Orange J: What are the laws reguarding babies riding on public transport buses?
I live in America, but am currently visiting Oxford, England.
Today I was taking the bus, because public transportation is very popular here. I noticed a woman riding the bus with her baby, in her lap. Another woman got on the bus and brought her entire stroller on the bus. I know that there are many laws in America about car seats and seat belts etc. What laws are there to protect the children riding on public transportation?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Erika (Nina and Brady’s Mom)
On the bus, even in the states or Canada, public transportation has to guidelines for babies. You can have them on your lap or in the stroller.
There aren’t regulations for buses like for cars. Your baby can ride with you, in the stroller, or in the car seat on the seat next to you. Have you EVER seen seatbelts on a bus? No. Because it’s not really an issue. There are very few bus accidents. Same goes for airplanes, many parents just take the babies on their laps.Answer by dmg
At least in the city I live in, it is acceptable to bring your baby onto the bus in any way you choose. I have thought about this myself, as I don’t drive. I am honestly not sure whether it is safer to have the baby in a carrier or in a stroller with the wheels locked. I have never been in a bus accident, but I have been in a “near-miss” while on a city bus (long before I had a child.) Everyone who was standing got tossed around a bit, but those of us in seats were fine, barely jostled. No one got hurt.Answer by =D
Hi, I hope you like the UK! Busses are very popular as a mode of transport because in a car you would end up stuck in traffic for hours going in to the city.
About laws for babies on busses, none really, there is a space on the bus designated for people with guide dogs, wheelchairs, and strollers (prams), this will be the place you noticed and it looks like a row or two of seats are missing.
The mother holding her child in her arms, would be unlikely to drop her child, and the pram would not move, because the wheel lock would be in place.
There is a fine for driving without a seatbelt in a car though, and strict rules about having car seats fitted properly. I would be horrified to see anyone holding a baby in their lap while driving a car!
I hope this has helped
🙂
I live in Australia where you can take your baby and stroller on the bus. The baby can’t sit in the stroller but other than that it’s very common for mothers to have their babies or toddlers on their laps or sitting next to them. I’ve been getting on the bus with my son since he was 11 months old. Where I live, it is legal to have your child, under the age of 2, in a taxi as long as he/she is sitting on your lap.
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