Strollers on the bus

[TheGoofster]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I thought it seemed rather odd, but not having used a stroller for many years, I wasn't quite sure if maybe it was acceptable.

Famous words around here. Unfortunately you have no control over that and about page 8-9 someplace this will be so off topic that it will be about strollers vs. wheelchairs and people who don't know how to drive/steer them or how unfair it is the wheelchairs are loaded first and will be a debate.

Unfortunately this is too true, but I just wanted to make sure that everyone knew that it isn't / wasn't my intention to cause a debate about this. Often time people are accused of intentionally trying to stir the pot, and that isn't my intention here. Should this take off and become ugly, I hope that a mod will quickly shut it down.

 

[sydneysmom]

I have always seen people fold up the strollers and place them in front of them, not on the seats. That would be the courteous thing to do. And that's what I plan to do.

we plan to do the same

 

[goofy4tink]

It is completely unacceptable to fold up strollers and put them on the seats. It is unacceptable to put your full shopping bags on the seats. It's pretty safe to assume that the only thing that goes on a seat is the human body.

For those that choose to use large strollers and don't have a clue as to where to put them....I have seen very responsible parents heading to the rear of the bus, and standing by the rear door, with the folded up stroller leaning against them. They are out of the way, and not taking up a space that a guest would need. Yes, it may mean that dad has to be situated away from his family, but that's something they have to deal with if bringing a large stroller. It is not fair to take away seating from guests.

 

[KagMama]

It is completely unacceptable to fold up strollers and put them on the seats. It is unacceptable to put your full shopping bags on the seats. It's pretty safe to assume that the only thing that goes on a seat is the human body.

For those that choose to use large strollers and don't have a clue as to where to put them....I have seen very responsible parents heading to the rear of the bus, and standing by the rear door, with the folded up stroller leaning against them. They are out of the way, and not taking up a space that a guest would need. Yes, it may mean that dad has to be situated away from his family, but that's something they have to deal with if bringing a large stroller. It is not fair to take away seating from guests.

Perfect post. That is what we have done when we have had to take a larger stroller on a bus or train in Chicago. We never feel inconvenienced by it, since it is our decision to take a stroller on public transportation; it is then our responsibility to make sure it is not impacting any persons ability to use the train / bus comfortably.

We will be in Disney tomorrow, and I searched for months for the smallest, most compact double stroller I could find. I found it! It folds so small it has a shoulder strap so that I can just stand at the back of the buses and wear it, I don't even need to set it down on the ground.

In case you're curious it is a Combi Twin Sport. We bought it used on Craigslist.
http://www.babyage.com/brands/combi...ce=goog&utm_medium=Default&utm_campaign=85693

 

[RMulieri]

A question ... when did strollers (even single ones) get to be the size of small cars? Never used one at WDW (waited until DD was three and able to walk ... if she got tired we rested) so have no experience with them there, but when "out and about" before that we used a small "umbrella-type" which was adequate and very easily portable.

I know...Some of the strollers today are like small rolling condos that sleep 2-3 and have all the amenities and own zipcodes..when we went to themeparks with our daughter we brought the smallest ,comfortable umbrella stroller we could find and even that was a 1000x more comfortable then park strollers available for rental.

 

[Symphony]

A family did a similar thing on a TTC bus from Hollywood studios last week, glad I'm not the only one who found it rude

 

[Hannathy]

I know...Some of the strollers today are like small rolling condos that sleep 2-3 and have all the amenities and own zipcodes..when we went to themeparks with our daughter we brought the smallest ,comfortable umbrella stroller we could find and even that was a 1000x more comfortable then park strollers available for rental.

I swear they are bigger than my first car, and some of them cost more to



No way was I lugging around a monstrosity and we quit using even the umbrella one we had as soon as possible!!

 

[jimmysmom74]

We have the best peg pergo aria stroller that folds to nothing but a small square. People in disney and on flights ask me all the time about it because it opens and closes so easily, and it is almost nonexistent when closed on a bus. In case anyone was looking for a lightweight option.

Back to OP question, not an acceptable practice to place objects where people should be sitting.

However, I do understand that some people need to bring larger strollers on the buses for larger children who still require a stroller for the parks. Most of the time I think people try to be as polite as possible.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Without question, we always fold up the stroller. Our DD1's first trip we had a fairly large stroller that was a snap to fold up, I always stood and held it with me (unless there were plenty of seats, then I could sit with it in front of me, and even then I usually head near the rear doors where there was space to have it in front of me without blocking the aisle way. Same folllowing trips with umbrella style strollers. We have a good system going that we can empty the stroller and have it folded down in 30 seconds.

I can recall one trip where I stood trying to hold BOTH my DD1 and the stroller. DW wasn't feeling well and pregnant at the time, so I made sure she got a seat and I looked after the rest. It's okay, I'm part pack-mule

I am looking forward to this being the last stroller trip we are taking. DD1 has outgroen them, and it is not much longer for DD2.

