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Bus operators across Great Britain apply broadly similar rules to prams: they may be carried unfolded if there is room, but the wheelchair space has to be freed for a wheelchair user, and drivers decide. Stagecoach, which publishes one set of conditions for its bus companies, and Cardiff Bus in Wales each set this out in their own wording. This guide summarises Stagecoach’s Conditions of Carriage and two of its help pages, plus the Cardiff Bus Conditions of Carriage, as read in September 2026. The Stagecoach conditions are published for the group as a whole, so local practice can vary, and the Cardiff Bus rules apply to its services in and around Cardiff, Wales. This is general information.

What Stagecoach carries (Great Britain)

Section 5 of the Stagecoach conditions says wheelchairs, disabled buggies, approved mobility scooters, small prams and unfolded buggies may only be carried on suitable low-floor vehicles. It adds that all its buses are wheelchair accessible, but that some journeys on some services are run by coaches that may not be, and that these journeys are highlighted on timetables. The wording matters for a parent planning a longer route: a coach substitution can change the answer.

Subject to space and the driver’s discretion, Stagecoach says it will carry small prams and unfolded buggies on low-floor buses within the designated area, but only when the area is not needed by a passenger in a wheelchair or with an approved mobility scooter. Prams and buggies must not block the aisle at any time. Its help page on prams puts it more plainly: if a designated pram space is available, a pram or small buggy can be taken on a low-floor bus, priority goes to wheelchair and scooter users, and if there is no space the buggy or pram must be folded down.

Priority for wheelchair users (Great Britain)

The conditions state that passengers in wheelchairs have absolute priority by law. They say passengers must co-operate in allowing proper use of the wheelchair space by vacating it if a customer in a wheelchair wants to board or, if no wheelchair user is travelling, a disabled buggy or approved mobility scooter, including repositioning small prams, folding any buggies and storing them in the luggage space. Failure to comply is described as a breach of the conduct section of the conditions and may lead to further action under that section. The help page for people with no space for their pram or wheelchair repeats the same wording, and the position on the law is covered in the site’s guide to pushchairs and wheelchair spaces on buses.

Disabled buggies (Great Britain)

Stagecoach says it improves access for disabled buggies as well as wheelchairs and approved mobility scooters. The conditions treat a disabled buggy differently from an ordinary pram: where no wheelchair user is travelling, a disabled buggy or approved scooter can have the designated space in the same way as a wheelchair. Guidance on carrying a wheelchair, a disabled buggy or an approved scooter is available from the local operating company’s Disability Helpline, by local leaflet and online.

Cardiff Bus (Wales)

Cardiff Bus’s conditions say wheelchair and mobility scooter users are welcome on all services using the designated wheelchair space and have priority at all times. Other passengers may use the space but must vacate it when it is required. On the conditions’ wording, while travelling, buggies, prams and pushchairs must be securely positioned so that they are stable and do not obstruct the aisle. At the driver’s discretion, there may be times when a pushchair, buggy or foldable bike will not be allowed to board because of insufficient space, which the conditions say is for health and safety reasons.

The conditions also say the designated spaces are designed around the reference wheelchair in the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations, which measures up to 1200mm long and 700mm wide. The Cardiff Bus text applies that reference size to wheelchairs, not prams.

How the operators compare

• Stagecoach: small prams and unfolded buggies allowed on low-floor buses in the designated area when it is free; fold if there is no space.
• Cardiff Bus: buggies and prams must be stable and clear of the aisle; boarding may be refused for lack of space at the driver’s discretion.
• Both: the wheelchair space is priority space, and prams must give way.

For Scottish operators with more detailed size rules, see the guides to Lothian Buses and First Glasgow.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take an unfolded pram on a Stagecoach bus? Small prams and unfolded buggies can be carried on low-floor buses in the designated area when it is not needed by a wheelchair or approved scooter user, and only if they do not block the aisle.

What if the space is taken? Stagecoach says the pram or buggy must be folded down if there is no space.

Can a driver refuse a pram in Cardiff? Yes, at the driver’s discretion, where space is insufficient.

The bottom line

Both operators allow prams and unfolded buggies where space permits, but wheelchair users take priority and a folded pram is the fallback. Check whether a journey is run by a low-floor bus rather than a coach, and choose a pram that can fold quickly.

Sources

• Stagecoach, "Conditions of Carriage"
• Stagecoach, "Can I take a pram on the bus?"
• Stagecoach, "What should I do if there’s no space on the bus for my pram or wheelchair?"
• Cardiff Bus, "Conditions of Carriage"

First Glasgow’s bus conditions handle prams differently from most operators: they say up to two small prams or ordinary unfolded pushchairs can use the wheelchair space when no wheelchair or scooter user needs it, and they say empty pushchairs must be folded. They also include a clause on loss or damage that parents rarely notice until something goes wrong. This guide summarises the Greater Glasgow edition of the operator’s conditions of travel dated April 2024 and the operator’s help page on pushchairs, both read in September 2026. The rules are those of a single operator in the Glasgow area of Scotland, and other First Bus companies publish their own editions. This is general information.

How much space there is (Scotland)

Section 5.11 of the conditions says that when the wheelchair space is not occupied by a wheelchair or mobility scooter user, it can on most vehicles accommodate up to two small prams or normal-sized unfolded pushchairs. Some vehicles also have extra pushchair capacity in a dedicated buggy area. The conditions add that the driver will know where a pushchair or pram can be safely accommodated and that passengers should follow the driver’s instructions.

