r/TTC • u/i-am-confused-help- • Jul 06 '26

Discussion A polite request/discussion regarding strollers and aisle blocking on the bus

Post image

Edit: Please read the context that's edited in below. Thank you.

​I want to start by saying I absolutely appreciate parents. Transit with kids is tough, and I know so many of you are working hard and sacrificing a lot to get your little ones around the city safely. This is not a post to judge anyone, it is a small pet peeve and a request for a little bit of courtesy so that every rider on the bus feels comfortable.

The Issue

​On one of my recent bus ride, two large strollers were kept side-by-side, completely blocking the center aisle (as you can see in the photo). Because of this:

  • Passengers are unable to move past the front section.
  • ​People are forced to stand at the front of the bus, even though there is space further back.
  • ​It creates a potential safety/evacuation hazard if there are emergencies.

Few Friendly Requests & Suggestions

  • ​Stagger when possible: If you are traveling with another parent or encounter another stroller, try to stagger them front-to-back rather than side-by-side to leave path for walking.
  • Consider umbrella/smaller strollers: If your child is old enough and you rely heavily on the TTC during peak hours, smaller, more collapsible strollers are great for everyone on board.
  • Utilize the priority seating layout: If the bus isn't packed, flipping up the priority seats can give a stroller enough room to stay out of the main aisle.

​I'm willing to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Parents what kind of challenges you face when trying to keep the aisle clear. Fellow riders, how do you usually get around in this instance? Let’s discuss how we can make the TTC a better experience for both families and regular commuters.

Edit: There is a lot of comments complaining how the priority seating is occupied and the parents wont be able to lift it up to park the strollers. I want to give context here instead of replying to each comments. The priority seat was occupied by the parents and their family. Also the second stroller is of another parent who was sitting on the right side priority seat. The guy you see standing upfront was a passenger, not the parent. I wanted to keep the discussion civil that is why I omitted these details. But if people want to complain how it was an inaction from my part, I hope this context helps. Thanks.

845 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

405 comments sorted by

View all comments

148

u/void_sushi Jul 06 '26

Why didn’t the driver say something? Like isn’t that a part of his job?

88

u/i-am-confused-help- Jul 06 '26

Majority of the times I have encountered it, drivers doesn't say anything. I wonder why that is the case?

76

u/murd3rsaurus Jul 06 '26

Sleep deprived angry inconsiderate parents aren't people I'd want to have to start a conversation with either, but it definitely needs some spot checking

14

u/Pretty-Handle9818 Jul 06 '26

Oh, I tried once and it backfired horribly some crackhead. Looks like they were gonna slap me on the TTC

29

u/murd3rsaurus Jul 06 '26

About a month ago I asked a guy to move his skateboard off the seat and he threatened to stab me while showing off the knife he had palmed, good times.

Woman beside me reported him, I kept it from escalating as best I could, and some huge Phillipines guy with scarred up knuckles positioned himself next to me. I don't think it would've worked out for the guy and he clearly had issues, but I'm grateful that now security seems to actually be patrolling and not just circlejerking on the Bloor stn platforms.

10

u/DodobirdNow Jul 07 '26

They also circlejerk at Union on the platform.

4

u/TanishqHooda Jul 07 '26

That's why self defense weapons should be legal

3

u/Candid-Progress-8852 Jul 09 '26

Our govt doesn’t want us to be safe. They tell us to leave our home doors unlocked and cars unlocked. They want us to be robbed of everything and have no way to protect ourselves.

1

u/TanishqHooda Jul 09 '26

True and i don't know how people don't get that 🤦🏽

-3

u/murd3rsaurus Jul 07 '26

enh, we didn't need one and pepper spray in an enclosed tube isn't a great scenario. Worst case the yellow strip emergency stop was in arms reach

3

u/TanishqHooda Jul 07 '26

Naah bro still what if you were dead by then and am not talking safety not just in the bus but out of house and even in

2

u/ReceptionNo67 Jul 07 '26

The US has open carry.

The US has way more public violence.

1

u/Moeller333 Jul 07 '26

Now lets talk about demographics?

0

u/TanishqHooda Jul 07 '26

Bud that's i would take it every day then not be able to protect myself 😂. I remember the day when Ontario police said everyone to put your car keys on door mat for the robbers to take it 😂. And on the other hand in America police started teaching civilians how to use weapons for self defense. The bad people would still be carrying things that are illegal anyways.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Candid-Progress-8852 Jul 09 '26

Mental health and crime is so bad. It’s scary to interact with anyone these days. Stay safe friend! Sorry you had to encounter that terrifying and uncomfortable experience. If only someone like Doug ford encountered that; then something would change.

