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TTC to consider stroller limits

Posted By: Newstalk 1010 · 1/22/2013 5:07:00 AM

The TTC is looking into a complaint about strollers taking up too much space on buses and streetcars.

A 61-year-old woman brought the complaint to TTC commissioners on Monday, saying there should be a limit on how many strollers are allowed onto the vehicles.

TTC head Andy Byford, who joined Friendly Fire on Newstalk 1010 last night, says it's worth considering the idea.

"We may need to limit the numbers of particularly the bigger strollers," Byford says.

"We're certainly going to reflect upon this. I think it's about getting a sensible balance between maintaining safety and access for other users, but equally being mindful that for particularly a single parent on their own, it's not easy when you've got a stroller and kids to contend with."

Byford, though, doesn't like the idea of charging $2 for each stroller entering a bus or streetcar, another suggestion made by the complainant.

Staff will report back on the matter.

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  • 22
  1. Martin posted on 01/21/2013 10:56 PM
    HELL YA
  2. garry posted on 01/22/2013 06:00 AM
    If people with strollers would do as the sign says and fold the stroller up then they don’t pay the extra $2.00 but if the want to be rude and take all the space of the bus/street car up with the stroller the size of a small car then yes they pay extra
    1. Rav posted on 01/22/2013 05:41 PM
      @garry They're just baby strollers, has a more able and maneuverable citizen have some consideration for the baby handlers out there.
  3. Gord Campbell posted on 01/22/2013 06:03 AM
    The problem is, that the TTC doesn't enforce its own By-laws. Strollers and bundle buggies are not allowed on the TTC vehicles during peak hours in the first place.

    Please refer to TTC By-laws, 3.11.

    It is unequivocal and clear and there are no exceptions. But the drivers, and operators allow this safety hazard because they are mothers. Make this clear. A stroller or bundle buggy on a crowded bus... is a safety hazard.
    1. calvinhc posted on 01/22/2013 07:11 AM
      @Gord Campbell The REAL problem is that TTC employees don't do a heck of a lot to enforce the rules and by-laws that exist while being hard-assed about rules they make up or don't understand.

      For instance, all too often, people taking photos on the TTC are told by those same employees, who turn a blind eye to strollers and bundle buggies on crowded vehicles, that they are not allowed to take photographs on TTC property.

      Section 3.17 of the TTC's by-law states, "No person shall operate any camera, video recording device, movie camera or any similar device for commercial purposes upon the transit system without authorization."

      Note the words, "for commercial purposes." ANYONE else is NOT prohibited from doing any of these on the transit system - that's mostly everyone.
  4. Angela Rankin posted on 01/22/2013 08:49 AM
    I think this is just sad. I hope that by the time I am able to have a child I will have a car and not have to drag children and strollers onto the TTC. I truely feel sorry when I see mothers struggling to get stroller on buses and upstairs (you have to use stairs coming up from the buses at Warden). Of course sometimes having a car and paying for insurance and parking is not feasible. I guess if you can't afford a car then you shouldn't have children?
    1. CoffeeCon posted on 01/22/2013 01:30 PM
      @Angela Rankin Well it's really all moot for a few reasons;

      1. people that have a choice about these things don't take the ttc; so welfare is largely paying these fares. Since taxes "subsidize" the TTC, we pay for that also. Therefore, NET NET we are paying for these unfortunate persons to ride the whole time anyway, additional fare or not.

      2. the ttc makes no effort to stop fare jumping, because they have unlimited recourse to tax dollars and higher fares (which beget higher welfare rates to ride, and/or 'free' tokens). Since they have no interest in bottom line revenue, they could just as easily run an extra 2 or 3 buses per route on identified 'high stroller concentration' routes.

      3. the only people that care about strollers on buses are people who ride buses. there aren't any strollers on subways at rush hour because mom's don't want their kids squashed to death. people who ride buses generally pay less taxes, and people who ride subways at non peak hours other than the vote they represent. This isn't a big issue, it's filler while we wait for the election.
  5. JC posted on 01/22/2013 08:56 AM
    HELLO PEOPLE! Are you serious? You try holding an infant carrier and folding up a stroller at the same time while the bus is moving. What's next? Getting rid of senior citizen's shopping carts? Why not, I mean some of them can't lift them on the bus without help and they certainly cannot be collapsed. Get real! This is a respect issue. I have always been more than happy to help out a mother with a stroller or a senior with a cart. I admit some strollers are big, but some people don't have the money for new/small strollers and do what they have to do by taking second hand strollers from other people. Charging $2.00 extra is absolutely ridiculous! I'm sure if they had the money for a car, insurance and gas they would be driving. Try this....get a new attitude,have a little tolerance and maybe help people out instead of making their lives even more difficult. Strollers have been on the TTC for years and I ?) or hit me with their oversize bags etc. Put on your big girl/boy panties and get over it!
    1. Bob posted on 01/22/2013 09:08 AM
      @JC I'm more concerned about sick germy people than baby strollers no matter what the size. Why not charge sick people a premium for riding public transit. People have appointments to get to (even in peak periods). You can't put a time limit on strollers.
    2. DelroseS posted on 01/22/2013 10:23 AM
      @JC Totally AGREE with you there JC!!! People are so stupid at times and just doesn't think!!!!

