Crowds and seats

[maxiesmom]

Point is, everyone has a choice of getting on a crowded monorail or waiting for the next one. It's that simple. Just like you shouldn't get on a packed bus and expect others to give you their seat, you shouldn't expect anyone already on the monorail ahead of you to change what works best for them to accommodate you.

Don't agree. To me leaving a stroller open and putting a child on a seat is no different from taking up two seats for yourself. Sure, you can do it. Doesn't mean it is the right or nice thing to do.

Also, I have seen, both on the buses and the monorails, people pick up their children and hold them on their laps to make more room. Which I think is very nice of them.

 

[Hootenany]

I am a little confused by the picture that Nellypooh1 posted on page 1 of this thread with the 4 seat stroller on the bus. Are people upset that it is not folded or because there are children in it that appear to not be restrained?
The handle of that stroller does have a stroller as a wheelchair tag on the handle.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I am a little confused by the picture that Nellypooh1 posted on page 1 of this thread with the 4 seat stroller on the bus. Are people upset that it is not folded or because there are children in it that appear to not be restrained?
The handle of that stroller does have a stroller as a wheelchair tag on the handle.

I think people were upset because strollers are supposed to be folded on the buses but sometimes the drivers don't argue it with passengers. Obviously an unfolded stroller takes up more room, so ignoring the rules means less people fit. I was wondering if that may have been a stroller that could be tied down, in which case there would be no problem with it left open and tied down on the buses like an ECV. Unfortunately, most strollers are not made to safely be tied down, and having a stroller as wheelchair tag does not mean the stroller itself was designed to handle being tied down. Anyone with a stroller as wheelchair tag is still supposed to fold the stroller on the bus unless it is a stroller specifically designed to be tied down.

 

[livndisney]

I am a little confused by the picture that Nellypooh1 posted on page 1 of this thread with the 4 seat stroller on the bus. Are people upset that it is not folded or because there are children in it that appear to not be restrained?
The handle of that stroller does have a stroller as a wheelchair tag on the handle.

Red tag does not matter on the bus. Red tag is for access in the 4 main parks only. DOT regs state strollers must be folded. (Only exception is strollers rated to be tied down. Ie-special needs strollers)

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Don't agree. To me leaving a stroller open and putting a child on a seat is no different from taking up two seats for yourself. Sure, you can do it. Doesn't mean it is the right or nice thing to do.

Also, I have seen, both on the buses and the monorails, people pick up their children and hold them on their laps to make more room. Which I think is very nice of them.

I agree that it's absolutely nice when people put their kids on their laps and try to take up as little room as possible. Still, you never know what someone else's circumstances are.

It's possible that someone's collapsed stroller plus all the stuff they have in and around it could take up essentially the same amount of space as the unfolded stroller and so folding it wouldn't make a difference. It could be that they don't have enough hands to hold onto the folded stroller, all of the belongings, and possibly their kids without some of the stuff falling into other people. There might be one parent sitting and holding onto kids (no free hands) while the other parent is standing and doesn't trust their balance enough to hold onto a folded stroller and remain upright as the monorail moves and jostles you around. For parents who sit with their kids next to them and leave their stroller empty and unfolded, maybe they are worried about the kid's safety in the stroller on a moving vehicle when other guests lean on it or don't want others butts in their kids face, so they take the kid out. Maybe something got spilled in the stroller so they had to take the kid out. Maybe the kid isn't sitting on their lap because the kid is too heavy or the parent has leg problems that would cause them pain if the kid sits on their lap. Maybe the kid has a disability that makes it difficult for them to be touched or close to others and the parents are doing their best to give the kid their own seat and a little buffer zone by sitting next to them and having the stroller in front so their kid doesn't panic. Maybe its easier to have the kid sit in their own seat than to try to balance them on their lap for whatever reason. Heck, maybe the toddler got a dirty diaper just as they were boarding the monorail (or a kid had puked all over themself and though the parents tried their best to clean it up, the smell still lingered) and the parents were trying to keep the kid as far away from everyone else to be respectful of them so as not to make other passengers smell it. Maybe the parent isn't feeling well and they are dizzy or nauseous and it would cause them discomfort to physically hold their child on their lap and they are trying their best to hold everything together to get their family back to their resort.

