! Definitely follow up complaint with a letter. Hope you're feeling better now. Let us know outcome.

god, they're pigs. they don't have a clue. follow up in writing -- do it for the rest of us!

Goodness me!! Thanks so much for all the support! The reason (rightly or wrongly) I don't collapse the pram is two fold. Firstly before today DS has always been in his car seat (it is a travel system), he's now ten weeks old and interested in the world so I thought I'd try it out. Also, it could then be collapsed if necessary. Secondly, IMO surely it is safer for them to be strapped into their prams with the brakes on than on laps? As everyone else has said, there is space on the buses for prams/wheelchairs. I don't see any reason for it not to be used.

Sweetkitty, we have been refused on to the old style london buses! We didn't know it would be one of those having never been there before and
it was a 15 minute wait for the next .

I felt much better as soon as I had phoned to complain! But I will write a letter in the next few days. Decided that when I'm on my own I'll just go places on the tube. Can't get into quite so much trouble then

poor you- what an idiot bus driver

Message withdrawn

Flossom, sorry you were treated in this way, the bus driver is an arse and definatly shouldn't have spoken to you like that.

VP - The only reason old people complain about people with buggies on buses is because then they can't sit right at the front where they want to.
What about when they bash me with the shopping trolly ? do i complain ? no i don't cos how the hell else are they supposed to get their shopping home, just like woman who don't drive need to get out and about with their kids.

Basically you are talking rubbish. People with prams/pushchairs have as much right to use the buses as anyone else.

Nutcracker - I suppose the difference between you getting bashed by an old person's trolly and them getting bashed by a buggy is that their legs are likely to be more fragile. But that's got nothing to do with this sh**ty bus-driver!

Spose so jangly, but ime they moan before they get bashed anyway as they think they own the bloody bus.

You have every right to complain poor you bus drivers some a real w. MAke sure you get a reply the driver needs to be spoken to arse.

Hope your ok nowxxxxx

Victoriapeckham, it is simply unsafe to have a young baby sitting on your lap on a bus, especially given the way some of the drivers drive. Don't forget that it is illegal to have an unrestrained baby in a car because of the safety aspect. They need to be safely secured in their pram/buggy on a bus. I have a 4 month old and have avoided getting on a bus so far, but if I did, I would leave my baby in his pram (travel system with car seat).
Glad you complained Flossam, let us know the outcome.

Any one else think that Victoria Peckham is a troll ???

Unless its Lady B herself in disguise

Whenever I see a thread like this, I get really angry about the lack of facilities for mothers and children on public transport. Folding a buggy compromises a child's safety, so basically we are being told that bus companies are not under any obligation to provide a safe journey for babies.

Is there a campaign I can join?