Restricting size of strollers on transit is not in public interest, TTC says

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      A few months ago, I wrote a post outlining seven of my transit pet peeves as a new parent in Vancouver. In the comment section, a common complaint from readers was that too many "entitled breeders" are taking "gigantic" and "oversized" strollers on TransLink buses.

      Well, over in the Centre of the Universe, the Toronto Transit Commission has been looking at the contentious issue of strollers on transit vehicles. Staff have recommended the TTC continue to not restrict the size of strollers.

      A report on the agenda for the TTC's February 25 meeting also says that parents shouldn't be charged a "premium" for using strollers. The number of strollers that can be safety accommodated on a bus should remain at the transit operator's "discretion", according to TTC staff. The TTC report states:

      Furthermore, quite separate from the capacity and congestion debate, there is a strong societal imperative in not further restricting access to public transit to customers accompanied by young children. Quite simply, public transit must widen its reach to the broadest range of society to ensure that it fulfils its fundamental purpose – to move people.

      For us in Metro Vancouver, what's TransLink's stance on strollers? The TransLink website doesn't exactly offer up this information readily, but the posted policy for people with disabilities addresses part of this issue. Regarding the accessible areas at the front of buses, the TransLink policy states:

      Strollers may use this area; however, when demand dictates, the stroller must give way to people with mobility devices, including walkers. Children in strollers should be removed and the strollers collapsed.

      Unlike the TTC, TransLink does restrict the size of strollers. According to the policy, strollers must be collapsible and no larger than 122 centimetres (48 inches) long by 60 centimetres (24 inches) wide.

      Comments

      9 Comments

      Multimodal Commuter

      Feb 19, 2013 at 7:31pm

      Well as long as bikes on transit are okay, I can live with giant strollers. Oh wait, giant, excessive, SUV strollers good, bikes bad? No, I don't see any discrimination.

      EastVan'er

      Feb 19, 2013 at 10:05pm

      Um, let me get this straight (no pun intended), it's fine for Stephen Hui to make the comment "Also, isn't this the whitest bus you've ever seen?" under the above picture, but if I were to write "the yellowest bus..." if it showed mostly Asians, wouldn't I be raising alarms and screams of racism? Enough with the double standard, this guy should be slapped for this.

      Monthly BusPass Holder

      Feb 19, 2013 at 11:04pm

      Restricting the size of strollers isn't too crazy in my opinion. I am not a parent, however, my sister has an 8-month old and the two of them occasionally take the bus with me. Here's my opinion: 1. If your kid is young and needs to be in a stroller—fine—but don't have a monster truck for a stroller, it's not fair nor is it practical. 2. If your child can walk, talk and talk back—stop using a stroller. Your just encouraging your child to be lazy. Infants in a stroller is one thing, but you best not get in a huff if a disabled or elderly person wants a priority seat that your 3-year-old able bodied child is block with their stroller. 3. Like I said earlier, I take the bus with my sister and her child, but I don't think because I'm with them I should take up a priority seat—so I don't! Oh wow the whole family is going to the Aquarium…all 5 of us let's just sit together as a big ol' family. No. All those who can, shuffle down and make some room for people who actually need those spots.

      Martin Dunphy

      Feb 19, 2013 at 11:18pm

      East Van'er:

      Stephen Hui was merely attempting to acknowledge, in a playful manner, the fact that the stock photo used for his article in no way representative of a typical Vancouver bus scene.
      If it showed mostly passengers of Asian descent, that would actually be much closer to our city's reality, wouldn't it?

      RobertB

      Feb 20, 2013 at 5:53am

      strollers take up 2-3 standing spaces at least so you do the math. every stroller in the bus is an irritation. or at least get one you can fold up when you get on the bus otherwise leave your kid at home.

      Stephen Hui

      Feb 20, 2013 at 9:35am

      @EastVan'er (or is it WestVan'er?):

      1. Have you ever ridden the bus (in any major North American city)?

      2. Are you someone who doesn't "see" racism, but cries reverse racism every chance you get?

      Either way, thanks for the morning chuckle.

      (You might want to watch this video: http://www.straight.com/blogra/353921/video-two-spoken-word-artists-call... )

      EastVan'er

      Feb 25, 2013 at 1:08am

      So you are basically trying to justify your racist comment on the stereotypes you've discerned were appropriate. What the hell does riding buses in other cities have to do with anything? I see racism everywhere and from everyone, because that's how it is in reality. But in so many cases, if you are yellow, you are a victim, if you are black, you are a victim, if you are red, you are a victim, and if you are white, you are racist. You don't get a "Get Out of Jail Free Card" because you are Asian. You just showed a lot of readers your mentality and maturity level. Whatever people think of my comments has no bearing on me, I don't work for a newspaper in a city ripe with multiculturalism. Maybe you should quit your day job and chuckle back at McDonald's with all the other children. And you made an idiotic assumption, that because I made an issue about your statement, I might have been from West Vancouver? I'd like someone in West Vancouver to ask what that's about.

      Martin Dunphy

      Feb 25, 2013 at 1:20am

      EastVan'er

      Please reread my comment above.

      in reply to someone else

      May 1, 2013 at 8:59am

      so someone else says
      "but don't have a monster truck for a stroller, it's not fair nor is it practical."

      Who are YOU to determine someone else's practicality?!? Who do you think you are to determine what works and doesn't work for someone else's lifestyle, needs and desires?!? Get off your high horse!