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?

After wheelchairs which have priority, it's first come first served, so she had the right to the space.

Obviously if she could have folded her buggy easily and was choosing not to, then she's a bit of a dick, but that doesn't change her right to the space over you on a first come first served basis.

Crap as it seems, and yes I'd feel hard done by in your shoes too, a pushchair, with our without child, has no more rights to the space than anything else. The only thing with greater rights is a wheelchair,

If it had been suitcases, or if the bus was rammed full with people standing there, or a person's shopping trolley you would just have had to wait.

The fact you've not seen her with a pushchair before, that it wouldn't fold up - all of the other details are giving you cause to argue but, IMHO don't change anything.

I have on the them buggies were you have to take of the seat and then fold the metal it would of taken more space

I have this in the past. Woman with bags on a pushchair and older children with her. Bus driver said nothing. I folded my pushchair whilst holding my baby. Other passengers were grumbling because it took me so long- there are 2 buggy bays but the woman refused to get her children to move from the other bay.

complained to the bus company- that I happened to work for and a reminder was sent out about priority in the buggy and wheelchair bays.

Thank god someone can relate to me! I was looking for advice not a back lash🤣 it’s so frustrating I just don’t understand, I do not believe for a second she couldn’t not collapse her push chair it’s just a bit of common sense really what’s more important a baby or a bit of shopping?

Her dc also needed to get to school though and if the pushchair wouldn't fold for whatever reason she gets the space because she got on first.

Again, if you are reliant on getting that specific bus to ensure your child gets to school on time, then don't use a pram. It's just too risky.

Big drip feeds btw, that you knew the mum and child, that she'd told you it was for shopping. Strange you didn't mention that until the thread wasn't going your way.

But it's not about your baby being more important than her shopping.

You were both equally capable of getting off the bus and waiting for the next one, and her being on the bus first gives her priority over you.

I understand that fully, I have the one with the big bassinet on and it’s tricky because if I was the removed it I would need more space. Very unlikely her child has as I’ve been getting in the bus with her over a year now as our children go to school together he’s able and healthy. Yes a sling would be perfect but my child is coming up to 2 this months I doubt it will hold.

I always get on the bus prepared to take baby out and collapse the buggy

if you use public transport regularly I don’t understand why you wouldn’t have a small easy foldable buggy tbh

it happens me at least once a week that there’s buggy’s or wheelchairs on the bus and u just quickly grab the baby and fold up and sit down

I use a backpack and don’t bother with the basket under the buggy on the bus cus it’s hassle if you need to be quick folding

It's first come first served with pushchairs. Why don't you use a pushchair better suited to public transport? A 2 piece pram isn't really appropriate if you use the bus a lot.

It’s the only bus I can get on as other busses are to full, this bus I get on is just 1 stop from were it takes off from I’ve never had a problem like this before. I don’t know her I’ve never spoken to her until today. The driver told her to get off the bus not me- she said this is being used for shopping

That is quite dismissive of you. She could have a disability, for all you know, and be unable to carry shopping. Frankly it is none of your concern why she had a buggy.

As a fellow bus user with a pram and a child to get to and from school I know how frustrating these situations can be. But unfortunately if she was on it first, and we take her at her word that the pram would not fold then you can’t expect her to get off the bus she was already on so that you can take her place.

I did

The driver was wrong to ask her to get off the bus as she had priority over you. You both needed the space (reason not relevant as not related to wheelchairs), you are both equally capable of waiting for the next bus, and she was there first and so she has priority.

The drivers right. Assuming she was genuine and it wouldnt collapse it would be unfair to ask her to get off in the middle of her journey when she was there first. Even if it was being used for shopping.

There was no wheelchair there so need to if and but about that.

If you are a regular user if public transport why did you buy a pushchair that is so difficult to fold?

Then frankly you're being daft. I'd assumed it was a newborn not a toddler as you were being quite precious about it.

More fool you for having a toddler in a non foldable two piece.

Sling is still viable btw. I was using it as daily transport into until 3ish and still (Disability reasons) use it frequently at 5.

Why would you get a non-folding pram if you need to get on a bus at least 10 times a week with it?

I saw a women do this one day, another lady got on she wouldnt move the empty buggy.

Lady 2 just shoved it down the aisle and put her pram in the space. Said ‘now you’ll have to sort it’
and stayed still.

Brave but it worked.

As you can see from my user name, I used to drive buses for a living.

Lost count of the number of times pushchairs are "broken" and won't fold.

A considerable number of people will just lie to get their own way.

Bus drivers aren't paid or trained enough to deal with passenger conflict, if it was a wheelchair they would have stepped in I'm sure.

Bus drivers get assaulted verbally and physically a huge amount. It's a tough job.

You have to rely on common decency of other passengers a lot, sadly a lot of people are lacking this.

Personally I think the other woman was out of order but there's no way to enforce anything.

You are expecting normal societal manners to prevail - sadly there is quite a big chunk of people who don't have these and only see the world through themselves.

There is no reasoning with people like this as they either can't see they are in the wrong or are happy to be a total dick and don't give a shit. She is one of these people. Take comfort that you aren't a dick.