Prams on buses

Torry_Quine

custardy wrote: »

in Edinburgh its not up for debate
if a wheelchair wants on then its fold up or get off

Same here and that's as it should be.

mumps

Alex-Riley. wrote: »

so what's your MIL going to do if someone with a wheelchair gets on

I think you missed the bit where I said this was going on in the last weeks of her life as she was dying of cancer and she is now dead so I don't think she is worried who uses the buses now.

I think, from her description, you could park a pushchair in the space the problem with the moms was they wanted her to move so they could sit with their buggies, don't know why they felt they needed the seat more than her, perhaps you might understand? The local bus company put it in writing that no one had a priority for these seats, moms, disabled or wheelchair users. She never mentioned a problem with wheelchair users, perhaps if they were accompanied the people with them were prepared to stand? Or perhaps, if the seats needed to be empty for a wheelchair user to use the space, she felt more inclined to try to move. Unfortunately I am not in a position to clarify this.

mumps

custardy wrote: »

well in your day there was probably no wheelchair spaces either
so perhaps you should think yourself lucky you get the "luxury" of that

I don't know about anyone else but I think that was uncalled for.

Doom_and_Gloom

PinkLipgloss wrote: »

One can't help but wonder why bus companies bothered designing these spaces on a bus at all?

*sigh*

They are there because of wheelchair users as to not have them would breach the DDA. They can be used by parents but I do not believe they come under any act meaning they have to provide them for pushchairs. This is why notices on the bus say that those with pushchairs must vacate the space like anyone else if a wheelchair user comes on.

Doom_and_Gloom

charlie-chan wrote: »

I was on the bus today and it was such a kerfuffle.

When I first got on, I had to sit at the front as I couldn't get my shopping past the two prams in the buggy area because one was unnecessarily wide and it was blocking the aisleway. After that mum + pram got off a few stops later, a wheelchair user wanted to get on. I could hear the carers say that they couldn't get on as a pram was in the pram area. The other mum had put her pram sideways therefore taking up the entire pram bay and the bus driver said to the carers and friend that there was room for them. They got on the bus etc but the wheelchair user had to face outwards instead of resting against the wheelchair rest because of no room for the pram to stand. The pram did contain a young baby but the mum was really reasonable etc with it and she made sure the carers etc got a seat with her.

When the bus reached the final destination, the carers couldn't get their friend off as the ramp wasn't down. I went and pulled the ramp down whilst the bus driver stayed in his seat because that's the kind of person I am. The bus driver did thank me though. I always like to help others and one day, I would hope to get help if I ended up in a wheelchair for a reason or another. That was a positive experience for a wheelchair user but it is very rare.

I find that, on my bus journeys, the pram bays are always full with either prams or young adults.

:eek: Positive experience? You think that was a positive experience? The only positive part was getting help off when the ramp refused to work. If you are not in the wheelchair space as stated you are not safe. There is not a chance I would want to stay on the bus in my wheelchair if I wasn't in the correct position! The wheelchair user had priority over the pushchair - end of!

Doom_and_Gloom

mumps wrote: »

I think you missed the bit where I said this was going on in the last weeks of her life as she was dying of cancer and she is now dead so I don't think she is worried who uses the buses now.

I think, from her description, you could park a pushchair in the space the problem with the moms was they wanted her to move so they could sit with their buggies, don't know why they felt they needed the seat more than her, perhaps you might understand? The local bus company put it in writing that no one had a priority for these seats, moms, disabled or wheelchair users. She never mentioned a problem with wheelchair users, perhaps if they were accompanied the people with them were prepared to stand? Or perhaps, if the seats needed to be empty for a wheelchair user to use the space, she felt more inclined to try to move. Unfortunately I am not in a position to clarify this.

From the arriva website

"When not required by a wheelchair or scooter customer, the priority area on accessible buses can be used by up to two buggies, prams or pushchairs. Use of the priority area by any customer is subject at all times to enough space being available and the discretion of the driver.

During travel, buggies, prams, pushchairs, wheelchairs and scooters must be securely positioned so that they are stable and do not cause an obstruction or hazard to other customers. Drivers will advise of any circumstances where it is not possible to allow customers to travel safely; this includes their own health, that of the customer, other passengers, members of the public, or the security of the vehicle and its equipment.

The driver can require that pushchairs and all types of buggies are folded at busy times, or to request occupants of the priority area to move elsewhere on the vehicle if a customer wishes to board with a wheelchair or scooter. You should co-operate in allowing proper use of this space by vacating it if necessary in favour of a wheelchair or scooter user."

So if it had been a wheelchair user she would have had to move. However otherwise I believe she had priority due to the DDA.

adouglasmhor

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

They are there because of wheelchair users as to not have them would breach the DDA. They can be used by parents but I do not believe they come under any act meaning they have to provide them for pushchairs. This is why notices on the bus say that those with pushchairs must vacate the space like anyone else if a wheelchair user comes on.

DDA was replaced by equalities legislation last year.

custardy

mumps wrote: »

I don't know about anyone else but I think that was uncalled for.

why? surely its the exact same argument?

Mupette

mumps wrote: »

I don't know about anyone else but I think that was uncalled for.

Unfortunately thats what some people are like

custardy wrote: »

why? surely its the exact same argument?

Actually custardy, the buses in bristol are not that far off from 1995 the time i would of been useing a buggy ....

Its only the showcase buses in their posh lanes in that have spaces, all other buses still don't have this, so from where i live if i want a bus, i have to wait until there is one that

a, does have the space
b, is available


But can i ask, why should a wheelchair space be a luxury, in this day and age, when discrimination of the disabled is not acceptable now?

custardy

Mupette wrote: »

Unfortunately thats what some people are like




Actually custardy, the buses in bristol are not that far off from 1995 the time i would of been useing a buggy ....

Its only the showcase buses in their posh lanes in that have spaces, all other buses still don't have this, so from where i live if i want a bus, i have to wait until there is one that

a, does have the space
b, is available


But can i ask, why should a wheelchair space be a luxury, in this day and age, when discrimination of the disabled is not acceptable now?

where did I say a wheelchair is a luxury?
you seem to think because you didnt have the use of a pram space,nobody should.
given buses havent had wheelchair spaces until relatively recently. whats the difference?
why should it be different?
its your argument that you put forward. simply replacing pram with wheelchair

don't think for one minute I will shy away from a subject because its seen as un PC.
I have a good friend in a wheelchair but he simply gets on with life as he can.
having a disability doesnt give you the right to dictate that others shouldnt have X because you didnt in your time.