Wheelchairs Or Pushchairs: Who Should Take Priority On Buses?

[dave50]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-30001656
Should it be first come first served?

[Baldric]

Some children with Disabilities can't walk either!

[Baldric]

And are in Pushchairs ^^^^^^^

[ummmm]

True.

[TWR]

The report did not state that Baldric.

[Gromit]

// A disabled child in a pushchair? //

1. If the parent had proof that the child was disabled, then it would have priority, if that disability impaired mobility. If it didn't, the wheelchair user would have priority.

This is about Improving mobility for disabled people. If the disabled child was fully mobile, then the child should make way for the wheelchair user.

[Baldric]

It's a fact of life all the same TWR, it will happen at some time, then who takes preference, is it still "Wheelchairs without a doubt" ?

[TWR]

When I was pushing the Service User, It was, I can assure you.

[hc4361]

If a mother has paid her fare, has a grizzling toddler on her lap, baby in the pushchair with shopping underneath it and hanging from the handles I can see how it would be very difficult for her to remove baby and shopping from pushchair, fold the pushchair and stow it and it is unlikely fellow passengers would offer to help.
Should she and her children get off the bus?

[Baldric]

At the expense of a Disabled child, reliant on a pushchair because they're too small for a wheelchair, says a lot about you!

[TWR]

You at it again? If you read the story there was one person to blame, the driver, unless you think otherwise.

[mikey4444]

HC...you paint a difficult scenario I will agree but if it meant a disabled person being left at the bus stop, than maybe the mother in question should
fold down the buggy and make room for the wheelchair user.

This seems to be the consensus of opinion on here today, from the sensible posters at least.

[TWR]

You keep on about the DISABLED CHILD? was the child Disabled? I never did hear say that was the case

[mikey4444]

TWR...don't feed the Trolls ! It only encourages them !

[Baldric]

The title of the OP suggests an open question, not limited to the one incident, so my question is 'in principle'

[baza]

^^^^ surely all that shopping would overload the pushchair, gobby kid, give it something to think about, like how cold it is waiting for the next bus because the person in the wheelchair is entitled to be in that space.

[New Judge]

The fact that this issue has arisen at all is ridiculous and the policy of First Bus ("first come first served") is very surprising.

As has been said, today's buses have been designed to accommodate wheelchair users. They were not designed to accommodate unfolded buggies. Wheelchair users are protected by law whereas unfolded buggy users (and indeed ordinary passengers) are not. The space is a convenience for buggy users but not a right. London buses have a clear policy stating that wheelchair users take priority over buggy users. Each bus has a sign to that effect and TfL's website states this quite clearly:

"When travelling with a buggy, feel free to use the wheelchair space if it's available. If a wheelchair user wants to board the bus, the driver might ask you to share the space, move your buggy to another part of the bus, or, if necessary, fold it. Wheelchair users have priority over anyone else in this area as it is the only place they can travel safely. "

Note the term "Wheelchair users have priority over anyone else in this area..". It includes ordinary standing passengers and I have been on buses where the driver has told passengers standing in the wheelchair area to move upstairs or get off when he has arrived at a stop where a wheelchair user was waiting to board.

[Caribeing]

A lady on the bus recently had a full size non foldable pram it took up three seat places plus the seat she occupied don't know what would have happened if a wheelchair user was at the next stop, they wouldn't have been able to get on.!

[mikey4444]

NJ...the voice of common sense. Thanks for a full and thorough reply.

[TWR]

Principles does not apply with some people I can assure you, I have been there with the disabled.

[TWR]

Don't worry Mickey, I don't.