The conditions describe a second flexible space on some vehicles, designed for wheelchairs, pushchairs or scooters, available first come, first served, and not a designated wheelchair space unless it is specifically signed as one. The designated wheelchair space is sized for a wheelchair no longer than 1200mm and no wider than 700mm, which the conditions describe as the standard reference wheelchair set out in the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000. Anyone with a double or tandem pushchair should compare its length and width to those dimensions, since the conditions stress that the driver decides where it can safely go.

Empty pushchairs must be folded (Scotland)

Section 5.12 states that empty pushchairs, and pushchairs carrying animals or luggage, must be folded and accommodated in appropriate luggage areas where it is safe to do so and with consideration for other customers. A pushchair being used to carry shopping is therefore not treated the same as one carrying a child.

When a wheelchair user boards (Scotland)

Section 5.7 says wheelchair users have priority over everyone else for the designated wheelchair space. If a wheelchair user wants to board and there is space elsewhere on the vehicle, customers will be required by the driver to vacate the space where reasonable, including repositioning small prams or mobility scooters where possible and folding buggies and storing them in the luggage space where available. The same section adds that no one already travelling will be asked to get off the bus to accommodate a wheelchair user. That differs from Lothian Buses, whose parents may be offered the choice to leave with a ticket for onward travel, as covered in the site’s guide to prams on Lothian Buses.

The operator’s help page takes a softer tone, asking customers with a pushchair or buggy to consider the travel needs of vulnerable passengers and those in a wheelchair or with restricted mobility. It says this may mean leaving extra time or waiting to complete the journey.

The responsibility clause (Scotland)

Section 5.5 says it is the customer’s responsibility to make sure a wheelchair, mobility scooter, pram or pushchair is safely positioned within the designated area, that notices in that area are followed, and that the item does not obstruct any exit or gangway. Section 5.12 also states that the operator will not accept liability for loss of or damage to pushchairs and prams. The conditions treat wheelchairs and mobility equipment differently: section 5.6 says that if a wheelchair, other mobility equipment or an assistive device is damaged or lost through the operator’s negligence during the journey, compensation up to the cost of repair or replacement will be provided under the Rights of Passengers in Bus and Coach Transport (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018. Prams are not listed there.

Whether a particular exclusion of liability could be relied on in a dispute is a legal question the conditions do not answer, so a parent whose pram was damaged on a bus may wish to seek advice from a consumer advice service.

Practical points for parents

• Board with the pram positioned according to the notices in the space, and follow the driver’s instructions.
• Fold a pram that is empty or carrying shopping.
• Be ready to fold or reposition the pram if a wheelchair user or scooter user boards.

Frequently asked questions

Can two prams go in the wheelchair space? The conditions say the space can take up to two small prams or normal-sized unfolded pushchairs on most vehicles when no wheelchair or scooter user needs it.

Will I be asked to leave the bus for a wheelchair user? Section 5.7 says no one already travelling will be asked to get off, though prams may have to be repositioned or folded.

Is the operator liable for a damaged pram? Section 5.12 says it does not accept liability for loss of or damage to pushchairs and prams.

The bottom line

On First Glasgow buses, unfolded prams can use the wheelchair space when no wheelchair or scooter user needs it, empty pushchairs must be folded, and the operator’s conditions disclaim liability for damage to prams. Parents should expect to reposition or fold when a wheelchair user boards.

Sources

• First Glasgow, "Conditions of Travel" (April 2024)
• First Bus, "Will I be able to get a pushchair on board?"
• First Bus, "Conditions of travel"

A pram listed at a fraction of its usual price is the kind of pricing slip that spreads quickly across parent groups and deal sites. Whether the retailer has to honour it depends on where and how the item was bought, and on one legal idea that Citizens Advice calls “fairly tricky”: whether a contract exists yet. This guide sets out what Citizens Advice’s consumer advice pages say about goods advertised at the wrong price, applied to prams and pushchairs. The advice is published in separate versions for England, Scotland and Wales, and this guide applies to those three nations only. This is general information, not legal advice.

In a shop (England, Scotland and Wales)

The three national versions of the advice agree on the basics. A shopper who takes an item to the till and is told the price on the tag or label was a mistake has no right to buy it at the lower price. The advice adds that the shopper can still ask the seller to honour it, and that the same applies to an item seen advertised anywhere at a lower price than the tag. So a pram in a store window with a wrong label is a request, not an entitlement.

Once the item has been paid for, the position changes. If a shop sold the item for less than intended, the advice says the buyer does not have to give it back. It says the shop is legally entitled to ask for more money only if the price had been discussed and the shop ended up charging far less, for example a £100 price discussed and £10 charged. If a shopper finds they have paid more than the advertised price at the time, they can return the item in its original condition and ask for a refund, which the shop must give. Alternatively they can keep it and ask for the difference back. The advice recommends keeping any evidence of the mistake, such as a photo of the advert in the shop window.

Online: everything depends on the contract (England, Scotland and Wales)

For online orders, the advice says the answer turns on whether the buyer has a contract yet. Depending on the company’s terms and conditions, the contract begins either when the buyer has paid or when the company has sent the item. Because that varies, the advice tells buyers to find the retailer’s terms and conditions to see where they stand, and says it may be too tricky to work out alone.

• If there is a contract: the company cannot usually cancel the order even if it realises it sold the item at the wrong price. It can cancel only if the pricing was a genuine and honest mistake that the buyer should have noticed.
• If there is no contract yet: a company that realises it quoted the wrong price can cancel the order.

The “should have noticed” test is a judgement about how obvious the error was, which is why the buyer’s screenshots of the listing matter.

Paying extra fees (UK)

The advice also notes that a buyer who orders from a business based outside the UK might have to pay VAT, customs duty or delivery fees, which the delivery company bills separately. A low advertised pram price from an overseas website can therefore end up higher on delivery. The site’s guide to buying a pram from an overseas website explains the VAT and duty position.

