bus policy question

[justanotheruser]

I have noticed on two private bus companies that they have a policy that prams and strollers must be folded before boarding and stored safely. When questioned I have been told it is not a bus company policy. However Translink have not only denied it being their policy but have also stated that bus companies are not allowed to make that kind of rule under the terms of the contracts with translink. The department of Transport denied it was their policy. I tend to believe that because not every bus company has that policy. BCC certainly doesn't. Also the fact some drivers say it is translink policy while others say it is dept transport policy suggests they are making it up.

I am however reasonable and am willing to consider it is possibly out of the bus companies hands. Can anyone provide any proof that this is the case?
I personally consider it to be a very dangerous policy as it leaves the parent with no way to hold on if they require two hands to hold the child and in the event of the all too common hard braking by bus drivers will cause harm.

Sensibly some drivers don't enforce the policy despite the signs. So common sense does prevail sometimes.

[#Metro]

Some times old rules become habits and live on, even long after the original reason has disappeared or the policy abandoned.
A bit like "not letting the children on if they do not pay" which seems sensible, until you discover that buried at the bottom of TL's archives is a policy that says "no child left behind..."

[Otto]

B.T.
I encourage parents to wheel prams straight on IF the bus is a lowfloor. Pram must be stowed in the wheelchair area with the brakes on.
With NON lowfloors, the pram must be folded and stored in the luggage area behind front door.

[justanotheruser]

B.T.
I encourage parents to wheel prams straight on IF the bus is a lowfloor. Pram must be stowed in the wheelchair area with the brakes on.
With NON lowfloors, the pram must be folded and stored in the luggage area behind front door.

I will do this but will happily take my child out of the pram. i will inform the driver that I will sue him if he brakes hard and we are injured as a result. I will yell out during the journey if they brake too hard. This makes the bus run late as they go slower. When I get off the bus I will take one item at a time. So usually I have a nappy bag plus some shopping bags which can make two or three trips. Then I will take the pram off the bus and finally I will walk my child off the bus. I let the driver know I am doing this as I have a crook knee and am waiting for surgery (which is true). When they get grumpy at how long I take I point out to them it was what they wanted me to do not me and therefore it is their fault.
Maybe that is why some drivers don't say anything.



One reason given is that apparently a child came out of a pram when the bus had to suddenly brake to avoid an accident. The child then went through the windscreen and the company was taken to court. I find this hard to believe because a story like that WILL always make it into the newspaper and on the news yet I can not find any record (or recall) any such story. That kind of story is a real ratings winner for TV and makes papers sell. There is no way they would leave it out.

[Otto]

justanotheruser , you sound like you have had a bad experience... Not surprising as I have witnessed how some drivers handle passengers with prams.. ( not very well )..

[justanotheruser]

justanotheruser , you sound like you have had a bad experience... Not surprising as I have witnessed how some drivers handle passengers with prams.. ( not very well )..

every now and then the drivers really crack down on it so I guess management comes down on them. At the end of the day they just don't consider how difficult it might be for some people. Once I have my surgery it should be easier for me to carry plenty of things at once but at the moment my knee is prone to suddenly giving way. I'm not going to risk dropping my child because of a bus company policy.