Transit
How easy is it to bring babies and toddlers on Metrobus?
Buses are vital for families across the region but riding with a young child can be challenging. Families can make the ride better for both parents and kids with a little planning. And WMATA could help accommodate families with a more flexible stroller policy, by making the bus easier to board, and providing more real-time arrival information.
Living in the outskirts of Wheaton without a car and with a premature newborn son, I got used to the bus system very quickly. Like a lot of families in the region, our family rode the bus daily to get to the Metro for work, to buy groceries, and to visit doctors or friends.
Even after we moved back to the District and got a car, we found that local buses continued to be a convenient, cheap, and even fun way for our family to get around the greater Washington area.
Riding the bus has many advantages
If you asked our son, he'd probably say that riding the bus is the best way to get around. He is now over 2 years old and has sufficient verbal skills to express just how much he likes riding the bus, or, as he would say, "Bus. Bus! BUUUUSSSSS!"
I agree with him because the bus is a better option than driving or Metrorail for some of our regular trips. There's a Metrobus stop right at the entrance of our apartment complex that takes us close to some of our favorite destinations, avoiding both Metrorail's "last mile" challenge and the hassle of parking.
And, since I'm not driving, I'm free to enjoy my family's company on the trip. Our son likes the bus because he doesn't have to be strapped in a car seat as he does in the car, and there's more to see out the windows than on underground trains.
Not to say that riding the bus is entirely wonderful. We're all familiar with the horror stories from both sides of the kids-on-transit issue, including those of children who behave badly or scream for the entire trip and of seemingly oblivious parents. But there are also stories of passengers who fail to accommodate parents and children or who react with obvious disapproval when a child exhibits perfectly normal behavior.
However, it's important to remember that at least some of these horror stories can be prevented or mitigated.
Tips for riding the bus with a young child
As our son grew, we developed different strategies for bringing him on the bus with us. These tips may not work for everyone, but they certainly helped my family:
- Newborn: When our son was a premature newborn and we were taking lots of multimodal trips (mostly buses and cabs) to visit specialists, we relied on a snap-in frame with an infant car seat that had a special insert for very small babies. Generous fellow passengers frequently helped me carry this rig (dismantled, of course) onto the bus.
- Infant: When our son was about 3-months old, I switched to a sling or harness to carry him on the bus. This was both faster and easier than constantly collapsing and reassembling a stroller. It also kept him shielded from potentially germy strangers.
- Toddler: Once our child was able to sit up straight and stand on his own as a toddler, I used a folding umbrella stroller for our bus rides. This has been a great tool for both local and inter-city bus trips because it collapses easily and is quite compact when folded (though it's still too long to fit under the sideways seats on Metrobuses and trains).
I hope these tips can help encourage parents living in the city with their children to consider including local buses among their transportation options.
A few policies or technologies can help as well
One of the worst bus trips I ever had with my son was a stressful crosstown trip to the hospital during his nap time. He wasn't happy that I had to wake him every 20 minutes to get him in and out of his stroller for transfers. If I could have let him sleep for the entire trip, he'd have been happier, I'd have been happier, and all of our fellow bus passengers would have been happier.
This experience taught me how helpful it would be if we could bring unfolded umbrella strollers on Metrobuses. Believe me, I would have been thrilled to stand through our entire hour-and-a-half trip if it meant that my son could have had his much-needed afternoon nap. There are plenty of times when my son and I can sit in a 2-person bench like adult passengers, but it would improve Metrobus' accessibility to families if their policies made some accommodation for times when that's not feasible.
Another feature that would benefit bus-riding families is automatic kneeling. Bus drivers don't always notice that I have a child with me, or if they do, they don't always seem to realize what a big step up the bus is for a little child and a woman carrying 20 pounds of gear. It would be helpful for parents and other similarly burdened passengers to be able to count on having the bus lowered to curb level.
I'm lucky that I can use my phone to check WMATA's NextBus website to find the real-time bus information for our most commonly used stops and routes. If I didn't have that resource, however, taking the bus with a small child would be an immensely frustrating experience. While some children are perfectly happy to sit for 20 minutes or more at a bus stop surrounded by all kinds of intriguing trash and a wide-open street just begging to be played in, my son is not one of them.
Being able to check NextBus on my phone and time our arrival at the stop just in time to fold up the stroller and board the bus has been an absolute godsend. If instead I had to wait for at a bus stop with my son without knowing when the next bus was actually arriving, I would probably avoid taking the bus altogether.