Sure there are some people who don't have any particular reason, or who could fold their stroller or keep the kid inside it or on their lap, just like there are people on the buses who could give up their seat and stand or put their kid on their lap instead of letting them have their own seat.

But you never know what someone's circumstances are or what they are dealing with at a particular time. There could be very valid reasons for the way they are doing things.

If people are able to make changes to take up less space then of course, I agree that is the right thing to do, but I'm not going to judge them when they don't, because I don't know what they might be dealing with. Again, everyone is responsible for their own self and it's up to them to make sure they have room/ a seat/ whatever or they can wait for the next one.

 

[maxiesmom]

Sorry, but if the stroller is too full to hang on to along with your child, the child should stay in the stroller. I don't think there is honestly any excuse for pulling a child out of a stroller and not folding the stroller up. If the stroller is up, keep the child in it. You won't be able to convince me it isn't rude to leave the stroller open and have your child on a seat, essentially taking up two spots.

That should no more be done that someone should put their bag on a seat. Or stretch out across two seats.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

The fact is, there are so many things people do that others consider rude. I consider it rude for people to continue cramming onto a full monorail to the point that you can't shift your weight, let alone move a foot to catch your balance. I find it rude when other passengers put their butt in my kids face while they are in the stroller, or when they are sitting on my lap and the monorail is so packed you have your legs as far back as possible and people have to put their feet between mine in order to even have a place to stand (which yes, means they are practically on top of myself and my child on my lap).

I can't stop others from doing what they are going to do. I can, however, do my best to prevent my family from getting into one of those situations that I consider rude and might make me incredibly claustrophobic. I wait for the next bus or monorail. It's much easier to do that for me than to be in an uncomfortable situation that's going to make me angry and feel the need to sit and complain about other people's lack on manners when there is something I can do to avoid the situation altogether.

 

[Hootenany]

I think people were upset because strollers are supposed to be folded on the buses but sometimes the drivers don't argue it with passengers. Obviously an unfolded stroller takes up more room, so ignoring the rules means less people fit. I was wondering if that may have been a stroller that could be tied down, in which case there would be no problem with it left open and tied down on the buses like an ECV. Unfortunately, most strollers are not made to safely be tied down, and having a stroller as wheelchair tag does not mean the stroller itself was designed to handle being tied down. Anyone with a stroller as wheelchair tag is still supposed to fold the stroller on the bus unless it is a stroller specifically designed to be tied down.

Red tag does not matter on the bus. Red tag is for access in the 4 main parks only. DOT regs state strollers must be folded. (Only exception is strollers rated to be tied down. Ie-special needs strollers)

Thank you for explaining. We have had the red tag before and were actually never told that. Our son and daughter were strapped into our double stroller, much like in the picture, and the bus driver belted the whole stroller in. This was years ago though...
My son does have a wheelchair now, but prefers to sit on the seats of the bus, so we do fold up his chair to make room for others.

I found the picture to be a bit contradictory of the whole reason this thread was started- thus the confusion.

It is important to remember that everyone has different circumstances.

 

[KeepCalmAndCarryOn]

Just smile sincerely and apologize if you think someone is giving you the stink eye. Then make eye contact with another family with littles because we will all get it, and breathe.

Maybe there should be like special pins for families navigating the world for the first time with their kiddos - they could have a warning like "Give a wide berth; this trip has been commandeered by toddlers."

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Maybe there should be like special pins for families navigating the world for the first time with their kiddos - they could have a warning like "Give a wide berth; this trip has been commandeered by toddlers."

Haha, I love it!