 

[sharadoc]

You are supposed to fold it up and place it in front of you where you can hold it.It is not acceptable to place it on seats.

Some strollers are so big they don't fit in front of you or they block the whole aisle. They may have thought it was the best way to get it out of other people's way, but it would seem wrong. Do you know if the bus driver saw it?

 

[Donalyn]

I can't believe no one said something to this family. I have placed bags on the seats, but always move them if there are people standing. And I've often put kids on my lap to open up seats for others.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Perfect post. That is what we have done when we have had to take a larger stroller on a bus or train in Chicago. We never feel inconvenienced by it, since it is our decision to take a stroller on public transportation; it is then our responsibility to make sure it is not impacting any persons ability to use the train / bus comfortably.

We will be in Disney tomorrow, and I searched for months for the smallest, most compact double stroller I could find. I found it! It folds so small it has a shoulder strap so that I can just stand at the back of the buses and wear it, I don't even need to set it down on the ground.

In case you're curious it is a Combi Twin Sport. We bought it used on Craigslist.
http://www.babyage.com/brands/combi...ce=goog&utm_medium=Default&utm_campaign=85693

I want to get that one. We currently have a double jogger we take to DLR but we walk since its a PITA on the buses. When we head to WDW next year we are renting a double stroller. Unfortunately they seem to all be bulky...wish I could find a rental place that has this one....

 

[disnut8]

Some strollers are so big they don't fit in front of you or they block the whole aisle. They may have thought it was the best way to get it out of other people's way, but it would seem wrong. Do you know if the bus driver saw it?

That was my thought. If the stroller was that big (big enough to cover three seats), it is possible that it would have blocked the aisle enough so that people would have had a difficult time walking onto the bus. OP - did you see the family with the stroller and how many kids they had? Was it a double stroller or even one for triplets? There's a lot we don't know about the situation. Personally, I'd like to be able to walk onto a bus and stand in the aisle without having a stroller shoved up my butt.

 

[Albytaps]

As someone who has four youngins and have used WDW buses with 2 double strollers on a couple of trips now, I don't think we even put our strollers on the seats on an empty bus. I got used to putting them under the seats and tucked away somewhere (safe.)

 

[stackyallred]

I can't think of a time that I have seen anyone not give up seats for others over bags, strollers, etc. On a crowded bus, I would be surprised to not see at least one person ask if they could sit in those seats. Of course, you never know what that family was thinking and maybe they thought more people could stand in the room the stroller would have taken up rather than the seats it took to sit it in.

If only there was a Magical Express service for strollers within the parks- you get on a bus, head to a park and your stroller automagically appears at the park entrance. (And please, I was just kidding, I don't want anyone to think I feel that I deserve Disney to actually provide this service! )

 

[goofyernmost]

That was my thought. If the stroller was that big (big enough to cover three seats), it is possible that it would have blocked the aisle enough so that people would have had a difficult time walking onto the bus. OP - did you see the family with the stroller and how many kids they had? Was it a double stroller or even one for triplets? There's a lot we don't know about the situation.

It is possible that it was to large to fold and be in front of the persons but laying across seats is not an acceptable alternative. If it's that big it must be secured, perhaps in the wheelchair area with straps and tighteners. No excuse for it laying loose and taking up seats.

 

[g3pak]

For our last trip we invested in a fold up stroller so it would fit easily on the bus. We held it in front of us because it was the size of a golf umbrella.

My 2 cents- if someone wants to take a stroller to WDW, then they should either purchase one that folds up to a managable size or drive their own vehicle to the parks each day. I have seen large double strollers fold up to the size of a bag chair, so having 2 kids in a stroller is no excuse. If a person's perferred stroller is so large that the best option is to take up 3 seats rather than fill an aisle, then that family should load up in their car at their resort each morning and drive to the park.

 

[NJ Mets fan]

I guess people would not be happy to be on my bus since I make sure I get on first. I have 3 sets of triplets and I make sure each one has their own seat and then I spread out their strollers to fill up the rest of their seats so we have the whole bus to ourselves................can someone tell me why I bother reading some of these inane posts...............

 

[Cheshire Figment]

1. Federal law requires that strollers must be folded.

2. Seats are for people, not strollers, backpacks, or other bags. The drivers are required to enforce this if anyone complains.

 

[SueM in MN]

It is possible that it was to large to fold and be in front of the persons but laying across seats is not an acceptable alternative. If it's that big it must be secured, perhaps in the wheelchair area with straps and tighteners. No excuse for it laying loose and taking up seats.

That would still take up seats and would prevent someone using a wheelchair from using the spot (there are only 2 spots on most buses, 3 on a few).

Also, stroller frames are not designed for the stress of straps and the frame could be bent by tying it down.