Priority push chair space

[Ebbbx]

What do you think the bus driver should of done in this situation?
this morning I was waiting for my usual bus that I always get on. There was a man in front of me who had a baby in a pram as the bus turned up. He got on as he was the first one to be there but there was a lady on the bus already who always gets on before me and she had a collapsible pushchair with just a backpack on her child is over the age of five so he’s not needed to be in the push chair she moved her push chair so that me and the man could get on but didn’t collapse it the bus driver came out and said that she had to collapse it or she would have to get off, but then she said she couldn’t because it was broken. I told him that there was no baby in there just a backpack. She then continue to say that it was broken and she was going shopping at this point it’s heavily raining and I’m trying to get my child school because if we don’t get this bus, we would be late. We then had a heated discussion of how selfish she was as she refused to get off. The bus driver said to me that I had to get off as she was the first one on the bus? But who has more priority me with a baby in a buggy that I cannot collapse as it comes as to or someone who is selfish and carries a push chair that collapsible with just a rucksack on as the space there after I thought
are for priority wheelchair users and push chair with babies in only?

what would they have done if you were in a wheelchair?

Wheelchairs have priority. It's a wheelchair space not a buggy space. It may be used by buggies or bulky luggage only if it is not needed by a wheelchair user.

Otherwise, whatever pushchair or bulky luggage is there first gets precedence. She was there first so that's it.

I wouldn’t like to think what he would have done, probably turn them away to. That’s what I originally thought to but a child in the cold and rain over a lady with a back pack on really blew my mind!

She was already on the bus so has priority over you. Maybe her buggy won't fold down or maybe she was just being a bit of a dick about it and saying it wouldn't but you have to assume she's telling the truth and YABU.
Our buses have 2 spaces - 1 for wheelchairs and 1 for buggies. If there's not a wheelchair on then they will allow a buggy in that space but if a wheelchair user gets on they have to fold the buggy or get off. I've seen people refuse to fold buggies up when they've got a toddler or older child who's not even sitting in it and someone with a pram and baby in a carrycot wants to get on, but they're already on the bus and probably also have somewhere they need to get to. I think it's just a risk you have to live with unfortunately.

ok but there was no wheelchair. On the bus we get on there is a place for luggage at the front, or sometimes right next to the back doors. If a wheelchair was of to got on I would not hesitate to get off as they have a right. But for someone to not have any of those to still be allowed on doesn’t make sense?

Yes it is on a first come first served basis. however when busy it is asked that those who can fold their buggy do so (eg doesnt have a child in it)

Id have thought the buggy could be arranged so that they could both fit on?
most busses should be able to accommodate two pushchairs

Maybe she couldn’t collapse it.

It’s incredibly annoying if you miss your bus as no space for your buggy, but if there are already two people filling the space there’s not much can be done really.

Neither of you was a wheelchair. She was there first, and if she can't fold her buggy then it's essentially a piece of bulky luggage. So she gets the space. What is there to be confused about?

id have thought that the bus should be able to accommodate two pushchairs?
those where I live can

I guess had the discussion not become heated you could have collapsed your chair and put DC in her chair if it was broken

its annoying and feels unfair

It seems that neither of you were able/willing to collapse your pushchairs. Was yours a bassinet one btw as I know those don't fold? If hers was broken and wouldn't fold then you were in the same position.

You have no idea why she had it with her - maybe the child has mobility issues etc, and just because he was older doesn't mean the pushchair was less deserving.

Using a pram on a bus is always risky, in terms of space, and there's always a risk of you not being able to get on. A sling would be a much better bet for this situation.

Agree, she shouldn't have to collapse it (assuming she had a child with her and not just randomly carrying around the pram) - it's often difficult with toddlers if you're on your own with pram, toddler, shopping etc. I wouldn't be collapsing mine if I was on the bus first by myself and using the space as it's too difficult while also keeping control of toddler. If I was with DH and toddler wasn't sitting in the pram and there were too many prams then yes, we would try to be helpful to make space for others by folding the pram.

RTFT there was space for 2 prams, 1 was already on the bus and a man in front of her got on with 1 too.

Of course wheel chair has priority but there was no wheel chair on there, she could have easily collapsed her push chair but yes I have to assume it’s ‘broken’. But from my point of view there was no baby or child in the push chair and all she was using it for was to go shopping with it? No she’s not old maybe 30s why could your hold your bags like everyone? I think she was being a dick tbh

But she said she couldn't easily collapse her pushchair so why should she get off and stand in the rain. Maybe she has a disability that means she can't carry lots of shopping.....

Early morning when children are getting to school knowing full well it’s a busy time there will be prams/ buggies and wheelchairs getting on why would you use a push chair on the bus for a back pack?

I'd assumed she had a child with her as well?

Absolutely none of your business.

It’s only wheelchairs that have priority. Buggies, prams, bulky luggage, shopping trolleys (which is effectively what her pushchair was being used for), even people standing if there is no other standing room, are first come, first served.

Yes she did, 5/6 years old bear in mind she’s never bought a push chair for the whole year I’ve seen her on the bus.

Perhaps the child isn’t able to walk all the way and needs it when moving? I often take my child out of the pram when on the bus.

Or - maybe she had dropped off another child elsewhere prior to boarding the bus?

I can only assume they needed the chair for the child today. we cant know their full situation.

so why get on with it? The bus driver originally told her to get off as there was a baby that needed to get on as she refused and asked me to get off

What do you want out of this thread OP?

The reason why the other woman had a buggy is not your business. She was there first, she got the space over you, end of story, that's how it goes. Sometimes you just have to wait for the next bus instead of trying to pick apart a stranger's life.

my child goes to the same school as hers, the child is able and healthy as so is she. She told me that pushchair she is using to go shopping with not for a child

That she didn’t have a child in it🤣 no were says on the sign ‘this can be used for luggage’