Steps if a price looks wrong (England, Scotland and Wales)

1. Take screenshots of the product page, basket and confirmation email, including the date and price.
2. Read the seller’s terms on when a contract forms.
3. If the business seems to be deliberately misleading shoppers, the advice says it can be reported to Trading Standards.
4. For unresolved disputes, the Citizens Advice consumer service (England and Wales) or Advice Direct Scotland’s consumer service (Scotland) can help, as the respective pages state.

Where a pram was paid for by card, the site’s guide to Section 75 and chargeback explains further protection if a retailer takes a payment and then does not supply the goods.

Frequently asked questions

Can a shop refuse to sell a pram at the tagged price? According to Citizens Advice, a shopper has no right to the lower price if the tag is a mistake, though they can ask.

Can an online retailer cancel after taking payment? It depends on whether a contract exists; where it does, cancellation is usually possible only for a genuine, honest mistake that the buyer should have noticed.

What if I was undercharged after buying? Citizens Advice says the buyer does not have to give the item back, subject to the price-discussion exception described above.

The bottom line

A wrong price tag does not oblige a shop to sell a pram cheaply, and an online retailer’s power to cancel depends on whether a contract exists. Keep screenshots, read the seller’s terms and act quickly if an order is cancelled.

Sources

• Citizens Advice (England), "If something is advertised at the wrong price"
• Citizens Advice (Scotland), "If something is advertised at the wrong price"
• Citizens Advice (Wales), "If something is advertised at the wrong price"

Lothian Buses is the main operator in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, and its published rules give a clear picture of what a parent can expect when boarding with a pram. The operator does not require prams to be folded, but it sets limits on space, width and positioning, and it says the wheelchair space has to be freed for a wheelchair user. This guide summarises the operator’s Families page, Help Centre article and Conditions of Carriage as read in September 2026. The rules are those of one operator serving Edinburgh and the Lothians in Scotland, and other bus companies may differ. It is general information, and the driver on the day has the final say under the conditions.

Folded or unfolded? (Scotland)

The Conditions of Carriage say buggies, including pushchairs and travel systems, that will not obstruct the aisle may be brought onto buses unfolded if there is space, and that the aisle can never be obstructed. A passenger who boards with an unfolded buggy must place it in the buggy space whenever that space is available. Where a bus has no buggy space, or where the space is occupied, one unfolded buggy may be placed in the wheelchair space, with the brake applied and the buggy attended to at all times. The conditions add that bags or other items that could make the buggy unstable must be removed and stored safely.

The Families page nevertheless recommends a small, lightweight, foldable buggy for customers with young children, saying such buggies are safer, easier to manage and more convenient on buses.

How much room there is (Scotland)

The Conditions of Carriage state that the narrowest part of the aisle is 0.73 metres and that this can be unsuitable for a wide double buggy. The accessible space and the shared space are each 0.75 metres wide, and the Families page says a pram or buggy must fit fully within the space without blocking the aisle or other seats. The Conditions say this maximum size includes attachments, handles and bags, and that drivers keep the right to refuse entry or ask a customer to leave if the buggy does not fit safely. The Families page notes the narrowest point of the aisle is by the driver’s cab. Anyone buying a double buggy with bus travel in mind should measure it fully loaded against these figures.

Positioning the buggy (Scotland)

Only one buggy or pram is allowed in the wheelchair accessible space at a time, according to the Families page, and it should sit against the padded backrest with the brakes applied and the child facing the rear of the bus. The page gives the reason as protection in a collision or heavy braking. Some vehicles have fixed poles while others have fold-down or pull-out anti-tip bars, which should be in place for the whole journey, and a driver can help move the bar. The driver waits until the brakes are applied before moving off.

The page also describes a trial of buggy straps on new vehicles introduced in June 2026. Parents are encouraged to remove any bags that could destabilise the buggy, position it against the padded support with the child facing rearwards, fit a strap firmly to a secure part of the frame and adjust its length until the buggy is secure. The page stresses that the safety of the child remains the parent’s responsibility.

When a wheelchair user boards (Scotland)

Lothian says that, in line with UK legislation, customers using a manual or powered wheelchair or a specialised buggy have priority over the wheelchair space. A parent using the space must vacate it if a wheelchair user boards, either by folding the buggy and storing it as luggage or by leaving the bus, in which case the driver can issue a ticket for onward travel. The 2024 version of the Conditions describes folding it and placing it in the luggage rack. For the position in England and Wales, where the Supreme Court decided Paulley v FirstGroup, see the site’s guide to pushchairs and wheelchair spaces on buses.

Specialised buggies and the travel warrant (Scotland)

Specialised or wheelchair buggies are entitled to the wheelchair space on the same basis as any other wheelchair, and the Conditions ask parents to tell the driver, because these buggies are not always easy to tell apart from standard ones. The operator says it can issue a card confirming discreetly that folding is not practicable because of a child’s disability. An older 2024 version of the Conditions described a travel warrant for people who cannot fold their buggy because they or their child have a disability, noting that the warrant gives no boarding priority over other passengers. Contact details for the accessibility officer are on the Families page.

Practical points before you travel

• Measure the buggy with the handlebar, bag hooks and any attachments against the 0.75 metre space.
• Expect to fold the buggy if the wheelchair space is needed.
• Remove hanging bags before boarding.
• Ask the driver for help with the anti-tip bar.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a double buggy on a Lothian bus? The operator does not ban it, but warns that the aisle is tight at 0.73 metres and that drivers can refuse a buggy that does not fit safely.

Does it have to be folded? Not always; unfolded buggies are allowed if they do not obstruct the aisle and space is available.

