Comments on: The driver on the bus goes, “Fold that stroller!” http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/ A Community for Blogging Mothers in Greater Seattle and the East Side Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:16:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ashley http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-5622 Ashley Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:19:34 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-5622 I know that parents say that it is really hard for them to have the child on the bus with the stroller folded, but it really is a big obstacle. I go to school every day on two buses. A go and a transit. On the go, you must fold the stroller and put it in the compartment under the bus. On the transit, there is a sign that says, 'strollers must be folded'. But no one ever does it. I have seen the bus packed with five strollers at once. It was ridiculous, people in the very back of the bus had to crawl over the strollers and get to the front because one was blocking the back exit. That is a safety hazard. Yeah little old ladies come on with their strollers, but that takes up the space of one person. These parents come on with huge strollers and will not move them to help people get buy. I have found it very frustrating. Especially when someone takes so long getting on the bus with the stroller, that my transit is late and I end up waiting another hour for the go. I really cannot feel any pity for parents who do not fold their strollers because they are the most annoying people I find on the bus. I know that parents say that it is really hard for them to have the child on the bus with the stroller folded, but it really is a big obstacle. I go to school every day on two buses. A go and a transit.
On the go, you must fold the stroller and put it in the compartment under the bus.
On the transit, there is a sign that says, ’strollers must be folded’. But no one ever does it.
I have seen the bus packed with five strollers at once. It was ridiculous, people in the very back of the bus had to crawl over the strollers and get to the front because one was blocking the back exit. That is a safety hazard.
Yeah little old ladies come on with their strollers, but that takes up the space of one person. These parents come on with huge strollers and will not move them to help people get buy.
I have found it very frustrating. Especially when someone takes so long getting on the bus with the stroller, that my transit is late and I end up waiting another hour for the go.
I really cannot feel any pity for parents who do not fold their strollers because they are the most annoying people I find on the bus.

]]> By: baby stroller car seat http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-5198 baby stroller car seat Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:47:17 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-5198 Its a really different experience, for sure, riding the local routes of the express buses I used to ride. The demographic makeup of the express buses versus the local routes is very different. Instead of being filled with commuters with laptop bags slung over their shoulders and insulated coffee mugs in hand, reading the newspaper or magazines like The Economist, the daytime buses are filled with a much wider range of people. There are a lot of students, especially on the 17, which serves Seattle Pacific University. There are a lot more people riding with reduced fare permits, a lot more elderly people, a lot more people who look a bit rough around the edges. Its a really different experience, for sure, riding the local routes of the express buses I used to ride. The demographic makeup of the express buses versus the local routes is very different. Instead of being filled with commuters with laptop bags slung over their shoulders and insulated coffee mugs in hand, reading the newspaper or magazines like The Economist, the daytime buses are filled with a much wider range of people. There are a lot of students, especially on the 17, which serves Seattle Pacific University. There are a lot more people riding with reduced fare permits, a lot more elderly people, a lot more people who look a bit rough around the edges.

]]> By: Tina http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-4423 Tina Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:25:22 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-4423 I have 2 year old, very active, twin boys. I must drive everywhere, because there is no way possible to take them on a bus because of the stroller-rule. Its very frustrating and limiting. I'd love to hop the bus (stop is right in front of our house!) and take it to the ferry and go over to downtown Seattle where my DH works. But again, I must drive, fight traffic, hope to get a spot on the ferry, and hope to find parking. Its a hassle and a waste! And I tried it once. And only once. And I left the bus in tears, the boys were screaming, nobody helped and man-alive, I wish I had realized that the Phil & Teds E3 stroller could not be folded when it has the 2nd seat attached (rather, it has to be disassembled and it doesn't latch closed). Yeah. We just stay home. I have 2 year old, very active, twin boys. I must drive everywhere, because there is no way possible to take them on a bus because of the stroller-rule. Its very frustrating and limiting. I’d love to hop the bus (stop is right in front of our house!) and take it to the ferry and go over to downtown Seattle where my DH works. But again, I must drive, fight traffic, hope to get a spot on the ferry, and hope to find parking. Its a hassle and a waste!

And I tried it once. And only once. And I left the bus in tears, the boys were screaming, nobody helped and man-alive, I wish I had realized that the Phil & Teds E3 stroller could not be folded when it has the 2nd seat attached (rather, it has to be disassembled and it doesn’t latch closed).

Yeah. We just stay home.

