80% of pregnant women stand on public transport as uncaring fellow passengers fail to offer their seat, so a new survey shows.
Passengers even hide behind newspapers, letting mums-to-be risk fainting. The Mother and Baby magazine and Transport 2000 poll discovered that 16% of pregnant mothers are offered a seat when pregnant.
Mums also stated that they find travelling with young children difficult on public transport, staff unhelpful and other passengers do not treat them well.
So mothers and expectant mothers are avoiding public transport and getting in their cars . Pregnant mums really need to be all to sit down, especially in this hot weather. It can be very uncomfortable and mums to be can feel very faint.
Little wonder more mums are choosing to drive. At least they are at ease and do not have to stand nor be pushed about.
The downside is of course environmental with more cars on the road, adding to traffic congestion. Transport for London manages 30 million journeys across London daily. Their spokesperson stated that they they cannot force the public to stand up for pregnant women .
Earlier this year they offered 'baby on board' badges to pregnant mothers on the underground to support women who felt uncomfortable asking travellers to give up their seats.
If public transport was more baby friendly, 89% of mothers would use it more. Bus drivers also got some flack, with 60% being described as unhelpful. They ask mums to fold own pushchairs with baby in hand and appear hostile to mums.
600,000 babies are born each year, so parents are a huge market for public transport. As a result of this survey, Transport 2000 has proposed better training for staff and drivers in order that they are more understanding to mothers and mums to be.
What would be great is if there was family friendly space on trains, buses and at stations.