The bottom line

Lothian Buses accepts unfolded prams where they fit the 0.75 metre space without blocking the aisle, but a wheelchair user has priority and a parent may have to fold the buggy or leave the bus. Measure a double buggy before relying on it.

Sources

• Lothian Buses, "Families"
• Lothian Buses, "Conditions of Carriage"
• Lothian Buses Help Centre, "Travelling with babies and young children"
• Lothian Buses, "Conditions of Carriage" (applying from June 2024)

Some pram retailers let buyers choose a frame colour, fabric pack or even monogrammed embroidery before an order is built. That raises a practical question: does the usual 14-day right to cancel an online order still apply? Under UK consumer law there is an exception for goods made to the customer’s specifications or clearly personalised, but the government’s own guidance shows it is narrower than many shoppers assume. This guide sets out what the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, GOV.UK and Citizens Advice say. The regulations apply across the United Kingdom, and the guidance below is general information rather than legal advice.

The general rule for online orders (UK)

GOV.UK’s guidance for businesses says online, mail and telephone customers have the right to cancel for a limited time even if the item is not faulty, and that these sales are known as distance selling. A customer who tells the trader within 14 days of receiving the item that they want to cancel is entitled to a refund, and then has a further 14 days to return the goods. The trader must refund within 14 days of receiving the item back. Citizens Advice describes the same 14-day cooling-off period, adding that it starts the day after the order is received and that nothing has to be wrong with the item. For the full picture on ordinary returns, see the site’s guide to changing your mind on a pram ordered online.

What the exception says (UK)

Regulation 28 of the 2013 Regulations lists circumstances in which the cancellation part of the regulations does not apply. Paragraph (1)(b) covers the supply of goods that are made to the consumer’s specifications or are clearly personalised. GOV.UK gives personalised or custom-made items, for example curtains, as an example of goods where a business only has to offer a refund if they are faulty. Citizens Advice lists an item that was personalised or custom-made for you among the purchases with no cooling-off period, and says a buyer also has none when buying from a private individual.

Why choosing a colour is not usually enough (UK)

The 2013 implementing guidance from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills explains the reasoning: items made to a particular, often unique specification are exempt because a trader could otherwise be left with a product with no other market once the consumer has cancelled. It says judgements about what is truly bespoke are made case by case.

The guidance adds that an item made up after an order is not necessarily bespoke. Its example is a sofa: a sofa where the consumer picks a fabric and colour from a range on offer is not bespoke, because the parts come from a standard range. By contrast, if the consumer asks the trader to source a special finish that is not in the range generally offered, that is likely to be a bespoke item. Applied by analogy to a pram, which the guidance does not itself discuss, selecting a colour or fabric from the retailer’s standard options looks like the sofa example, while a one-off order built to the buyer’s own design would sit nearer the exception. The guidance also gives a shirt printed with the buyer’s own name as likely to be personalised, and so outside the cancellation rights.

The guidance does not mention prams, so the position for any specific product depends on the facts, and a trading standards office or Citizens Advice can help with a disputed case.

What the trader must tell you (UK)

Citizens Advice says that where a business sells an item with no cooling-off period, it must tell the buyer before the purchase. A pram buyer who is offered a personalised option should therefore look for that statement in the order pages, terms or confirmation email before paying, and keep a copy or screenshot.

Faults are still covered (UK)

The exception removes the change-of-mind right; it does not remove the right to a faulty item to be put right. GOV.UK says that for personalised or custom-made goods a business only has to offer a refund if they are faulty. The site’s guide to faulty pushchair rights covers the 30-day and six-month periods that apply to faults.

A short checklist before ordering a customised pram

• Find out whether the option is chosen from the standard range or is a one-off.
• Look for a written statement that the item cannot be cancelled.
• Ask whether a colour change can be requested before the item enters production.
• Keep the order confirmation and screenshots of the options selected.
• Consider paying by credit card, which the site covers in its guide to Section 75 and chargeback.

Frequently asked questions

Is a pram in a colour I picked online personalised? Not necessarily. The government guidance treats a choice from a standard range as not bespoke, using a sofa fabric as its example.

Can I cancel a pram with my baby’s name embroidered on it? Goods that are clearly personalised are outside the cancellation rights, and the guidance treats a shirt with the buyer’s own name as likely personalised, so it is likely the exception would apply.

Do I lose my rights if the pram is faulty? No. GOV.UK says a refund is still due if a personalised item is faulty.

The bottom line

The 14-day right to cancel does not apply to goods made to a buyer’s specifications or clearly personalised, but the government guidance says picking from a standard range is not enough. Check the seller’s wording before ordering a customised pram, and remember that fault rights survive.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, "The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 28"
• GOV.UK, "Accepting returns and giving refunds: the law"
• Citizens Advice, "Changing your mind about something you’ve bought"
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, "Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations: Implementing Guidance" (December 2013)

Lothian Buses, an Edinburgh bus operator, publishes detailed rules for prams and pushchairs. They cover how wide a buggy can be, which way it must face, how many can travel at once and what happens when a wheelchair user needs the space. This guide summarises the operator’s Families page, its help-centre article and its Conditions of Carriage, which apply from June 2024. It covers Lothian Buses services in Scotland only, and other operators set their own rules. This is general information, not operator advice.

Which buggy suits a Lothian bus

Lothian recommends that customers travelling with young children use a small, lightweight and foldable buggy, saying these are safer, easier to manage and more convenient on buses. The Conditions of Carriage repeat that space on buses can be limited and that passengers travelling with a small child should use a smaller, easily foldable buggy where possible. The Families page adds that the narrowest point of the bus aisle is by the driver’s cab, which can be tight for double buggies. For a comparison of double designs, see the site’s guide to tandem and side-by-side double buggies.

