Peckham Rye Station - don't be a dick!

[Jeremy]

You have to go up two flights on stairs at Peckham Rye to reach a platform. There is no lift.

If you see a parent struggling with a pram, or anybody else struggling to carry something up/down the stairs, why not offer to help them? It's pretty amazing that so many people seem to have absolutely no interest in helping others out.

[Jah Lush]

Good point. Well made.

[vgrant]

No surprise that this happened in Hispter central Peckham.Hispters are selfish vermin that take and do not give anything back.human ebola.

[Jeremy]

This is true.

[Otta]

Haha. Totally agree with OP. Couldn't possibly comment on the hipsters.

[red devil]

It's not the Hipsters fault. You do realise that you can't Hoola Hoop and help carry a push chair up a flight of stairs at the same time, don't you?...

[mima08]

Agree with OP - and that includes station staff: if there are three of you standing around chatting while watching someone struggle up or down the stairs, feel free to pitch in (and yes, I did say make that comment to the staff in question at the time, too).

[*Bob*]

There are three basic methods of avoidance:

1. Start running - run past the struggling parent in an 'I'm late for my train' way

2. Pretend to be on the phone - an oldie but a goodie.

3. Give 'em two minutes and hope someone else helps.

[????]

..you forgot the tactical 'limp' *Bob*

[*Bob*]

Usually I just pretend to be blind.

The downside is that instead it's me who gets helped-up the steps - which means uncomfortable small talk.

[miga]

.

[red devil]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Usually I just pretend to be blind.

>

> The downside is that instead it's me who gets

> helped-up the steps - which means uncomfortable

> small talk.

Yes, but this can also facilitate an 'accidental fumble' when you go to link arms...amateur!

[*Bob*]

Good things can come of these things sometimes - and we've been married for several years now.

Keeping the blind thing going is a pain though.

[StraferJack]

There is always the Eddie murphy strategy a la trading places

"I can see!!!"

[*Bob*]

Worth considering.

I don't know how she'd feel about me blacking-up though, to be honest

[JohnL]

I've seen a few people helping carry in Peckham Rye - usually someone jumps in before i can offer.

Its the queues to the gates at peak times which are now bad - sometimes there's only a single gate..

Obviously should be an extra gate for hipsters - a hip one - maybe on the "I Love Peckham" theme. :)

[Jeremy]

Good on you JohnL, but anecdotal evidence suggests you're in the minority.

When a woman stands at the bottom of the stairs avec buggy and nobody offers to help... and then starts asking passers by who all apprently have dodgy knees/hips... and then starts carrying the bloody thing up the stairs on her own and still nobody steps in... your faith in humanity starts to take yet another nosedive.

[Loz]

I love helping people get their prams upstairs. If you have the upstair side you can give the pram a bit of a wobble at the top and most times flip the little bugger right out.

If you're lucky, they go down the stairs a bit like a slinky.

[El Pibe]

I think i mentioned the time i helped a lady (or whatever rosieh) carry her 2 heavy suitcases down the stairs, and then she tore into her empty handed husband hanging around impatiently at the bottom.

[Rolo Tomasi]

From Popbitch.

Tony Adams, spotted on the train from Bath to London "Very charming and helping old ladies and women with pushchairs. I sh*t you not."

[hpsaucey]

I got past buggy days a couple of years ago after two kids but can safely say that Peckham Rye station was the one station where nine times out of ten someone offered to help me. I was really heartened. Victoria on the other hand - rush rush rush so less help offered.

[Bellenden Belle]

mima08 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Agree with OP - and that includes station staff:

> if there are three of you standing around chatting

> while watching someone struggle up or down the

> stairs, feel free to pitch in (and yes, I did say

> make that comment to the staff in question at the

> time, too).

I avoid PR station at all costs and will even get a bus to herne hill/ Denmark hill and then a bus home because those stations have lifts.

It wasn't at Peckham Rye but at Herne Hill when the lifts were out that I was told by a member of the station staff they were not allowed to help for 'health and safety reasons'. I imagine it's the same at Peckham.

But sometimes PR station is unavoidable. I have found that mostly it is only when I hoist the pram up a couple of steps myself that someone helps. And I hate to jump on the anti-hipster bandwagon because it's a cliche but sadly they really do exist in a bubble. I don't think they even compute someone needs help. It makes me feel invisible in my neighbourhood.

.

[numbers]

It's not just hipster Central Peckham Rye, Lewes is just as bad!

I've even seen people there struggling with suitcases!!!

Joking aside, I always find it shocking when I see people struggling up stairs with buggies on their own...whilst I limp past, headphones blaring & intently rummaging in my bag like my life depended upon it.

[LondonMix]

I always see people helping. Didn't hpsaucy just say she gets help 90 percent of the time? What are you complaining about? I find Peckham very friendly esp compared to Central London.

[Otta]

And other people have said they don't get help, and clearly the OP had a reason to start this, so guess it's luck of the draw.