Crying toddler told to stand on bus as pram space occupied by cat in stroller
A bus driver reportedly told a woman to make her crying toddler stand, or wait for the next service, because a cat in a stroller was taking up the last pram space.
Mia Jade Wilson was taking the bus towards Leeds, Yorks, in the UK last Friday, when she said she noticed a fellow commuter with a child appearing to argue with the driver as she boarded.
The 23-year-old claims she felt compelled to aid the fellow mum when she heard the driver tell her she could either fold down the pram and walk on with her child, or wait for another bus.
The driver told her the maximum number of two prams were already on the vehicle, so an appalled Ms Wilson intervened, explaining one of the on-board pram's occupants was cat.
"The driver on the bus said she either had to wait for the next bus or fold her pram down, and she had loads of things under her pram, making it hard for her to fold down," Ms Wilson said.
The mum took a picture of the "ridiculous" situation and slammed bus company First Leeds for putting "cats before humans".
"I just found it ridiculous that a cat in a pram would take priority over a child in a pram," she said.
"At first, when I saw the bus driver refuse her on, I stood up and stood by the doors whilse I asked the driver if he knew it was a cat in the pram.
"The driver just said only two prams are allowed on at any one time. I even turned to the lady with the cat and asked her if she could move to the other side."
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Ms Wilson was with her one-year-old Elias, who occupied the other pram space, which she gave up for the stranger.
"The lady just got on and thanked me for helping her. She had to put her pram down and her child was crying.
"I was on the phone to my aunty at the time and she suggested that I take a photo and upload it to social media which I obviously did."
The mother said the people on the bus were "rolling their eyes" in dismay that a cat made a mother put down her child's pram so she could get on.
"It's just disgraceful and I'm just completely shocked.
"It seems to be one rule for one person and one rule for another," Ms Wilson said.
"No matter which way you look at it, I just think it's wrong that a cat has priority on the bus over the child.
"Surely there was another way of transporting a cat, like a standard cat carrier like most people use.
"That way, it could have either gone under the seat on her lap meaning that valuable space is free for people that actually need it."
A spokesperson from First Leeds said: "We're sorry to hear that some customers disagreed with the decision made by one of our drivers and we have therefore launched an investigation into this complaint.
"There is limited space on board our buses and therefore some customers will be asked to fold down their pushchairs before boarding.
"With the exception of assistance dogs, animals can only travel on board our services if they are secure."