]]> By: Isabel http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-4419 Isabel Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:01:59 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-4419 Great post K. So, while my child was in stroller mode I stayed away from the bus. This was hard as we were living in downtown Seattle and the bus was my favored mode of transportation. I just could never figure out the logistics. I called Metro and asked them about this back when Babboo was first born. A live Metro phone operator told me the Metro policy was to have the driver use the HC lift for the stroller. This didn't seem like it was the correct thing, and do I never dared try it. Instead I just didn't use the bus. That didn't seem like the right thing either. Now that I'm riding the bus daily with Babboo (who is 2 and no longer using a stroller) I just sit with him on the bus. I'm not really comfortable with this either. How do we go from making it illegal to drive without a kid in a car seat to letting your kid flop around on the bus without any type of protection? I just have to try to not think about it...which isn't a good thing. (And don't even get me started on the fact that NOBODY every offers me their seat on the bus. Dude, I have a two year old with me...GIVE ME YOUR DARN SEAT ALREADY!) (Last week I saw a man offer his seat to a woman with a child on the bus. This was the FIRST time I've ever seen this in all my years of bus riding. I was happy that I recognized the man from my congregation at church. Yeah for practicing what he preaches!!) Great post K.

So, while my child was in stroller mode I stayed away from the bus. This was hard as we were living in downtown Seattle and the bus was my favored mode of transportation. I just could never figure out the logistics.

I called Metro and asked them about this back when Babboo was first born. A live Metro phone operator told me the Metro policy was to have the driver use the HC lift for the stroller. This didn’t seem like it was the correct thing, and do I never dared try it. Instead I just didn’t use the bus. That didn’t seem like the right thing either.

Now that I’m riding the bus daily with Babboo (who is 2 and no longer using a stroller) I just sit with him on the bus. I’m not really comfortable with this either. How do we go from making it illegal to drive without a kid in a car seat to letting your kid flop around on the bus without any type of protection?

I just have to try to not think about it…which isn’t a good thing.

(And don’t even get me started on the fact that NOBODY every offers me their seat on the bus. Dude, I have a two year old with me…GIVE ME YOUR DARN SEAT ALREADY!)

(Last week I saw a man offer his seat to a woman with a child on the bus. This was the FIRST time I’ve ever seen this in all my years of bus riding. I was happy that I recognized the man from my congregation at church. Yeah for practicing what he preaches!!)

]]> By: Naomi Sandoval http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-4390 Naomi Sandoval Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:37:29 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-4390 Been there, done that! It is so tricky for sure! There is no perfect stroller. In the city, it's unrealistic to be without a stroller, especially as your little one grows. In the blog entry I linked to, I was in NYC with my MacLaren, which is quick to fold and light weight. But with small wheels and limited cargo, it is not the ideal stroller for long outings or a lot of gear. I always filled it with stuff when I went grocery shopping. There were no stores near my mom's place so I wound up having to make the 1 1/2 hour trudge to the store every few days because getting on and off subways and buses with 2 kids, a stroller, and having to take the bags out is so overwhelming! I didn't blog about it but one time, I actually experienced the nightmare of my 5 year old running on to the subway and the doors closing before I could get on. I had baby on back in the Ergo and got just my hand in and wrestled with the door while a passenger did the same from inside the train. Man, that was horrifyingly scary. She just let go of my hand and ran for it because we were in a hurry. Traveling with kids in the city is soooo challenging! Been there, done that! It is so tricky for sure! There is no perfect stroller. In the city, it’s unrealistic to be without a stroller, especially as your little one grows. In the blog entry I linked to, I was in NYC with my MacLaren, which is quick to fold and light weight. But with small wheels and limited cargo, it is not the ideal stroller for long outings or a lot of gear. I always filled it with stuff when I went grocery shopping. There were no stores near my mom’s place so I wound up having to make the 1 1/2 hour trudge to the store every few days because getting on and off subways and buses with 2 kids, a stroller, and having to take the bags out is so overwhelming! I didn’t blog about it but one time, I actually experienced the nightmare of my 5 year old running on to the subway and the doors closing before I could get on. I had baby on back in the Ergo and got just my hand in and wrestled with the door while a passenger did the same from inside the train. Man, that was horrifyingly scary. She just let go of my hand and ran for it because we were in a hurry. Traveling with kids in the city is soooo challenging!

]]> By: twinmommy12345 http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-4389 twinmommy12345 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:23:40 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-4389 If I was going on the bus with the hubs, we would each take one boy in a backpack (which had a zipper compartment that doubled as a diaper bag). It worked pretty well, and was much easier to maneuver while in Pike Place Market. However, if I was by myself, I'd bring the double stroller if necessary. Once the boys were walking, though, we would put them in the harnesses (yes, I'm one of THOSE parents) and they'd walk wherever we went. This necessarily limited the number of stops/errands we could do while riding the bus, but was so much easier than trying to fold up and stow the stroller that I dealt with it. Now with four-year-old twins and a newborn, I'm not sure how the bus is going to work for us. If I was going on the bus with the hubs, we would each take one boy in a backpack (which had a zipper compartment that doubled as a diaper bag). It worked pretty well, and was much easier to maneuver while in Pike Place Market. However, if I was by myself, I’d bring the double stroller if necessary. Once the boys were walking, though, we would put them in the harnesses (yes, I’m one of THOSE parents) and they’d walk wherever we went. This necessarily limited the number of stops/errands we could do while riding the bus, but was so much easier than trying to fold up and stow the stroller that I dealt with it. Now with four-year-old twins and a newborn, I’m not sure how the bus is going to work for us.

