Should parents with strollers be allowed on public transit?

JrTokin,
Another person who posted earlier made a valid point...so what do we do about people who are obese and take up 2 seats? Should we tell them to lose weight?
Let me tell you something..obesity is a problem and getting worse every year. Should we tell those people
"sorry you're too fat and we already have 2 overweight individuals on board so you wait for the next bus" or "you're about the size of 2 skinnier people so we have to charge you double."
As for people getting more "acceptable types" of strollers..maybe they can only afford one stroller and they need a larger one to carry groceries home because it is pretty hard to carry that with a baby and even a backpack as you suggest.
Well JrTokin I hope this never happens but if you're in a situation where you may need a scooter or a wheelchair to get around I hope no one tells you to find another mode of transport because you're taking up too much room.

The strollers today are 100 times bigger (so many compartments and storage) especially the 3 wheelers that DON'T fold. Old fashioned strollers were designed for exactly that, mobility and the ability to not impede other users of transit.

Women had it tougher 30 years ago, and they had to pack around their USED diapers (yep, I'm a "before pampers and disposable diapers" era) and they seem to do it OK, without all the "extras" mothers seem to feel they have to carry around with them today.
If anything, technology's made things SMALLER for people.. easier to carry and so on, and then you have those people who I believe are so self-absorbed (and rude) that feel people should "make way" for them.

I'm sorry, but the self-serving attitude of people these days, thinking everyone else should move over cuz they have a child, and feel they have to pack their whole house around to service said child, is ludicrous.
How about the mother's take some responsibility and acknowledge that having a huge 3-wheel "jogging" trike should be left on the road and not on the bus (unless they make an outside rack like they do for bikes?).
It's called a "backpack" for your stuff, and the stroller should be of a more compact size (maybe transit could market more "acceptable types" of strollers for mother's who will be using the service?)

How about they make buses/trains only for people with kids/strollers and wheelchairs. Imagine the outrage of those without when the bus pulled up to the stop and opened the dors and said 'sorry, you can't get on...this bus is only for people with strollers and wheelchairs'. both ideas are ludicrous (mine and any ban on strollers etc). Last time I checked it was called PUBLIC transportation...

I am one of those people with a jogging stroller. I don't have a car, my stroller is my car. I have all my groceries in the bottom. I have young children. It would be too hard to carry all of it. I couldn't push a small umbrella stroller with every food bag, diaper bag and watch my preschooler. I defently can't fold up my stroller as it would take longer to unpack and fold it all up then it would for me to get home.

Here in Halifax there are no rules and the strollers and moms sit in the seats in the front where at times there is limited flow to the back of the bus. I've seen elderly come on and almost fall to get to a sit, and where their seats are taken by strollers they have to try to move to the back of the bus. Most annoying at the new young moms who just break and text the entire way...never looking at the child.

Here in Halifax there are no rules and the strollers and moms sit in the seats in the front where at times there is limited flow to the back of the bus. I've seen elderly come on and almost fall to get to a sit, and where their seats are taken by strollers they have to try to move to the back of the bus. Most annoying at the new young moms who just break and text the entire way...never looking at the child.

Obviously strollers should be let on
The subway how else would we get around?
Or do u think we should buy. Just drive our big
Vans arounds and It should be free for families.
Take cars off the road.

Although I don't think there should be a ban on strollers I agree to some moderation. I use my double umbrella stroller instead of the giant double caravan I use for walks when we go on the bus. I couldn't get on the bus last year because there were four moms with their giant strollers blocking the bus.

Seeing as curtesy isn't in everyone's genetic, I wouldn't mind if they limited the giant strollers that take up more room the two wheelchairs.

I realize this isn't a popular opinion seeing as we live in a gigantic everything society

What I want to know is has Mr. Byford had to cart around his children (if he has any) on public transit in the dead of winter or the hottest day of summer? It is not fun, let me tell you!
I baby wear but again it can't be done all day, and there are times you just need to have a stroller. Now you throw in a cold snap (like TO is whimpering about, no offense but -15 is sweater weather in the prairies) where FROSTBITE is a potentially life threatening factor and now you've been told you can't get on the bus because it's at capacity and have to wait 10-20 min for the next bus? I THINK NOT! I know you have to bundle up but our little people are SO FRAGILE and there are days you can't just stay home.