WMATA has been talking about adding real-time arrival signs to more bus stops so everyone can have access to this information. The sooner they can move the program forward as quickly and comprehensively as possible, the better
Even with all the ups and downs of riding the bus, I've found that it can be a source of wonderful time spent with my son. We recently visited friends in Brooklyn whose son is close in age to our own. The sight of 2 little boys happily plopping themselves into seats on the bus after a full morning of adventure is one of my favorite memories of that trip.
So make your own memories and happy riding!
Cross-posted at Big Orange Bike.
Comments
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by Banksy on Jun 27, 2012 2:12 pm • link • report
by Keren on Jun 27, 2012 2:42 pm • link • report
Parents must remember that their children are not the center of the world to everyone else.
Non-parents must remember that they should be able to control their emotions better than children & give parents who are having a hard time a break.
Why is this so hard in DC?
by mch on Jun 27, 2012 3:09 pm • link • report
by selxic on Jun 27, 2012 3:23 pm • link • report
by mch on Jun 27, 2012 3:47 pm • link • report
Bringing a double-wide stroller onto Metro -- or into any crowded area -- is unnecessary and inconsiderate.
by Rob on Jun 27, 2012 3:49 pm • link • report
Also, riding the bus with a small child is much easier if you don't feel like you have to carry 20 lbs of gear with you at all times. Some parents treat their strollers like beasts of burden. I like to travel light with my kid, and that makes taking the bus much more feasible.
by TJ on Jun 27, 2012 3:56 pm • link • report
by Ms. D on Jun 27, 2012 4:09 pm • link • report
Granted, this works mainly for agreeable kids with physically able parents, but it is a solution that we hope to use as long as is possible.
by Kate on Jun 27, 2012 4:19 pm • link • report
I live in a part of the region with narrow streets and I often see several neighbors inching their huge SUV down the street - didn't they consider the width of the street BEFORE buying their tank?
Similarly with the double-wides - they take up the entire width of the sidewalk and go plowing down assuming I'm going to move off the sidewalk and outta their way.
This isn't always true but I see these things MUCH more often than I'd like to...
by Compact on Jun 27, 2012 4:32 pm • link • report
Interesting perspective as someone who does not have kids. One question: I'm surprised you didn't mention anything on the difference with the newer low floor buses vs. the older high floor buses (with the steps). Would kneeling still be helpful with the low floor buses?
by Transport. on Jun 27, 2012 4:33 pm • link • report
I have a now 5 year old boy and he has always loved taking the bus.
And even when he was little we managed just fine without a stroller - I'd stuff a bjorn into his bag in case I got tired of holding him but almost never used it.
One of the tired refrains in Upper NW from anti TOD/transit/change activists is that it is impossible to go car less or car light with kids and it is miserable if you try. Which is absurd.
But one frequent ranter on the subject in my hood I think has it completely wrong - she frequently cites the quality time she spent with her kids in the car growing up and my own experience is just the opposite - I've found the time on transit to be a sort of found time with my son that we never would have had in the car when I am concentrating on driving. A time when he still hops in my lap to get a better view out the window and we can just hang out and admire and talk about the world around us.
Another joy about the bus compared to Metrorail, particularly when he was young, was all of the warm attention he would get from fellow riders, particularly non white riders. For reasons I have trouble fathoming on Metrorail little ones are often viewed suspiciously at best and with hostility at worst while on the bus folks are generally quite friendly.
And FWIW we have a 2nd little one now and I've taken them both on the bus with no problems.
by TomQ on Jun 27, 2012 4:47 pm • link • report
by Rob P on Jun 27, 2012 5:06 pm • link • report
I sympathize with your desire to keep a small umbrella stroller open under certain circumstances (uncrowded bus, available space in the wheelchair area, and a sleepy kid), but the blanket rule prevents what would likely be rampant abuse. Have you considered asking the driver, if you board and see enough space to do so, if he/she minds? My experience with bus drivers is that they seem to be the most personable of Metro staff, overall, so it's worth a shot. Of course, it's on you to keep the stroller out of the way, take the kid out of it and collapse it if a disabled person needs that space, and otherwise be polite about it.
