And it's not because I belong to Childfree

[thehappyemo]

Is there something we can do about jerks hogging handicapped seats with those giant, SUV-style baby strollers? I just recently ditched my cane after being pretty gimpy (bad car accident) for 10 months, my leg can still be bad, and I either have to stand (hurts) or limp to the back of the bus and get knocked down quite a bit. The bus always lurches

Comments

[tara____]

Bring your cane and ask them to move. Those seats are there for YOU, not them.

[midnightmadness]

Agree with tara____, keep the cane if it can still be/get that bad. I carried my cane for the better part of a year after I broke my ankle several years back, even though I didn't really *need* it after about 90 days or so.

Only alternative is a baseball bat to the stroller (doesn't have to be the whole thing, just one or two of the wheels, and it's almost as useless and a pain in the ass for them now as it is for you) - j/k, of course, but trying to make light of the sad fact that there will always be an abundance of completely self centered rude and obnoxious people in this world. You can either be one too, or just deal as best you can. Good luck.

[darth_snarky]

I completely agree with the previous comments. You have every right to ask them to move. Those seats were intended for people like you, and were meant to fold up for wheelchairs, not strollers.

(Don't they still make umbrella strollers? That's what my mom used when she had to commute with me every morning. She'd fold it up and I could sit in her lap or in the seat next to her.)

[darth_snarky]

...I love it when my default icon turns out to be surprisingly appropriate for the topic at hand.

As others have suggested...

[polyfrog]

I often carry my cane on days when things are not going very well; not because I need it to lean on, but as a sort of prop or visual cue that I really am in need of accommodation.

Plus, it makes a handy cudgel against unmannerly nitwits such as those you describe.

[steadierfooting]

I personally think it's shitty that you'd have to take your cane with you just to get people to get up if you don't truly need to have it. I understand where you're coming from. I have an autoimmune disease and when I'm in a flare, I'm in pain, usually guts, sometimes joints too, and I'm generally very fatigued. But I don't look "sick" so no one gives a shit.

Anyway, I have no suggestions, just wanted to chime in with a rant and sympathize.

[jamiecat]

While I sympathize with your pain, if you don't look sick, it's illogical to expect people to know that you are.

[steadierfooting]

Not knowing, yes, but ignoring someone's request to sit down because they don't feel well is another matter.

[steadierfooting]

Also, in the OP's case (or anyone with a mobility issue), it's usually pretty obvious when someone is hobbling around.