We have a two limit stroller, wheelchair here in Vancouver and I must say it does suck! I hate taking transit and try to avoid the busy times as much as possible. I have been refused entry onto a bus because the people wouldn't move to allow me on and the driver shrugged his shoulders and said wait for the next. Being 45 minutes from home and two bus transfers was extremely depressing in our grey, cold rainy weather with a hungry tired infant. After cursing and coming to the understanding why most parents buy a car after having kids rather than deal with transit.

For the most part I avoid transit as much as possible. On rainy days to daycare I would walk the 45 minutes and get soaked rather than try to get on an overfull bus. I try to schedule all my appointments for end of day when I can leave them at home with their father and go myself. Or during the middle of the day when transit is not as busy.

I try everything to avoid giving transit my money due to their crappy service and to avoid all the rude passengers who glare at me like I'm the biggest problem in their life.

Is it right. NO! But I convinced myself it's to save more money and to get exercise.

This isn't even a legitimate question...i say ban the people who discriminate against babies and the necessities of a stroller. These are the people who shouldnt be using the transit. I've had a woman yell at my kids because she was on her cell phone and my kids were laughing too loud.
they should be the ones walking. I've needed to get to school back and forth on ttc and I pay with the ignorance and lack of empathy of others.
Now that I'm not using a stroller for the past 2 years (4 kids), ive decided on using the van. There are a lot of great folks using TTC, but I still don't need the rude attitude of those riders causing me to have discussions with my children on how "not to be". There is too much "bad and ugly" there when I would rather them be exposed to the "good".
If there was a discussion of a family pass--which would be a much more worthy discussion....then i would reconsider, but its not even feasible with a larger family at this point.

How is a higher fare a solution to the problem? Or limit how many strollers on a bus? And, shame on that woman I saw on tv who was at the ttc with this issue. Shame on any of you who complain about this. This is our future in these strollers, and their mommies and daddies who are making them a part of society right from the get go. COMPASSION, people!

They discussed passing a ban of sorts here in Ottawa, for early 2010. In this case one would have had to get on the bus and fold the stroller, and have the child on their lap to save room. Give me a break! It never passed, but reading forums similar to this many of the comments were scathing and beyond ridiculous("taking your child out in winter to wait for a bus is child abuse!" or "someone with a stroller should have to pay double for taking up so much room!") The reality is all types of people use public transit and that includes low income families. I myself am a single mother and do not have a choice. I use public transit to get around. Considering they charge an arm and a leg to ride the darn bus they should show respect to their target market.

Since limiting the amount of strollers is ridiculous why not take the next step? A limit on the number of people who can get on with bags as large as themselves or bigger, throw people off or charge an extra fare if they use a seat to hold their bag (rather than let others sit down) or if they themselves are over a certain size (after all that takes up room for skinny people).

It's okay to have a limit in a place like London England since a bus or train comes by every couple of minutes in most parts of the city during rush hour - waiting for the next one isn't necessarily a problem - but if you have to wait 1/2 hour or more (especially in winter) it is crazy.

In London, ON, they made us fold up the stroller to get on the bus. That makes a lot more sense than limiting or banning strollers.

It is ridiculous to limit stroller on public transportation but to peg everyone living in the suburbs as having a "suburban mentality" is wrong. I have lived in the suburbs for most of my 30+ years and don't know anyone that was taught riding the train in something special or going into the city is gritty. Everyone makes their choices where they live, there are poor people living in the suburbs without cars too. You should probably rethink the last bit of your blog.

It's increasingly funny to see the amount of lobbyists that have so little to do with what they're lobbying for. A two stroller limit is more than reasonable, it's physically challenging to even get any more on a TTC bus in the first place. So far it's been both rewarding and punishing enough to just let those who care give stroller-users the stink eye, and to let those who don't, do nothing

I always love Ms Rumack's articles, and she wonderfully nails this one!