Lots of kids are enamored by transit. My friend's stepson was 11 when she first brought him here, and, while he also loves history and civics and was excited to see all the monuments and museums, from the moment they arrived all he could talk about was how we were going to ride the train the next day (they arrived in the evening by car). I honestly think he was upset by how close I live to downtown, because his first subway ride was so short. Hilariously enough, my dog also likes taking the bus/train. He FREAKS OUT with excitement when I pull the carrier out (he'll usually grab the shoulder strap and yank me towards the door), and sits alert and stares out the bus window (I try to get a seat in the "upper deck" so he can see out the window from inside his carrier, of course he goes under the seat if the bus is crowded, but I usually only take him on "adventures" at low-volume times). He likes car rides, too, but seems far more excited when the carrier comes out than when I open a friend's car door and tell him to get in.
by Ms. D on Jun 27, 2012 6:52 pm • link • report
However, as a father of a 10 month old, I have a couple of thoughts: For shorter trips I usually am getting on a bus, and then will hold my son or use a bjorn. He loves the big windows and I enjoy the freedom of not having a stroller.
However, the systems are poor on commuter rail/subways. Two days ago I took Caltrain from Palo Alto, transferred to BART at Millbrae and went to El Cerrito. Caltrain deserves credit for the two bike cars, but we were told the stroller should go in the luggage car, which has a minuscule space for luggage, especially vs. the large bike cars. Why is this? It goes without saying it is much, much safer to ride public transit than private cars, so why is it so tough? This is often a matter of life and death. BART does have the bike spaces on trains but these are also small.
Signage/elevators are often poorly placed or not clear as well. And I am someone who is a huge fan/rider of transit so I can't imagine how confusing it is for other folks.
by H Street Landlord on Jun 27, 2012 7:00 pm • link • report
by Barry on Jun 27, 2012 7:04 pm • link • report
by Ms. D on Jun 27, 2012 7:07 pm • link • report
by TJ on Jun 27, 2012 8:59 pm • link • report
I'll also add anecdotally that most of the families I know who have double strollers have the front-to-back models, especially families that frequently need to ride transit. On the very rare occasions when I see someone bringing a ridiculously large stroller onto the Metro, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they would choose another option if they had it.
by Megan on Jun 27, 2012 11:28 pm • link • report
by Megan on Jun 27, 2012 11:37 pm • link • report
by selxic on Jun 27, 2012 11:45 pm • link • report
I don't have any brilliant suggestions for how to implement this suggestion, but still I would like to see WMATA make some effort to institute a no-collapse policy (even if it is just for umbrella strollers).
In support of your argument, Ms. D, while my son and I were taking that nightmare bus trip to the hospital, a mother and child boarded the bus with an unfolded stroller. The stroller that they used was incredibly small--it might even have been a doll stroller! I watched for any objections from the driver and other passengers, and no one gave them any trouble for not folding the stroller. As I said, it may be that drivers will make an exception if you ask them to. But I'd still prefer to see it become a rule that umbrella strollers don't need to be folded.
by Megan on Jun 27, 2012 11:55 pm • link • report
Any stroller still needs to be folded on the bus when it can't be cleared of the aisle due to crowding. Hence why exceptions should be made on a case-by-case basis. [Deleted.]
by Ms. D on Jun 28, 2012 1:37 am • link • report
by tour guide on Jun 28, 2012 7:55 am • link • report
by Thayer-D on Jun 28, 2012 7:58 am • link • report
To clarify my position, I agree that double-wide strollers are a terrible, terrible choice for transit. I don't know anyone who owns one, and my circle of acquaintance includes several parents of twins and young children who are close in age. They all use the in-line type of stroller. I could also count the number of times I've actually seen one on the Metro on a single hand, so you may have more extensive experience of this situation than I do.
As I said, if I see someone using a double-wide on the Metro, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt by assuming that they didn't have any better options (or that they didn't know any better, which may frequently be the case with tourists).
It looks like we'll need to agree to disagree on the question of requiring umbrella strollers on Metrobus to be folded at all times. One option could be to allow unfolded strollers, but clearly state that drivers can require passengers to fold them if the bus gets too crowded.
In the interest of not threadjacking, I'm making this my last comment on this particular subtopic. I've very much appreciated your and other commentators' thoughts on these issues. There may be no easy solution.
by Megan on Jun 28, 2012 8:06 am • link • report
Educating drivers more seems like a better first step.
by charlie on Jun 28, 2012 8:12 am • link • report
As to strollers on the bus - I've seen people refuse to fold the stroller and park it towards the front, blocking access to the rest of the bus. But I've seen people with luggage, big boxes, and shopping carts do the same.
by Todd on Jun 28, 2012 9:05 am • link • report
Kids ride the bus for free - this reminds me of the way airplanes let little kids ride for free if they sit in your lap.
Banned wheeled chair: usually smaller, possibly larger, small when folded, can't push self. occupant rides free due to young age. has assistant.
Acceptable wheeled chair: large. does not fold. might not have assistant. usually can push self. might be able to drive fast under power.
