Right now we have foldable seats at one end of the SAs and at both ends of the ADL pairs, but who’s going to ask someone to get out of one of these seats on a full train so a wheelchair, pram or bike can go there?

It’d be easier if these sections simply didn’t have seats at all, so they could easily take wheeled items, or accommodate lots of standees if crowded.

Have any of them made any fuss about how public transport sucks in Auckland? Till they do, I’d ask them all to keep their silly opinions to themselves.

It seems ludicrous to me to complain about lack of space on a train due to a mother, who obviously needs to get somewhere just as badly as other commuters, and not complain where it actually matters.

This goes double for people who would complain about wheelchairs on a bus or train.

Not everyone can afford to buy a pram for every situation. I wish these riders would get some compassion.

While it’s true that the trains are crowded enough as it is, mothers have as much right to use the rail corridor as unruly students who do not sacrifice their seat for other adult (full fare paying) passengers. As you have said Jon, mothers should be aware that on most of our trains, there is a specific area of the train that allows for pram access (usually at either end of a DMU, or at the SD, -non-loco- end of an SA set). Ditto goes for cyclists – who I also have some sympathy for – because, they are making the greatest effort to remove vehicles from our roads.

I identify with the mothers with prams – there was a brief period in time that my family was without car (which is quite liberating in some ways). Unfortunately, this meant abuse being thrown at us for bringing even our smallest stroller on to the train, and for an upset baby’s cry. Babies cry – this is a part of life. Those who are upset by such a noise probably should get in line for sterilization or wonder how the hell they got past having their own kids.
From what I can see, the abuse is hurled at us by people who are career-focused rich-arse BEEMER drivers who think that their travelling the trains in Auckland is all they need to do to save the planet –OR– students who aren’t much better at keeping the noise down and being courteous themselves. Most other people are kind, assisting these people on to trains, making room – because we all should be entitled access to a working, efficient public transport system. Even our screaming two year olds

[/RANT]