200 sign petition calling for mums to fold up prams
MUMS who block aisles and seats on buses by refusing to collapse their pushchairs and prams are being urged to be more considerate to other passengers.
More than 200 people have signed a petition after complaints that the young mums are taking up too much room on the buses.
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BUS BATTLE: Mary Milakovic and her daughter Melanie Heath at the bus stop on Beaconsfield Drive. Picture: Cara Edgington
Petition organiser and Age Concern volunteer Mary Milakovic, who has a disabled daughter, has had buses drive past her at stops because they are too full with pushchairs and prams.
The 53-year-old, who lives with wheelchair-bound daughter Melanie Heath, in Magdalene Road, Blurton, said: "We don't want to ban mothers with pushchairs from buses. We just want to be able to get on the bus and not be shoved out of the way or threatened to move.
"It's not too much to ask. Sometimes we'll go out to get the bus at 9am and we have to stand waiting until 10.30am because there isn't enough room for us to get on."
Mary uses the 22, 22A, 23 and 23A services regularly.
She said her 29-year-old daughter Melanie, who suffers from various illnesses, doesn't want to get on a bus anymore because of how she has been treated by other passengers, especially mums with pushchairs.
Mary added: "We're not asking for special treatment. We just want to be shown some consideration by other bus passengers."
The head of a bus users group has called on drivers to be firmer to avoid conflicts.
Selwyn Brown, spokesman for North Staffordshire bus passenger users' group ACES, said: "This is not a common problem but there are some people who are less considerate.
"It's up to the driver to say what happens on their bus.
"I know it can be particularly difficult when there are two or more pushchairs on a bus, and I've even heard of three or four being on board at one time.
"Bus companies can do a lot to encourage good citizenship on the part of pushchair drivers while being careful not to be discriminatory to mums wanting to use buses."
The petition will be presented to First Bus once all the signatures are collected.
First commercial director Paul de Santis, pictured below, said: "This is a national problem.
"The driver's job is to ask people to collapse their pushchairs to try to accommodate wheelchair users.
"All we can do is ask our passengers to be considerate to each other."
72 Comments
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by M, Blurton
Friday, March 19 2010, 2:36PM
“Some of the comments just go to show why there is a problem. Firstly not all elderly are disabled and not all disabled are elderly. The petition is for better bus services for the elderly and disabled and may I remind the young ones they might end up as one or the other. The spaces on the buses are wheelchair priority for a reason, you can be expected to fold a pushchair. If the parent or guardians wait so long for a bus then it is mostly because they can not be bothered to just fold up the pushchairs.
People generally choose to have babies, people do not choose to be disabled. Sometimes people have to rely on the buses because they are not allowed to drive. And as for moaning about having to fold up pushchairs because of shopping, haven't they heard of home delivery. As for picking on Miss Milakovic, since I know she is a much valued and liked volunteer for Age Concern, goodness knows how some of you are employed considering you are so small-minded and vindictive.
One last thing. I have to use a wheelchair and the bus drivers don't allow me to park just anywhere yet it seems those with prams can, including the gangway, and they talk like dirt to intimidate people out of the way. Elderly people sitting on the earlier seats, as they should, often get pushchairs rammed into their ankles. You go out to catch a bus, not take part in a battle with selfish morons. And on a detour, for those who allow access for all on the disabled toilets by refusing to fit keys, having children does not make them incapable of using the main toilets. Nether does having a trolley for that matter.”
by corinne, stoke on trent
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 5:45PM
“i have never seen a pram that cannot be folded down in some way. how on earth do they go anywhere that isnt accessible by bus? i am glad i didnt have one of those as when mum picked me up in car i liked the type that i could put in the boot. i had one with a carrycot that i folded down and had to lift the carrycot with son in it over the heads of ppl on the bus as only spaces would be near the back (not much room between seats to fit carrycot)
i just hope the ppl who are comparing the difficulties of folding a pram with being in a wheelchair never have to experience the difference for themselves as some have mentioned drivers would not stay still while the disabled person took five minutes to get out of their chair, found a seat (not taking up a seat a buggy user could use) and get the carer to fold the wheelchair up and get safely to their seat”
by Sam, Blurton.
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 10:34PM
“Too "Jeremy Kyle" , obviously you are very judgmental and don't have much knowledge of the mums from Blurton, And by the way i am not a mum, but my sister is and yes she is going too university so she has brains, along with many other mums of Blurton. Times have moved on if wheelchair users dont have too struggle why should mums, also some wheelchairs can be folded up but i dont see them going out of there way to do it, and there carers could help them onto a seat and fold the wheelchair for them, you seriously need learn a bit about equality. Also the design of prams sold for newborns are not fold able. As the specifically designed for the baby too lie flat to stop a delay in development, is it right that there development should be effected? a lot of Blurton do have jobs and have partners. Understood?”
by charlotte, blurton
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 12:17PM
“i cant believe that they point the finger at young mums!!!! all aged parents with kids have to get about somehow and there is buggy space on the bus and that is what it is there for .... its just another dig at young parents and i think that its disgusting yeah we all have a right to get on the bus i have 2 children one is 2 and the other is 3 and i feel alot safer when i have them in the pushchair because i no that they are safe!!!! if i was waitin for a bus and it was full obviously i would have to wait for another and thats the way it works wiv every1 its first come first serve ... but no not to all parents that have to fold their pushchairs .... just YOUNG mums .”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:19AM
“This news item turned out to be all about 'anger management'. (sometimes referred to as 'tantrums')
Who's got the rusks? I want a rusk -NOW!!”