The 0.75 metre space

According to Lothian, the designated accessible space and the shared space are each 0.75 metres wide, and any pram or buggy must fit fully within the space without blocking the aisle or other seats. The Families page says this includes attachments such as handles and bags. It says drivers have the right to refuse travel, or ask a customer to leave, if a buggy does not fit safely. The Conditions of Carriage say buggies, including pushchairs and travel systems, may be brought onto buses unfolded if they will not obstruct the aisle and there is space, and that the aisle cannot be obstructed at any time.

Lothian’s conditions say an unfolded buggy should be placed in the buggy space when one is available. If the bus has no buggy space, or the space is occupied, one unfolded buggy may be placed in the wheelchair space. The Families page says only one buggy or pram is permitted in the wheelchair-accessible space at a time, and the same guidance applies to the shared space. Passengers must also apply the brake, stay with the buggy and remove bags or other items that could make it unstable.

Positioning and securing the buggy

Lothian’s rules say the buggy should be positioned against the padded backrest with the brakes applied, so that the child is facing the rear of the vehicle. The operator says this is for the child’s safety in the event of a collision or heavy braking. Its Families page adds these steps:

• park the buggy in the dedicated space with the back of the buggy against the back support;
• if the vehicle has a fold-down or pull-out anti-tip bar, keep it in place for the whole journey, asking the driver for help if needed;
• apply the brakes, since the driver will wait until this is done before moving; and
• ring the bell when ready to leave, and wait until the bus has stopped completely before getting off.

The page adds that if a child is taken out of the buggy on board, the child must stay seated and supervised, and that their safety remains the responsibility of the adult throughout.

Buggy straps on new vehicles

Lothian says that with new vehicles introduced to its fleet in June 2026 it is trialling buggy straps as an additional safety measure. Parents and guardians travelling on those vehicles are encouraged to use one to secure the pram or buggy. The page’s steps are:

• remove any bags that may destabilise the buggy;
• position the buggy against the padded support with the child facing rearwards;
• select the most suitable strap and attach it firmly to a secure part of the buggy frame;
• adjust the strap until the buggy is secure; and
• reconnect the buckle when leaving the space, to prevent breakage.

The operator says the strap is recommended as extra securement and that the safety of the child remains the parent’s responsibility. Damage to a strap should be reported to the driver. Because the scheme is described as a trial on certain vehicles, it should not be assumed to be on every bus.

When a wheelchair user needs the space

Lothian says customers using a manual or powered wheelchair, or a specialised buggy, have legal priority over the wheelchair-accessible space. Its Conditions of Carriage say the driver has a legal obligation to take all reasonable steps to free up the wheelchair space. A passenger with an unfolded buggy in the space should then fold it and put it in the luggage rack, or get off the bus, in which case a ticket is issued so they can complete the journey free of charge on a following bus. The site’s guide to what Paulley v FirstGroup actually decided explains the court ruling behind such policies.

The conditions also describe a travel warrant for people who cannot fold their buggy because they, or the child in it, have a disability. A warrant holder will not be asked to fold the buggy, but the warrant gives no priority over other passengers when boarding.

Children who are not in a buggy

For children who no longer use a buggy, Lothian says many buses have parent and child seats at the front near the driver. It also says children should remain seated when the bus is moving, and that children too small to use the stair handrails should stay on the lower deck.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a double buggy on a Lothian bus? Only if it fits fully within the 0.75 metre space without blocking the aisle, and drivers may refuse travel if a buggy does not fit safely.

Which way should the child face? Towards the rear of the bus, with the back of the buggy against the padded backrest and the brakes on.

The bottom line

Lothian Buses expects buggies to fit a 0.75 metre space, sit against the backrest with the child facing the rear and the brakes on, and to be folded or moved if a wheelchair user needs the space. A small, foldable buggy is easiest, and new vehicles are trialling buggy straps.

Sources

• Lothian Buses, "Families"
• Lothian Buses Help Centre, "Travelling with babies and young children"
• Lothian Buses, "Conditions of Carriage" (from June 2024)

Pram and pushchair adverts are full of superlatives: the lightest fold, the safest harness, the most comfortable seat, tested to the toughest standards. Some are harmless enthusiasm, while others are factual claims that an advertiser has to be able to prove. This guide summarises how the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), which writes the UK advertising rules, treat claims of this kind, using the ASA’s published advice pages. The examples the ASA gives concern other products, so they show how the principles work rather than any ruling about prams. The rules apply to advertising in the UK. This is general information, not legal advice.

When a claim needs evidence

The ASA’s substantiation advice, updated on 21 September 2026, says that before an advertisement is distributed, marketers must hold documentary evidence to prove claims that consumers are likely to regard as objective and that can be objectively substantiated, and that the ASA may regard claims as misleading in the absence of adequate substantiation. It cites Code rule 3.7.

The ASA says it considers the likely interpretation of a claim rather than the marketer’s intention. A claim can be ruled misleading without evidence even if the advertiser meant it as a subjective claim. For a pram, "folds to half the size of leading rivals" or "lightest in its class" reads as a measurable statement, so an advertiser would need measurements to back it.

Puffery and opinion

The ASA says obvious exaggerations, known as puffery, and claims the average consumer is unlikely to take literally are allowed, provided they do not materially mislead (rule 3.2). Claims that are clearly a marketer’s subjective opinion, and are unlikely to be read as objective, will not usually need supporting evidence, provided it is clear that the marketer is expressing an opinion rather than stating a fact (rule 3.6). Its examples are the claims "THE ORIGINAL AND BEST SINCE 2004" for a pillowcase and "The most comfortable beds in the world" for a mattress, both treated as subjective because the experience of comfort varies between consumers.