Wow, I am still in shock. I heard about this on the news this morning and thought to myself "you have got to be kidding me". What ignorant, selfish person would complain about strollers on the ttc? I would love to not have to push a big, bulky stroller onto an overcrowded bus or train with some of the ignorant people of toronto. Unfortunately I don't have a choice when I have to take my son to daycare and get to work, or get to appointments. I mean I know how much all of us parents with children in strollers enjoy being shoved into a vehicle with rude drivers and even ruder people that attempt to step over your stroller or hold onto it like its a pole or better yet attempt to push it out if the way. I for one consider this to be my most favourite part of the day. To the lady that complained, I sincerely hope that when you become an elder and god for I'd have to rely on a walker or scooter that they are still allowed on the ttc and don't find yourself being stuck out in the cold when there isn't " enough" room for you on the bus. Karma sucks

This is totally ridiculous! Are kids now an inconvenience? How embarrassing to Toronto for even thinking about banning strollers!

If you go to the forums and see where this is posted, there's a great post about options instead of taking huge strollers everywhere. Worth a read, and would be interested in comments to that poster's post. It's in the General forum.

what about wheelchairs and walkers? are we going to limit or ban the elderly and the disabled from our transit system, too? at least there's the option of DATS (disabled transit services) in edmonton. there's no equivalent option for parents of young children and their strollers.

This is becoming an issue in more cities than Toronto. In Peterborough our front three seats do fold up to make space for strollers and are otherwise supposed to be reserved for those with disabilities or the elderly. However people are not always willing to move and drivers often refuse to let more than two strollers on one bus. While this is frustrating for everyone, in a smaller city we have to wait upwards of 40 minutes for the next bus.

I think it is ridiculous to ask someone with a stroller to pay more than the 'average rider' and while they do take up room, it is not always feasible to use an umbrella stroller (i.e. with a newborn or in the dead of winter where a child would be exposed completely to the elements). There are tons of people who take public transit because they have no other option and to ask them to pay more because they have a child seems rude and completely unfair.

We live in a world with people who have children, where there are elderly people and people with disabilities. Isn't it time we all had some more respect and common sense?

Limiting strollers or charging more only complicates people's lives more. Bigger busses with designated spaces for strollers or more busses during peak hours along with common courtesy and respect would be a better solution.

I think it's absolutely disgusting for the TTC to try to do this! Although I have a car to ferry around my 2 kids, I grew up without one and got the bus everywhere for the first 25 years of my life. I can't imagine needing to get to the doctor with my kids and waiting in the freezing cold or rain with them to be told "I'm sorry, you'll have to wait for the next bus and hope there's room then!" What are these TTC morons thinking? It's as bad as taking the Remembrance Day messages off the buses because "it might confuse some riders". How much do these idiots get paid anyway? Maybe THEY should drive these poor parents around when they are told they can't get on the bus. God forbid THEY might be inconvenienced. Honestly Toronto get with it!!!!!

Yeah, I couldn't believe the news this morning either. Hope you're holding onto your sanity.

People need to grow some empathy and see that there are others out there too, we are all here together just trying to live in this city. For some of us transit is how we get around and not everyone can own a SUV, if we did the world would be a worse place.

Amazing. I just heard on talk radio in Toronto some guys talk about this issue by mocking the problem. The solution they came up with is that all "yummy mummies" need to get an umbrella stroller. A bus driver complained about how many people he has to help into the bus each day who have strollers. I agree that people need to be reasonable about piling on too much stuff into a stroller and expecting others to help them each time. If you need to go out and run errands or go to work, this may be the only way to get to work/school/appointments etc. First the restaurants telling people not to bring their kids and now public transit? Discrimination much?

That's exactly what I mean, why is it so easy for other to complain about parents with strollers?? Many of us don't have a car, why because the insurance are so expensive, that it's alot easier to take the bus. Yes I understand that is a pain in the butt for others, but as far as I'm concern I don't care, because I pay to get on the TTC bus, it's not like i'm riding it for free. And for the lady who made the complain if she's not happy living in a city full of parents with strollers and a busy city, than she has two options either get a car or move out of the city. As to charge extra for having a stroller, that's just plain stupid, might as well charge people with wheelchairs, or walkers. I hope that the TTC doesn't charge the extra because I know for a fact alot or people will protest and I'll be one of them!!

Hear hear! Thank you so much. I'm not a mother (yet) and have never had to take a stroller on public transit, but the fact that this is even an issue is heart breaking.