Access to shops etc

[beweypm]

As a new dad I am constantly frustrated by the selfish gits who block pavements making ti impossible to pass whilst pushing my daughter in her buggy. It's as equally frustrating trying to get in or around some shops. Without wishing to sound patronising - I now have a better appreciation of the problems that the blind or people in wheelchairs have with obstacles and access. Here comes my question - is there a protest group I can join that campiagns for greater access to shops, streets etc?

[Stewart]

As a childless man, I am constantly frustrated by the selfish people pushing buggies around places where I am trying to walk and shop. Why should I have to be constantly moving out of the way to allow them to squeeze into places which are clearly not designed for them? Is there a protest group I can join that campaigns to restrict them to shops and pavements which have suitable access and wide enough aisles to accomodate them? beweypm, I am not having a go at you personally, just making the point that there is another side to your point. Only last week I had a newish pair of trousers danaged by someone ramming me with a pram in a small corner shop, and they obviously not have been in there with it. Why can't they leave their vehicles outside. I wouldn't dream of pushing my bicycle around the shop.

[andy hughes]

I have been through a similar situation with my youngest daughter - finding that Boots' Baby Section is in the basement, rather than on the ground floor, but my biggest bugbear was finding places to change my baby. I've lost count of the number toilet floors she's lain on, with my coat protecting her poor baby bot, and when our local Council rebuilt the town toilets, with a (hooray!) chaning room in the Gents, I went in to use the facilities, only to find the room blocked with a roadsweeper's cart! Men do change babies as well - can we move along with facilities!

[Moog]

I'm with Stewart on this, the size of some of those "buggies"! Bigger than my car, shouldn't be in shops! And in my experience the people pushing them are downright rude, now I'm sure that is a result of the problems they've been having all day with other people meaning they have reached the end of their tether, but a polite excuse me wouldn't go amiss! On another matter I was sitting in a bar yesterday at a large table (only seat available) reading the paper having a quiet beer and a smoke minding my own business when I was joined by a group of 4 people sporting 2 small children, they had the cheek to look disgusted at me when I continued smoking (those of you who read my previous answer on smoking will I hope remember I am a very reasonable smoker) I pointed out to them that I was in fact there first in a smoking area and that they then invaded my space with their balling crawling sprogs and that if they wanted to enjoy their coffees (it was a bar for god's sake!) they should sod off to the nearest Starbucks... Oh and another place... why do parents of young kids insist on taking their patently disinterested kids to art galleries where they scream, shout and run around generally annoying people. My question is why is it that when people become parents they think they can just carry on their lives exactly the same with small kids in tow and expect everybody else to accommodate them?

[Kit]

(Before I start, I am the owner of a compact, bijou buggyette with beautiful well-behaved toddler to match, and have never knowingly run over anyone.) Embrace the opportunity to explore new parts of town that you've never seen before, as you discover new routes to circumvent stairs. Train your offspring to look cute and smile adorably at everyone - it takes twice as long to get anywhere, but everyone is really considerate after they've cooed at my little darling. And if all else fails, attach scythes to the buggy wheels.

[beweypm]

Chill out everyone. I agree that tolerance is a two-way street I just want the same right to be able to go down a street as everyone else. I realise now how unaware I have been of the problesm facing people in wheelchairs, the blind etc through the inconsiderations of others. I think that we have the capability of being a bit thoughtless - I just want to raise awareness so people can consider others. In the same way campaigns ask car drivers to consider cyclists - which I am sure Stewart would appreciate. As for Moog - I assume he is childless which I think we should be all grateful for - the effect of him breeding would seriously weaken the gene pool for future generations. I understand and agree with some of his poinst but he drifted away from the question and I don't wish to open debates on child rearing or smoking here. I agree with Kit and quite happily go out of the way to get places and always look for a lift rather than risk injury trying to balance a buggy on an escalator - that's another thing - why do soem people with little shopping and perfect legs with access to loads of escalators or stairs still insist in taking the spaces that people less able to use could utilise - eg people with heavy shopping. old people, disabled, etc. Sod it - I'm off to fit the scythes.

[Leg of lamb]

You raise a very interesting point beweypm. Had you ever considered this situation prior to being a dad? I expect not. If you take your baby out of the equation and put yourself in a wheelchair - how would you manage to go about your daily business. Wide enough doors, stairs marring your progress, etc etc. How can you possibly expect childless persons to comprehend what you face daily? The world is designed by single, childless males, and as you no doubt were once, you are reaping the whirlwind. Sorry!

[beweypm]

Leg of Lamb - I totally agree and that's the whole point. I have had my eyes opened and want to try and do something to put things right. Surely it's not too late for me to do this and change my attitude and hopefully of others. Be a bit sad if I carried on as before wouldn't it. I think we can all be guilty of 'reaing a whirlwind' in one form or another - that doesn't mean to say that we can't or shouldn't change our views etc This is how we progress and hiopefully becoem a more tolerant and compassionate society. Trying being a little less judgemental and drop the 'I told you so' tone. Please everyone - I wasn't after a debate I just wanted an answer to a question.

[Moog]

Making a bit of an assupmtion there aren't we beweypm? Who ever said I was male? I apologise if my answer was not what you were looking for and confess I don't know the answer, but as your question and the answers which were already posted were clearly promoting a debate on the subject, which is one of the points of this website, I thought I'd add my thoughts. Despite your concern I am sure that when I have children of my own I too will become one of those people who insist on taking my kids everywhere and irritate people by their presence (I certainly intend to get the largest buggy possible, maybe a small jeep or something!), but until that day I will continue to get irritated by kids in bars and museums and rude people with buggies in shops.

[Moog]

Now you're talking Einstein.... what about people who get off an escalator and simply stop, somehow forgetting the people piling up behind them!

[DavidUK]

I agree Einstein. Why can't these people have their chats somewhere out of the way? I have been through two pushchair phases and also a few weeks with my wife in a wheelchair - that was a real eye opener. I was amazed by the ignorance and selfishness of many people. I think everybody should have a go in a wheelchair to see what wheelchair users have to put up with. I have to admit to ramming a few ankles in my time.

[beweypm]

Moog - sorry - didn't mean to assume. I was the same as you regarding kids etc - we all have our own ideas how kids should be brought up. Totally agree with DavidUK - we could all learn lessons there and perhaps make us a more tolerant and understanding society. I agree with Moog and Einstein. My pet Room 101 thing is people who wait patiently for ages at a bus queue or shopping checkout and then, surprise surprise, they suddenly realise they have to pay and spend ages fannying around getting their money out whilst the rest of us have our cash/credit card already to hand.

[Janetx]

Local Government Authorities usually liaise with vision impaired organisations regarding footpaths, might be worth going down that road. And another thing, as a vision impaired person, I am sick of being rammed by wheelchairs, and another thing, non-smokers please keep brats away from me, too.

[Janetx]

Tongue in cheek, here, of course.