Bus ride through Green Lanes

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on February 11, 2011 at 8:42

A favourite subject of mine, the buggy. Back in the days of the Maclaren buggy, I was a single mother and buses didn't have space for buggies at all. We took the child out of the buggy, folded it up and carried both onto the bus – as well as all the shopping, making sure to leave a hand free for the toddler. I managed fine for years. What has happened in between to make mothers unable to remove babies from buggies?

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Permalink Reply by Germana on February 11, 2011 at 10:31

Drazub, I have a Maclaren too (I also have a bigger one for various reasons - not because I love big things, just because it'seasier to maneuvre with one hand if it's raining and I'm holding an umbrella, etc...but I try to avoid using it when I plan to take a bus).

When the bus is crowded and moving it's not totally straightforward to hold on to a baby (who might be sleeping) or toddler (or two) and fold the buggy, get your shopping and any other bags you are carrying (food, changes of clothes, etc) and try not to fall in the process. Even more complicated if perhaps you are also heavily pregnant.

It is certainly possible to do it, but it's extremely inconvenient and at times dangerous. And in any case bus drivers simply don't let you board the bus if there are 2 other buggies on a double decker bus, and you often don't even have the chance to say you plan to fold it. 

Simply put, while you may think it's been fine for you, this inconvenience is what puts a lot of parents off using public transport and makes them think you absolutely can't live in London without a car if you have kids.

I have so far been able to not buy a car despite having one child, but when I'll have my second child, if the public transport situation gets any worse, I'll have to start using the car sharing at the very least (hopefully I won't give in and buy a car, but I am sure lots of other parents will, and this will increase traffic levels and pollution - and then there are people who can't afford cars anyway and they'll be left stranded). 

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on February 11, 2011 at 11:33

@Germana  Since the beginning of this debate on articulated buses, it's nearly always been women, especially those with kids, who've always pointed out the benefits of these buses and wanted to keep the 'status quo'. This really is a question of mobility for mothers with buggies. 

 

@Will Hoyle is always banging on about how good 'his underground' is, compared to other capital cities. If it were possible to take buggies onto the whole underground system, it wouldn't be a problem removing the bendy-buses. Unfortunately, that's not the case. In my city, most of the underground (80%) has now been converted to allow use of wheelchairs and buggies on the trains. Some lines fitted out are also over 100 years old, but are not as deep as some London stations. 

Perhaps it would be an idea for the banks, who received much London tax-payer support should, as a recompense, start contributing to a scheme of fitting out the remaining underground stations with lifts etc. ? 

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Permalink Reply by maggie on February 11, 2011 at 12:11

I also remember the days of small Maclaren buggies, and trying to grab a boisterous toddler in one hand, pick up the baby from the buggy in the other hand trying not to upend the buggy at the same time, folding the buggy with the other hand, while carrying the shopping in another hand. Unless you had four hands and were built like a bus it was absolute hell. The small buggies were always tipping over and provided no comfort or warmth though they were much handier to manoeuvre and stow away. There are never enough spaces for buggies or prams on buses and I feel sorry to see so many parents with babies left standing in the cold and rain. 

Ever tried single handed taking a baby in buggy, a toddler and a bag of shopping down the escalator of the tube? A bit like the krypton Factor, the conundrum to leave the buggy at the top and carry the toddler and the shopping to the bottom, then leave them at the bottom to then retrieve the buggy at the top. I took the Blanche Duboir option and relied on the kindness of strangers.

More access for parents and wheelchair users is urgently needed.

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Permalink Reply by SarahC on February 8, 2011 at 21:32

Last year the Camden New Journal said it would be next year!

http://tinyurl.com/5rharzw

"Party bus" seems beyond euphemism. Can't come a day too soon as far as I'm concerned.

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Permalink Reply by 3dabemynv2wyk on February 11, 2011 at 10:36

I think BJ got rid of the bendy buses on routes he has direct contact with - eg: the 149 from London Bridge (near City Hall). But he probably doesn't travel up Green Lanes too often... ; )

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Permalink Reply by Germana on February 11, 2011 at 21:36

I wonder if the fare dodging could be solved by removing the option to get on board from the back doors (except for buggies and wheelchairs maybe...), and by forcing people to swipe their cards when getting on board like on the double deckers. And having more spot checks. That would cost less than replacing the whole (relatively new) bendy bus fleet with routemasters.

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