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?

[hc4361]

When my kids were little pushchairs/buggies had to be folded and stowed in the special luggage rack on buses.
No hope of using the bus if you were in a wheelchair, either, but at least pushchairs are foldable.

Interesting question popped up on the recent debate about this on the Jeremy Vine show earlier this week. A caller has a 4 year old son who is severely disabled and uses a specially adapted pushchair. Should she give the place up to a wheelchair user?

[in a mo]

As a wheelchair user I see the problem 1st hand but it really all boils down to how ignorant people choose to be, there are many people who no matter what happens will not give up their place for anyone, on buses there was always a place for strollers/pushchairs which could be folded and the mother would carry child in their arms before taking a seat ,if non was available one would expect someone to vacate their seat. With wheelchairs it is very different ,even if the disabled person could manage to transfer themselves into a seat ,there is still nowhere to put the wheelchair.Would it be rude to say that people choose to have children whereas there is no choice if we are disabled.

[RATTER15]

hc, //A caller has a 4 year old son who is severely disabled and uses a specially adapted pushchair. Should she give the place up to a wheelchair user?// clearly not, that child's pushchair is also being used as a wheelchair for a severely disabled person.

[ladybirder]

No. The child is disabled too, but too small for a standard sized wheelchair.

[Gromit]

Wheelchairs take priority.

The bus was designed to be wheelchair accessible and it is a legal requirement. That didn't come about by accident. Disabled campaigner fought a long battle to get the law changed, and compel bus companies to redesign their buses.

If the space is unoccupied, then a pushchair can use it. But if a wheelchair user gets on the bus, the pushchair must move.

If a parent is going to use a bus they should take a collapsable buggy/ trolley so that they can stow it on the baggage rack if necessary. If they take a pram which does not collapse, they should be aware that they may be asked to leave the bus.

[dave50]

A bit of give and take and compromise might have helped but let's not get carried away with the fact that because someone is in a wheelchair it doesn't mean they always come first in any situation no matter what, just because of their disability.

[Gromit]

Dave50

It does when it is the law.

[Gromit]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/174

[ummmm]

Mushroom...I'm really shocked by that.

[janbee]

Pushchairs should always be folded up, (preferably with child inside!) but rarely does this happen. Parents rarely, if ever, fold up the buggies and I've actually heard some of them TELLING(not asking) other passengers to move out the way so that their little darling gets priority. No way.

[janbee]

Elderly and/or disabled should always get priority.

[Retrochic]

Mushroom someone swore at you in Sainsbury's? you should refrain from 'shocking' sensitve members of AB and shop in Aldi,no swearing in there :0)

[ummmm]

So you don't find it shocking that someone bumps into you and swears at you for the privilege? Or are you just nudgescuffling?

[Retrochic]

Ummmm I would never be shocked by anyone swearing, swearing doesn't bother me.

[mikey4444]

I have just got in and haven't read any of the responses on this thread but I would go with the wheelchair. Somebody with a pushchair can fold it up and take it onto the bus, but its unlikely that a disabled person could do the same.

[mikey4444]

It would be interesting to trace this woman that made the disabled man wait for another bus and ask her why she didn't act with some decency and common sense. Although if I were her, I wouldn't want to come forward, as I would be too ashamed.

[TWR]

Wheelchairs without a doubt.

[Baldric]

A Disabled Child in a Push chair?

[ummmm]

Swearing doesn't bother me but someone bumping into me and then swearing at me would.

Baldric...I think they mean that most babies can't walk.

[TWR]

I should have added, the driver of that bus was out of order, the sign was in the bus for the disabled, I presume that meant a wheelchair not a push chair, the driver should have told the owner to fold up the pushchair & let the Wheelchair user on the bus.