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?

[New Judge]

And thereby hangs the tale, Caribeing. People take liberties if they are allowed to do so. Nobody with any consideration would think of taking a full sized pram on to a bus. So it is with unfolded buggies. THey were designed to fold and so be stowable reasonably on a bus. Now, because there is space, buggy mummies such as the one involved in this issue believe they have a right to the space which was clearly designed for others.

[mikey4444]

The difficulty with these trolls TWR, is that they will try to hi-jack and/or sabotage every thread on here, given half the chance. In my opinion they are best ignored. They will die of starvation eventually.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't use public transport much now but have seen this situation (or similar) arise - what happened was the whole bus took charge.

Someone folded the buggy and put the shopping in the luggage area, someone offered Mum and child a seat and the wheelchair user got the space.

Common sense and cooperation and the whole thing took a minute or so, if only that were the norm we would need less legislation and signs etc.

Hey ho.

[netibiza]

Why can't mothers with pushchairs walk? In the olden days that's what we did, no room on buses for prams of any sort in those days.

[Svejk]

You should be careful who you're calling a troll. You've been warned about your behaviour by the ABed in the past. I'd hate to see you banned because your posts are a constant source of amusement to me.

[ummmm]

Neti...wouldn't that depend on how far away they were?

[mikey4444]

TWR...takes a while to work it would appear !

[New Judge]

I was going to get back to the "Old days" netibiza but resisted the urge because as soon as you do that someone will say "Ah yes, but they used to send little boys up chimneys in the old day". This sort of lumps together all remarks about the "old days" and suggests that all progress is good.

But since you mention it, no unfolded buggies were taken on buses years ago. Buses had a small cubby hole under the stairs where one or two folded ones could be accommodated (if the conductor was in a good mood) but that was that. And people still managed.

[ummmm]

Yes, NJ, but we also had local butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, hardware stores...etc. Now many of us don't.

[Peter Pedant]

wheelchair

even with two kids in a pram you just chuck em on random passengers' laps and say I will collect them later

whereas you cant really do that with a fella in a wheel chair

[mccfluff]

where i live - the woman over the road with two small kids, the nearest shops are a 20 mins walk away (that's me walking fast on my own so is probably longer with children/pushchairs) so if she goes there for her shopping shes got the walk there & back again with shopping plus kids. that's quite a distance to do with all that...

although with the bus question, the wheelchair user should come first

[ummmm]

And when you have so much shopping hanging off the buggy that if you let go it falls over.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah I've seen that:

the buggy falls over with a bang weighed down with stolen merchandise and the child is catapulted over a few seats into a surprised passengers lap

and the mum says: O good I was gonna do that anyway

[Mamyalynne]

"Stolen merchandise"? - what brought that on?

[ladybirder]

Behave yourself Pater, I'm cracking up here:-)

[ladybirder]

Sorry - Peter.

[ummmm]

Mamy...only criminals don't have a car!!!

[Mamyalynne]

True that, I got 2 tins of lobster in my boots this very morning.

[hc4361]

I've had another thought about this, albeit contentious.

If a person is disabled to the point he is dependent on a wheelchair he will (usually) be in receipt of mobility allowance which is given to help him get around. This allowance can be used to lease a vehicle (motability scheme) or however he wishes. It could be used to pay for Ring and Ride if available in the area or taxis. The higher rate is currently £56.75 per week (tax free). This wouldn't pay for many taxi journeys but would certainly help with the cost.

[mikey4444]

HC...maybe he is using his money on bus fares !