Buggy on the tube?!

If you use Google to find your way arlund it'll tell you directions with step free access (lifts) it might be abit of extra walking but it's better. When you type in your destination go to options it'll say show routes wirh step free access x

Leave with plenty of time, deep breaths and a water bottle. Look ahead for step free stations find out where to get on so when you get off you’re next to the lifts

I plan my journey around step free stations. Means I sometimes have to walk longer than if I could get to the station I wanted.

I look out for where the wheelchair and pushchair spaces are and wait for a train that has enough space for me to stand there it my pushchair.

If it’s a short trip, I take the carrier rather than the pushchair.

I do the tube every day with the pram, some days it’s fine, some days it’s busy.

One tip is step free isn’t always your only option. Step free to tfl is wheelchair friendly, so level to the train. I found tons of stations that are accessible but not “step free” just a slight tip up to board like going on a bus.

How are you on the escalators?

Citymap and look for step free platform on your route on there x

Or bus x

The app TFL Go is updated in real time to let you know when lifts etc are out of service. You can turn on the disabled mode and it will work out your route based on step free access.

yup a kind TFL lady on the DLR showed me it when I couldn't find a lift a few weeks ago

that's really annoying especially for journeys where a sling/carrier isn't ideal! 😞

Shadwell station is an actual joke! The dlr lift is always out of service too. I’ve had to wear baby and drag my pram down those stairs before cause there’s never any staff! You have my sympathy mama x

that’s such a good point! I’m totally fine with managing the buggy on escalators. Is there an option on any of the apps (citymapper, tfl, google maps) to check for this? Or do you just go by experience? Agree that I might be missing some manageable stations because they don’t appear as fully step-free

I just go by experience, step free on all the apps is wheelchair not buggy.

So for example, Holborn is escalators but is fine for the buggy but not “step free”. Same with Camden Town, bump the buggy a foot down off the train and then just escalators but not “step free” on apps.

I just packed light and spent a few weeks going around London pushing myself. I’m ruthless now 🤣

Oh and recently just found out, bank has installed lifts from the dlr to the northern line so it’s must easier to use now. I always avoided it!

There’s a few you can’t avoid. I walk to Kings Cross from Euston to get onto the tube cause Euston is a nightmare. Westminster lifts are slow AF, so i escalate all the way up.

Everything Lizzy is pram proof now too!

I do what my dad did with me - drag the buggy up and down the stairs 🤷‍♀️ it doesn’t hurt them (mine sleeps through it most of the time)