The ASA has also treated some superlatives as objective. It considered "the perfect network" to be an objective claim in context, and "best available tickets" to mean tangible benefits over other tickets. The lesson is that words such as best, perfect and lightest can move from opinion to fact depending on the context.

Comparisons and superlatives

The ASA says objective comparisons such as "leading", "best" or "cheaper" require evidence about both the advertiser’s products and the competitors compared, under rules 3.32 to 3.37. Where competitors are identifiable, the advertiser must compare products meeting the same need or intended for the same purpose (rule 3.33), and must objectively compare one or more material, relevant, verifiable and representative features, which may include price (rule 3.34). In one example, evidence relating to only three competitors and a small number of features was not adequate for a claim to be the best on the market. For a price-based comparison, the site’s guide to reference prices on prams covers the separate consumer-protection rules.

Safety certification and testing claims

The ASA’s baby-products advice says advertisements should not suggest that a product has been given a distinct safety certification, or that testing has been done to a safety standard established as relevant to the specific product, when that is not the case. Its 24 September 2026 advice for advertisers to new and expectant parents adds that claims that a product is certified safe, or tested to relevant British Safety Standards, need evidence of the relevant certification or testing, and that in the absence of that evidence such claims are likely to be problematic.

For pushchairs, the relevant standard is BS EN 1888, and a pram does not carry a CE or UKCA mark, so a listing that implies otherwise deserves scrutiny. The site’s guides to reading a pram’s labels and to why prams carry no CE or UKCA mark explain what to check.

Exaggeration, visuals and testimonials

The ASA’s exaggeration advice says advertisements must not mislead consumers by exaggerating the capability or performance of a product, and that visuals as well as text can create a misleading impression. It says genuine customer testimonials may be used, but these alone are unlikely to be sufficient to substantiate objective claims, and objective claims within testimonials must themselves be supported by evidence.

Green claims

The ASA’s baby-products advice says the basis of an environmental claim must be clear, that absolute claims such as "eco-friendly" or "100% green" need a high level of evidence, and that comparative claims such as "greener" can be justified only if the product provides a total environmental benefit over the advertiser’s previous product or competitors, with a clear basis of comparison. Claims must be based on the full life cycle of the product unless the advertisement says otherwise. A green claim on a pram listing should therefore make clear what it is based on.

Why this matters when buying

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says public statements about the specific characteristics of goods, including in advertising or labelling, are among the relevant circumstances when deciding whether goods are of satisfactory quality. A pram that does not match a statement in its listing may therefore give grounds to complain to the retailer as well as to the ASA. The site’s guide to faulty pushchair consumer rights explains the remedies.

Frequently asked questions

Is "best pushchair" always allowed? Not always. The ASA treats some superlatives as subjective opinion and others as objective claims needing evidence, depending on context.

Can an advert say a pram is "tested to British Standards"? Only with evidence, according to the ASA’s advice on baby products.

The bottom line

Under the CAP Code, objective claims in pram adverts, such as lightest, safest or best-selling, need documentary evidence, while obvious puffery and clear opinion do not. Claims of safety certification, testing to a standard or environmental benefit need particular evidence, so treat unsupported superlatives with caution.

Sources

• ASA | CAP, "Substantiation"
• ASA | CAP, "Exaggeration"
• ASA | CAP, "Don’t feel rattled about your baby-related ads" (24 October 2024)
• ASA | CAP, "Handle with care: Advice on advertising to new and expectant parents" (24 September 2026)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (Goods to be of satisfactory quality)

A faulty pram or pushchair that the retailer will not repair, replace or refund can become a court matter if the price justifies it. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives the buyer statutory rights across the UK, but the court process differs by nation. This guide summarises how a small claim works in Northern Ireland, using nidirect, the official government website for Northern Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service’s Small Claims Guide. It covers Northern Ireland only; the site’s guides to a court money claim in England and Wales and a simple procedure claim in Scotland cover those nations. This is general information, not legal advice.

What counts as a small claim

Nidirect says the small claims process allows certain types of claim to be decided informally by the county court, usually without a solicitor or barrister. In general a small claim is one where the value claimed is not more than £5,000 and which does not relate to personal injuries, road traffic accidents, libel or slander, title to land, a legacy or annuity, or property of a marriage. If the sum at issue between the same parties is more than £5,000, the claimant must either abandon the amount above £5,000, which is expressly noted, or issue a civil bill in the county court for a full hearing, which nidirect says covers claims up to £30,000.

Nidirect describes two types of small claim. A liquidated claim is for a set amount, such as goods or services not paid for. An unliquidated claim is for an estimated amount, and nidirect gives faulty goods as an example, so a claim over a defective pram falls into this category. The Courts and Tribunals Service guide lists claims for faulty goods among the examples of claims that can be made. That guide’s text still refers to a £3,000 limit, which nidirect now gives as £5,000, so the guide’s figures should not be relied on and the current limit should be checked with nidirect or the court.

Before starting a claim

The Courts and Tribunals Service guide suggests trying first to settle directly with the respondent, the person or firm being claimed against. It recommends writing to them outlining the claim, keeping a copy of the letter and allowing a week or so for a reply. If the answer is not satisfactory, it suggests writing again to say that legal proceedings will follow unless the claim is settled, and then considering a claim.

The person who bought the faulty goods should be the one to make the claim, according to the guide. For the buyer’s underlying rights, including the 30-day and six-month periods, see the site’s guide to faulty pushchair consumer rights.

Checking the respondent can pay

Nidirect says the Enforcement of Judgments Office can, for a small fee, search for a person or firm before a claim starts. The search shows whether any enforced judgments have been registered against the respondent within the last six years. Nidirect warns that even a successful claimant may not get the money immediately, if at all, where the respondent has other judgments lodged. It adds that the court does not pay the amount awarded: it only decides who is liable.