]]> By: Stacy (mama-om) http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-4388 Stacy (mama-om) Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:32:35 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-4388 We used the carrier on the bus (for shorter trips) when I had just one kid. When my second child was born, I used the bus a lot for short errands, because it was much easier to keep him in the carrier than getting him and out of the car seat and waking him up. So I wore the baby and used the umbrella stroller for my older son (who was three at the time) because he often got tired of walking to/from the bus stop. I used our bigger stroller, full of things in the bottom ONCE and was totally flustered when the driver told me I had to unpack it and fold it up. Never did that again! Made me think about designing a stroller that could still be folded while storing items.... If you are going to get an umbrella stroller for errands, I would splurge on a really lightweight one that folds easily AND has a rainhood. We just used our cheap-o one but I really missed having a rainhood. Nice post! Thank you, and good luck! :) We used the carrier on the bus (for shorter trips) when I had just one kid.

When my second child was born, I used the bus a lot for short errands, because it was much easier to keep him in the carrier than getting him and out of the car seat and waking him up. So I wore the baby and used the umbrella stroller for my older son (who was three at the time) because he often got tired of walking to/from the bus stop.

I used our bigger stroller, full of things in the bottom ONCE and was totally flustered when the driver told me I had to unpack it and fold it up. Never did that again!

Made me think about designing a stroller that could still be folded while storing items….

If you are going to get an umbrella stroller for errands, I would splurge on a really lightweight one that folds easily AND has a rainhood. We just used our cheap-o one but I really missed having a rainhood.

Nice post! Thank you, and good luck! :)

]]> By: amy http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-4387 amy Tue, 05 Aug 2008 03:28:37 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-4387 I just want to comment that I have ridden the bus in Germany with my children. These busses are convenient for families! The busses had stroller sections, and the strollers did not need to be folded! It seems reasonable for strollers to be parked with the wheelchairs. I think Metro should develop a family (ie stroller) friendly policy. I have had the experience of getting onto the bus with my baby and having the bus start going without waiting for me to sit down. It's hardly mother and child friendly... I just want to comment that I have ridden the bus in Germany with my children. These busses are convenient for families! The busses had stroller sections, and the strollers did not need to be folded! It seems reasonable for strollers to be parked with the wheelchairs. I think Metro should develop a family (ie stroller) friendly policy. I have had the experience of getting onto the bus with my baby and having the bus start going without waiting for me to sit down. It’s hardly mother and child friendly…

]]> By: Carrie http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-4385 Carrie Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:35:17 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-4385 I am totally in awe of the struggle you have to go through, and I'm sorry it isn't easier. It should be. Even though I didn't have to deal w/the bus, I agree that a good umbrella stroller can be a lifesaver in all kinds of situations, including public transportation. They are compact, light and cheap. It would also be nice if everyone was a little more considerate of the hassles they put other people through when they aren't prepared and ready to go like you are. I guess this is true for a lot of things though. Good luck! I am totally in awe of the struggle you have to go through, and I’m sorry it isn’t easier. It should be.

Even though I didn’t have to deal w/the bus, I agree that a good umbrella stroller can be a lifesaver in all kinds of situations, including public transportation. They are compact, light and cheap.

It would also be nice if everyone was a little more considerate of the hassles they put other people through when they aren’t prepared and ready to go like you are. I guess this is true for a lot of things though.

Good luck!

]]> By: Becky http://seattlemomblogs.com/2008/08/the-driver-on-the-bus-goes-fold-that-stroller/comment-page-1/#comment-4384 Becky Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:04:14 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/?p=405#comment-4384 When i worked at Disney World, our attraction allowed for wheelchairs to be strapped on, but not strollers. The reasoning was that the strap design was specifically engineered for wheelchair parameters. I guess the reason behind the rule is the design of the strap system - though I'm not sure how much more secure a mom's arms would be in the event of an accident! Interesting post. :) Becky When i worked at Disney World, our attraction allowed for wheelchairs to be strapped on, but not strollers. The reasoning was that the strap design was specifically engineered for wheelchair parameters.

I guess the reason behind the rule is the design of the strap system – though I’m not sure how much more secure a mom’s arms would be in the event of an accident!

Interesting post.
:) Becky

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