I never learnt to drive when younger, live 5 mins from town and everything was accessible on foot or taxi easily. Before having a baby I realised that having a car is essential so booked and paid for lessons but only after 2 lessons there was covid lockdown.
I'm trying to learn now but there's a massive wait and will take time. So basically now I have to rely on public transport. Ive always used taxis in recent years but with a buggy I find it bit difficult, getting it out from the back of the taxi, assembling it again whilst holding the baby and other bags especially when getting dropped somewhere busy.
So Ive been using buses and 100% of the time I've come across rude people!
People who are sat where the buggy is supposed to go and aren't happy to move even when there's plenty of other seats. When they move they keep giving me dirty looks.
There are people who are sat in the seats right next to the buggy space and don't move. They aren't elderly or with luggage either. I dont have it in me to say can you move please (I have social anxiety and barely manage to get on the bus with people and don't wana get in conflict). I don't mind standing but on a longer journey where bus keeps stopping I feel like I'm in the way when standing. And it does bother me that why aren't they moving when they can see its causing someone difficulty and there's plenty seats.
I try to go out on times when I think bus will be nearly empty. Other day I got on the bus and another buggy came which there was enough space for both and it was fine. Then there was a driver change and he let 2 more buggies on. I moved my buggy to give them space and had to stand. Beacuse there was a woman sat on 1st seats next to the buggy area and had her bag on the other seat which she only moved for some man a while later.
So now there was 4 buggies and people who were getting on the bus had to go sideways to move down the bus so I had to say sorry to couple of people as I was standing. After a few stops the bus driver stopped the bus and looked at me out of all the other people with buggies and shouted that I need to rearrange the buggy or move it as people are having difficulty. I already feel anxious around people and his tone was so horrible. The first time I lost my patience and thought to myself I have to say something. I was so frustrated because he was the one who kept letting more people on with buggies. I was the 1st there and I was only one stood up after trying to be helpful. These other women (I'm not a racist, I'm not originally from England myself but im not rude. Them on the other hand didn't say thanks or acknowledge what the driver was saying, on top of it they just kept staring at me). I said to him there's no space beacuse you let more buggies on. He didnt like that and said well 1 of them can get off meaning me and goes there's no need for the attitude. I said there's nowhere I can possibly move my buggy and why would I get off. Meanwhile some random woman on the bus goes why don't u collapse ur buggy and make it easy for everyone else which made me even more angry because it was not her business why was she picking on me. Also how can I do that with a young baby with nowhere to sit then reassemble the buggy before getting off and why don't any1 else do that if necessary whose kids are bit older and can sit on a seat. Anyway he drove off and i felt like everyone was just looking at me. At every stop he would tell people sorry can't let u on "too many things on the bus already". Then he let some people on and kept apologising to them and they kept moaning. I felt so uncomfortable and miserable that I decided to get off the bus way before my stop.
I am now scared to get on the buses and its made my anxiety even worse. It can't just be me who thinks people are so rude on buses.