      And ya...........go figga it's an 60 year old to COMPLAIN!!! Give me a break!

      Just make some sort of accommodations simple!
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  6. don cherry was right posted on 01/22/2013 09:15 AM
    TTC = take the car, its the better way
  7. PK posted on 01/22/2013 09:23 AM
    10+ years ago, the TTC enforced a rule where you had to collapse a stoller prior to getting on the bus.
  8. Anne@rogers.com posted on 01/22/2013 09:29 AM
    Someone needs to start a Pram Trans a stroller version of Wheel Trans. Although I am furious about people complaining about stollers. How hard is it to come up with an acceptable "stoller size" , make it a by-law or something. Still, there are parents with twins and triplets. What will they do? Come on people, we have bigger issues to deal with in this city.
  9. tony posted on 01/22/2013 09:31 AM
    WOW
    how about we clean up the TTC, clean the buses, trains and stations, have you ever seen the condition of the bathrooms. Then we cam move on to other issues.

    DO YOU honestly thing a mother with a child wants to be on a bus with a stroller, NO, obviously she has no other means of travel. I undersstand the stroller could be a hazzard the same way an overcrowed bus can be as dangerous.

    We are suposed to be civilized lets act civilized. Its a stroller, look past the stroller and see a mother with child, who needs to get to a destnation, get over it people and just act civilized and considerate.
  10. JayBee posted on 01/22/2013 09:47 AM
    There was a time years ago, when patrons had to collapse the stroller before entering the bus. Now with the advent of these ' SUVz' for strollers, and everyone wanting them on the bus, it is going to get uglier before it gets better. Limit the size of the stroller like it was and still is in other jurisdictions. Once again, the TTC will capitulate and do nothing about it, to the inconvenience of other paying passengers!!
  11. Mylene posted on 01/22/2013 10:19 AM
    I seriously think there are better solutions than charging extra for strollers. If that is the case we should charge that 61 year women at least 10 when she has a walker in 10 years to take the bus. It would be the same discrimination against the elderly.

    The city is working on making buses bigger to help the issue.
    1. lynda posted on 01/22/2013 10:26 AM
      @Mylene Mylene, 61 is NOT elderly and it is very discriminatory of you to even state something so ridiculous. I know 61 year old women who are in far superior shape, look fantastic, work full time and have active social lives. They could run rings around a lot of 30 year olds these days. I don't know what 61 year old women you have encountered with walkers, but the only ones I have use them because of medical conditions.
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  12. Marg posted on 01/22/2013 11:28 AM
    Well I have so lost respect for people that I know upon reading this crap. If you are a single a mom of twins (in a double stroller) and an infant in a kangaroo carrier how do you suppose she could remove 2 (2 year old) from the stroller while hoping the infant doesn't get hurt while she is folding up a stroller and finding seats for the twins while keeping the safe, I guess she could wait for a few buses in below temp weather with kids crying and telling them shhh it isn't our turn even though we were 1st in line. She may be coming from a docs appt or going to daycare to drop off her kids at daycare before going to work to support the kids. Lets remember when you don't work you are considered lazy by so many people they say do they have these kids just to get on welfare OMG do you know what you all sound like
  13. Raduga posted on 01/22/2013 11:52 AM
    I didn't like to take a bus with strollers in it until I became a mother myself. As other comments stated, I don't like taking a TTC but I have no other choice and yes, I have to take a bus in peak hours also to get to a doctor's appointment, for instance.

    Charging an additional fare for a stroller is not fair. Collapsing a stroller and holding a child and all the belongings at the same time is not feasible in most cases. I would agree that there should be a limit of strollers in one given bus assuming there won't be a long wait for a next bus. One time, there were 5 (!) strollers in one bus plus 2 ladies with walkers. Luckily, there were not too many other passengers, but we had to get out off the bus with our stroller through back door as there was no other way.
  14. MO posted on 01/24/2013 09:05 AM
    $2 for strollers and an extra $5 if you are obese or don't wear deodorant. TTC is still cheaper than a car, though more expensive than a bike. If you dont have either stop your complaining about mothers who don't have cars, or choose not to drive one.
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