Wheelchair users and prams on public transport, whose priority

[Justin Smith]

In what way. Like the entire bus is absolutely full and the only space without someone in it is the wheelchair spot they're in.

Then the bus is dangerously overloaded and many people should get off.

 

Tough, should have thought about that when buying it.

Again, tough. Lifestyle choice does not trump disability.

 

---------- Post added 13-12-2014 at 10:03 ----------

 

 

You'd like to see it.

 

But like PT said, entire generations of mothers managed it. Are you so incapable that you'd instead refuse to move out the designated wheelchair spot?

 

It is not and never should be a matter of first come, first served, unless you're talking about two people in wheelchairs and only space for one of them.

 

Cyclone, it`s not me I`m talking about. I`ve never had this problem myself, I walk most places with my lad or use the car. The tram doesn`t seem to have this situation much because there`s more room on it.

And, you`re misquoting me. I never said I wouldn`t move out of a disabled space, what I said is I wouldn`t get off the bus if a disabled person (or anyone else) wanted to get on, it`s unfair to ask me to do that.

 

Have you tried avoiding being personal whilst making posts ?

 

---------- Post added 13-12-2014 at 11:14 ----------

 

I've done it, Justin, thousands upon thousands of times, and with all kinds of diffent prams, from the maclaren buggys to cindico travellers, to the larger framed silver cross type prams, with child(ren) and shopping, in all kinds of weathers.

"Tarquin" and "Peregrine" is just shorthand for "Mummys precious little darlings" who are too much like delft china to consider being removed from their pram.

 

Our little lad doesn`t even like being in his pram !

 

---------- Post added 13-12-2014 at 11:22 ----------

 

Just a quick comment about terminology - a couple of posts have made reference to equality and disabled people people being "equal". To my mind it's more about levelling an unfair playing field.

 

What you`re talking about there is positive discrimination. That`s a valid argument, but let`s just be clear what we`re talking about.

 

I know someone who has difficulty walking, she get`s a motability car. That`s positive discrimination. Assuming the recipient of the motability car is genuinely in need of it I don`t object to paying for that. What I do object to is the logical conclusion of the argument* which is that a parent and a child should (if it were full) get off a bus so a disabled person could get on.

 

* That disabled people have absolute priority over the disabled space on a bus.

Edited December 13, 2014 by Justin Smith

[Cyclone]

A bus can be full without it being overloaded.

A bus cannot "have no space to move to" without being overloaded.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to buy a new pushchair so they make do with second hand.

What if the disability is a result of a life style choice?

No one chooses to need a wheelchair.

 

---------- Post added 13-12-2014 at 11:47 ----------

 

It's basic common decency to move. Everyone who is making excuses as to why someone shouldn't move seems to be lacking it.

[1960]

A bus cannot "have no space to move to" without being overloaded.

No one chooses to need a wheelchair.

 

Of cause it can, all seats are full, the storage for push chairs is full, all available standing places are full, the wheelchair/pushchair space is occupied by a pushchair and child. No one can get on the bus unless someone gets off because the bus is full. Now someone in a wheelchair wants to get on, there is nowhere on the bus for the pushchair and child to move to.

 

But they might need it because of a lifestyle choice, and not all parents choose to be in the situation they find themselves.

[aifway]

You tell the wheelchair user to go back home or wait for the next bus.

Simples

[lazarus]

Only yesterday a young woman got on the 47 bus just past the Blackstock pub, she had a pushchair full of carrier bags BUT there wasn't a child, where do you go from there?

[Cyclone]

Of cause it can, all seats are full, the storage for push chairs is full, all available standing places are full, the wheelchair/pushchair space is occupied by a pushchair and child. No one can get on the bus unless someone gets off because the bus is full. Now someone in a wheelchair wants to get on, there is nowhere on the bus for the pushchair and child to move to.

 

But they might need it because of a lifestyle choice, and not all parents choose to be in the situation they find themselves.

 

 

Uh huh, and I bet this scenario happens so often.

 

The solution is to stop labelling it as wheelchair/pushchair of course, and always require that pushchairs are folded.

Edited December 13, 2014 by Cyclone

[1960]

Uh huh, and I bet this scenario happens so often.

 

The solution is to stop labelling it as wheelchair/pushchair of course, and always require that pushchairs are folded.

 

That would solve the problem but it would also cause the bus company to loose money because the majority of the time the space wouldn't be occupied. Taking some seats out would be a better solution, but then people would be complaining about not having a seat to sit on.

[Justin Smith]

You tell the wheelchair user to go back home or wait for the next bus.

Simples

 

Just like the rest of us have to. A PITA, but that`s life.

[cgksheff]

It isn't wheelchair/pushchair/buggy space.

It is a wheelchair space and despite all the chuntering and legalities, First Bus (and the majority of society) still expect you to shift when a wheelchair user needs it.

[Plain Talker]

A bus cannot "have no space to move to" without being overloaded.

No one chooses to need a wheelchair.

 

---------- Post added 13-12-2014 at 11:47 ----------

 

It's basic common decency to move. Everyone who is making excuses as to why someone shouldn't move seems to be lacking it.

 

Very true, Cyclone.

I didn't choose to be poisoned by carbon monoxide by a Rachman landlord, who refused to comply with the landlord and Tenant Act by maintaining the property's gas fires according to the law.

 

We (my ex hubby and I) used the gas fires over the winter, getting more and more ill, not knowing that the odourless, colourless gas was seeping back into the room, due to a blocked flue. This left me needing to rely on a wheelchair as I suffered neurological damage. We were lucky to survive, as you only tend to hear of CO poisonings when the occupants of properties are found dead.

 

We did not move into that property, thinking "Oh, with a bit of luck, the fires might cause CO poisoning, and, hey, we might lose everything... our marriage, our health, our home and our job... whoopee!"

 

---------- Post added 13-12-2014 at 17:02 ----------

 

You tell the wheelchair user to go back home or wait for the next bus.

Simples

 

If it's the last bus... and they are on their way back home from somewhere?

How does that one work? NOT so simples, actually!

 

(Though of course, how DARE we want to go out anywhere, or want to visit friends etc!)

 

---------- Post added 13-12-2014 at 17:11 ----------

 

so, for example,

I go up to Stannington, to visit my Bestie... I go out to catch the one-an-hour 81, from "Stannington Top" at 2242, to get me back into town for the connection to my side of town...

 

However, as frequently happens on that route, the 81 fails to turn up.

I wait an hour for the next one, at 2342.

 

The 2342 arrives but someone with a pram is in the wheelchair space, and will not take little Tarquin out of his pram, to make space for my wheelchair.

 

Should I be made to wait for the next bus? Given that it's not going to arrive for another five hours and ten minutes?