Making the claim

The guide says the application form is available from the courts website or from court offices, Citizens Advice, Trading Standards or local advice centres. The claim may be issued in the county court division where either the claimant or the respondent lives or carries on business, and the respondent’s name and address should be accurate; for a limited company, the guide says to use the full company name and registered office address. A respondent that lives outside Northern Ireland but within the UK can still be claimed against under the Northern Ireland process, according to nidirect.

The Civil Processing Centre in Laganside Courts processes all cases at the start, and if a case is disputed it is then transferred to the office named in the application for a hearing. The fee depends on the amount claimed. If the claim succeeds, the respondent is ordered to pay the sum awarded plus the application fee and any other costs awarded, but an unsuccessful claimant does not get the fee back.

What evidence to gather

The guide says copies of invoices, receipts, written agreements and other documents supporting the claim must be submitted with the application. The guide says that where possible, the faulty item itself should be brought to the hearing.

What the respondent can do

Once the application is verified, nidirect says the respondent is posted a small claims pack with a copy of the application. The guide explains that the respondent may:

• settle the claim directly;
• admit liability, sometimes with a request for time to pay;
• dispute liability;
• counterclaim; or
• ignore the claim.

If the claim is disputed, the case is listed for a court hearing before a judge. If the respondent does not reply by the return date, the claimant can apply for a decree, and for an unliquidated claim such as a faulty pram the amount is assessed by the judge at a hearing. Nidirect says a decree made by the court is a County Court Judgment and may affect a respondent’s credit status.

Frequently asked questions

What is the limit for a small claim in Northern Ireland? Nidirect says it is generally £5,000.

Does the court collect the money for me? No. Nidirect says the court only decides who is liable and does not pay the amount awarded.

The bottom line

In Northern Ireland a faulty pram claim of up to £5,000 can go through the county court’s small claims process, usually without a solicitor. Write to the retailer first, gather receipts and evidence of the fault, check whether the retailer can pay, and remember that the court decides liability but does not collect the money.

Sources

• nidirect, "Small claims process"
• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, "Small Claims Guide"

Renting a pushchair for a week’s holiday, a city break or a short spell of visiting family can be cheaper than buying or flying with one. Because a hire is a contract like any other, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to it when a business hires goods to an individual. This guide summarises what the Act says about hired goods, using the text on legislation.gov.uk, which shows the provisions as applying across the UK. Hire from a private individual is not covered, and a hire company’s own terms cannot cut these rights down. This is general information, not legal advice.

Does the Act cover pushchair hire?

Section 6 says a contract is for the hire of goods if the trader gives or agrees to give the consumer possession of the goods, with the right to use them, subject to the terms of the contract, for a period set by the contract. A pushchair or pram rented from a baby equipment hire company, a shop or an airport service fits this definition, provided the company is acting as a trader and the person hiring is a consumer.

Section 3 says the relevant Chapter of the Act applies to sales contracts, contracts for the hire of goods, hire-purchase agreements and contracts for transfer of goods. Section 9 says every contract to supply goods is treated as including a term that the quality of the goods is satisfactory, and that term applies to hire contracts as well as sales.

What satisfactory quality means for a hired pushchair

The Act says goods are of satisfactory quality if they meet the standard that a reasonable person would consider satisfactory, taking into account any description, the price and all other relevant circumstances. It lists aspects of quality that are relevant in appropriate cases:

• fitness for all the purposes for which goods of that kind are usually supplied;
• appearance and finish;
• freedom from minor defects;
• safety; and
• durability.

For a hired pushchair, safety and durability matter: a brake that does not hold or a fold mechanism that will not lock may be matters of quality. The site’s guides to pushchair brakes and five-point harnesses set out what RoSPA recommends checking. The Act says the term does not cover a problem that was specifically drawn to the consumer’s attention before the contract was made.

Fit for the purpose you mentioned

Section 10 says that where the consumer makes known to the trader, expressly or by implication, a particular purpose for which they want the goods, the contract is treated as including a term that the goods are reasonably fit for that purpose. A renter who explains that the pushchair will be used on cobbled streets, on a plane journey or with a newborn should say so before hiring, so that the company’s answer forms part of the bargain.

Matching the description

Section 11 says goods supplied by description must match the description. It also says that information the trader provides about the main characteristics of the goods, as listed in the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, is treated as a term of the contract, and that a change to that information is not effective unless the consumer expressly agrees to it.

What can be done if the hired pushchair is faulty

Section 19 sets out the remedies where goods are not of satisfactory quality or do not match the description. They are the short-term right to reject, the right to repair or replacement, and the right to a price reduction or the final right to reject. The short-term right to reject is time limited: for a hire contract, section 22 says the period ends 30 days after the first day following the moment possession has been transferred and the goods delivered, and any installation the contract requires has been notified as done. A holiday hire is likely to be shorter than 30 days, so a fault found on arrival should be reported at once, in writing.

Under section 23, if the consumer requires repair or replacement, the trader must do so within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to the consumer, and bear the necessary costs. A consumer who asks for one remedy cannot demand the other, or reject the goods under the short-term right, without giving the trader a reasonable time to carry it out, unless that would cause significant inconvenience. Section 24 provides for a price reduction, or the final right to reject, after one failed repair or replacement, where neither repair nor replacement can be required, or where the trader has been too slow. For a holiday, waiting for a replacement pushchair may not be practical, so the renter may want a replacement or a partial refund agreed in writing straight away.

Terms that cannot remove these rights

Section 31 says a term of a contract to supply goods is not binding on the consumer to the extent that it would exclude or restrict the trader’s liability under the satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose and description provisions, or make the enforcement of those rights subject to an onerous condition. So a hire agreement that says all equipment is hired "as seen" with no refunds cannot remove a renter’s statutory rights.