Regarding double-wide strollers. Point out that double-width (x-wide) wheel chairs are becoming common. A lot of times weigth is a contributing factor to needing the wheelchair. There are two-person electric wheelchairs I have seen (more common in florida) which are no wider than a common x-wide wheelchair. I take it these types of wheelchairs are not explicitly banned? Even though x-wide wheelchairs don't necessarily fold up.
It seems like we are just discriminating against toddlers here. And it seems to me it's the chairs that are bolted down which are taking up all the space. Eliminate bolted-down chairs and tell everyone to bring a folding chair if they must have a chair (most won't). You'd have way more space.
by Lee on Jun 28, 2012 9:30 am • link • report
by Steve on Jun 28, 2012 9:38 am • link • report
by selxic on Jun 28, 2012 9:53 am • link • report
we expect parents to carry their toddlers, we do not expect the disabled to be carried. The disable are entitled under ADA to live as independently as possible, while toddlers are never independent.
I have refrained so far, as when our child was a toddler we usually transported her by car - when we did use transit, we used a foldable umbrella stroller, and carried her and folded the stroller. Obviously not everyone is in a position to not use transit when folding and carrying is not feasible, but I also don't think its feasible or desirable to treat strollers like wheel chairs.
by AWalkerInTheCity on Jun 28, 2012 10:23 am • link • report
Steve seems to be suggesting that strollers have to be folded because trasit agencies down't want to take out the bolted down seats, even though they seemingly need to do so. Lets add to this that the bolted-down seats now are frequently way too small for the passengers anyway, so a lot of people are taking up 1 1/2 seats, which wastes even more space than before.
All of these problems are solved not by restricting rolling chairs, but by restricting the number of bolted down chairs. Put simply, if people can stand and walk, they should stand and walk. The people need a rolling or folding chair, let those people bring them. Most people won't. If flying objects are a problem, offer harnesses and harness points.
by Lee on Jun 28, 2012 10:27 am • link • report
kids aren't entitled to their wheeled chairs because ADA legislation does not force transit agencies to recognize kids. The legislation does not support the logical conclusion. Change the legislation then. There is no legislation forcing transit agencies to offer so many under-sized bolted-down chairs for healthy and independent, (but frequently overweight) riders. Undersized bolted chairs for healthy adults makes no sense when there is no space for strollers for kids that can't walk. Our priorities are not straight. Anyway chairs are really bad for your health. You should avoid using chairs unless you are unable to stand.
by Lee on Jun 28, 2012 10:45 am • link • report
Toddlers try to become independent by walking. They do not move their strollers themselves, as disabled people move their wheel chairs. They do not get on buses themselves, as disabled people do.
"Undersized bolted chairs for healthy adults makes no sense "
The chairs on transit are not undersized for non obese passengers, and standing for the length of some commutes is problematic. Many transit commuters already get plenty of exercise as part of their commutes, since most walk the first and/or last segment.
by AWalkerInTheCity on Jun 28, 2012 10:51 am • link • report
Strollers, Carts, and Other Large Items on Buses and Trains
by CD on Jun 28, 2012 11:48 am • link • report
by Megan on Jun 28, 2012 12:24 pm • link • report
by Alan on Jun 28, 2012 1:22 pm • link • report
One of my objections to the enormous strollers on Metrorail is that the child - or children - never seem to be riding in them. I usually see the stroller empty or being used to carry stuff
Exactly! When I was the parent of a small child (many moons ago), it was never the norm to carry everything the child *might* need with you everywhere you went. It irritates me to no end to see these empty strollers piled high with junk rather than filled with a child.
And don't get me started on the ones who look like they are pushing a ten year old around. I mean seriously, we won't let our kids walk and then wonder why they are so fat?
by Exhausted Vivene on Jun 28, 2012 3:03 pm • link • report
One fell over and blocked even more of the aisle. They were of course unconcerned that others couldn't get around.
And this is why we can't have nice things, like a rule that allows strollers to be unfolded at certain times for the benefit of considerate parents.
by Gray on Jun 28, 2012 4:04 pm • link • report
by Steve on Jun 29, 2012 8:33 am • link • report
Have you ever gone to the grocery store with a child, exclusively on public transportation? It sounds like you have not. I realize there are competing interests to balance, but we have to make easier for folks to use public transportation to complete essential errands.
Also, how do you know who is on welfare or isn't?
by H Street Landlord on Jun 29, 2012 11:36 am • link • report
by Lady on Jan 10, 2013 7:25 pm • link • report
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