Frequently asked questions

Do these rights apply if I hire from a neighbour or friend? The Act covers contracts between a trader and a consumer, so private hire between individuals is not covered.

Can a hire company say I have no right to a refund? Under section 31 a term is not binding on the consumer to the extent that it would exclude or restrict the satisfactory quality, fitness and description terms.

How long do I have to reject a faulty hired pushchair? Section 22 sets a 30-day limit for the short-term right to reject, starting from the day after possession and delivery.

The bottom line

When a business hires a pushchair to a consumer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires it to be of satisfactory quality, fit for any purpose the renter has made known and as described, and hire terms cannot exclude those rights. Report faults immediately in writing, ask for a replacement or a price reduction and keep evidence of the condition on collection.

Sources

• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 3 (Contracts to which Chapter 2 applies)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 6 (Contracts for the hire of goods)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (Goods to be of satisfactory quality)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 10 (Goods to be fit for particular purpose)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 11 (Goods to be as described)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22 (Time limit for short-term right to reject)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 23 (Right to repair or replacement)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 24 (Right to a price reduction and final right to reject)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 31 (Liability that cannot be excluded or restricted)

Nottingham has two local public transport systems that parents with pushchairs are likely to meet: Nottingham City Transport (NCT) buses and the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram. Each publishes its own rules, and they differ on folding, on how many pushchairs fit and on what happens when a wheelchair user needs the space. This guide summarises what NCT’s pushchairs page and NET’s Conditions of Carriage say. It covers services in Nottingham, England, only. The NET document was updated on 22 August 2022, so its wording should be checked against the operator’s current conditions before travelling. This is general information, not operator advice.

Pushchairs on NCT buses

NCT says unfolded pushchairs can be carried on its buses when the bay is not required by a wheelchair user, up to the maximum number shown on the bus. If the bay is full, the driver will give the passenger the opportunity to collapse the pushchair and store it in the luggage rack. NCT says it adopted a new policy following a 2017 Supreme Court ruling, under which priority for the bay goes to a wheelchair user, and that passengers should be prepared to collapse a pushchair if the driver asks so that a wheelchair user can board. The ruling is explained in the site’s guide to what Paulley v FirstGroup actually decided.

If a passenger cannot collapse the pushchair or move to another part of the bus, NCT says the driver can issue a complimentary ticket to allow boarding of the next bus.

How NCT counts double and triple buggies

NCT uses overall width to decide whether a larger buggy counts as one pushchair or two towards the limit on the bus. Its page gives four examples:

• a double buggy with two children side by side counts as two pushchairs;
• a double buggy with one child above the other counts as one;
• a double buggy with one child behind the other counts as one; and
• a triple buggy with two children side by side and one above counts as two.

The site’s guide to tandem and side-by-side double buggies compares the two designs.

Rules while travelling on an NCT bus

NCT says passengers must make sure that:

• the pushchair does not obstruct the gangway;
• the brake is applied;
• the adult remains with the pushchair at all times and the pushchair is occupied by a child, since unoccupied pushchairs must be collapsed and stored in the luggage rack; and
• the handles are not overloaded with bags, as this may cause the pushchair to tip over.

The last point matches the wider concern about overloading, covered in the site’s guide to the tipping hazard RoSPA warns about.

Pushchairs on the NET tram

NET’s Conditions of Carriage say the tram system is designed to be fully accessible for people with impaired mobility, including customers with young children or pushchairs. Access to all platforms except Nottingham Station and Queen’s Medical Centre is either level access or by sloping ramps, and at those two places a lift is available. Access from the platform to the tram is level with only a minimal gap between the platform edge and the tram.

On board, NET says there are two bays specifically for wheelchairs and pushchairs. For safety, wheelchair and pushchair users should be positioned correctly in the bays, with their back towards the backrest, as shown in diagrams in the conditions. If a NET authorised person considers that a wheelchair or pushchair parked otherwise is causing an obstruction, the customer must relocate as directed or take a later tram. NET also says wheelchair users have priority over other customers in the designated bay, and that a customer must vacate the bay if a wheelchair user needs it.

Luggage rules for prams and buggies on trams

NET’s luggage section says a passenger may, at the discretion of staff, take pushchairs, buggies and prams, provided they do not cause an obstruction and are not put on seats. Items it does not allow include unfolded bicycles or scooters, anything over 2 metres long, and any item the passenger cannot carry themselves, including up and down stairways. NET says it can refuse permission for any item to be taken on a tram, and advises contacting NET Customer Services for advice before travelling if in doubt. Manchester and Edinburgh’s approaches are compared in the site’s guide to pushchairs on Metrolink and Edinburgh Trams.

Frequently asked questions

Must I fold my pushchair on an NCT bus? Not if the bay is free, according to NCT, but a driver may ask for it to be collapsed when the bay is full or a wheelchair user needs the space.

What if the driver will not let me board with my pushchair? NCT says the driver can issue a complimentary ticket for the next bus if the pushchair cannot be collapsed and the passenger cannot relocate.

Can NET refuse my pram? Yes. Its conditions say it can refuse permission for any item, and that pushchairs and prams are carried at the discretion of staff.

The bottom line

In Nottingham, NCT buses take unfolded pushchairs only while the bay is free and count side-by-side doubles as two, while NET trams have two bays shared with wheelchairs and carry prams at staff discretion. In both cases a wheelchair user has priority, so be ready to fold the pushchair or move.

Sources

• Nottingham City Transport, "Pushchairs"
• Nottingham Express Transit, "Conditions of Carriage" (updated 22 August 2022)