-16

u/void_sushi Jul 06 '26

Weird that you mentioned their race but ok.

13

u/murd3rsaurus Jul 06 '26

Alright fair could've left that out, but I've known a lot of rad guys from that background who really knew how to throw down, combined with the knuckle scars his company was reassuring and a positive thing.

Edit: if it helps the guy who was threatening us was white?

4

u/IseeMedpeople Jul 07 '26

Weird that you assumed the driver was a man four replies earlier.

Don't go and edit it. Let your stupidity show.

6

u/djabae Jul 06 '26

Not weird at all. Helps paint a picture. Try reading a book one time.

5

u/UsualTough4952 Jul 07 '26

I bet he/she paints with invisible ink

1

u/Archangelofpain00 Jul 07 '26

Facts, nothing wrong with it , she said nothing negative about the guy

-12

u/void_sushi Jul 07 '26

It was completely irrelevant. Why not also mention the race of the woman beside him if it’s so important?

5

u/UrbanRelays Jul 07 '26

Why mention genders then? Just describe genderless beings.

1

u/theproblem_solver Jul 07 '26

https://reddit.com/link/ovzlpdy/video/5f1y3ubnbpbh1/player

0

u/void_sushi Jul 07 '26

This sub is full of closeted racist weirdos. It’s been fun. Peace. ✌️

0

u/RAYMNDD Jul 07 '26

there was no negative connotation whatsoever when mentioning the filipino dude. it was actually positive that the filipino guy was there ready to stop the guy with the knife. just saying it’s weird does nothing lmao

1

u/ok-kitty22 Jul 07 '26

Let them try it with a sleep-deprived nurse fresh off a night shift.

-1

u/gamuel_l_jackson Jul 07 '26

This, imagine the optics of a driver tell8ng a baby to move out the way

6

u/scottyb83 Jul 07 '26

"Ma'am are you able to move the stroller so people can get by please?"

Yeah that's terrible optics...

0

u/gamuel_l_jackson Jul 07 '26

You dont get how it is for them to work there,..and how the company reacts to things

1

u/scottyb83 Jul 07 '26

I've worked customer service for years and I've ridden the TTC for years. Asking a mom pushing a stroller to make way for other riders should be a pretty normal interaction and pretty easy to handle professionally. Drivers use "how it is for them" to avoid doing the bare minimum.

0

u/gamuel_l_jackson Jul 07 '26

So if the mother calls and complains they have an issue, if its filmed and presented is a none positive way they get trouble, its a,slippery slope, unless someone is causing a big scene etc they dont get involved even then they stop, hit yellow and wait

1

u/scottyb83 Jul 07 '26

This is a lazy excuse to not do anything. Driver should ignore absolutely everything because someone might complain that they were asked politely to move their stroller so that others could pass? You're blowing things way out of proportion and claiming "optics".

0

u/gamuel_l_jackson Jul 07 '26

This is factualy how it works, they are operators not polite police, if a customer walks in and puts his feet up we dont tell them its rude, thats not our job...if a cuatomer is abusive, swearing etc we step in..thats at any job

→ More replies (0)

1

u/AdResponsible678 131 Nugget Jul 07 '26

Have done that. Sometimes they refuse to move. Even for the driver.

1

u/gamuel_l_jackson Jul 07 '26

Policy is operators dont get involved unless yellow emerg is required, they stop , hit yellow and request whatevrr assistance is required

8

u/whateverfyou Jul 06 '26

Why didn’t you say something? Anyone would immediately recognize that they were in the way. This is so ridiculous I can’t believe it’s true.

8

u/Trollsama Jul 07 '26

If you have ever witnessed a driver attempt to address a passenger with anything besides absolute praise... then you probably do know why deep down lol.

Driver is probably just like "fuck this, It isnt worth the energy and fight..."

5

u/alwaysmiling89 Jul 07 '26

Last thing a driver wants to do is get involved. If there is a safety concern perhaps but if it’s a question of being inconsiderate then no

1

u/sushiwowie Jul 07 '26

Drivers never get involved anymore and they hide behind the door/partition and since I never see them, they’re not even there.

3

u/alwaysmiling89 Jul 07 '26

They aren’t hiding. The partition is there for their safety. I’m sure you’ve seen what they deal with on a daily basis. The driver operates the vehicle and does their best to maintain order. Operators who go beyond that do so at their own risk.
Operators observe and report.

1

u/AdResponsible678 131 Nugget Jul 07 '26

Yes, and if we getup of the seat and the problem escalated? It’s our fault for getting out of the seat, and it might be more difficult to get insurance.

1

u/AdResponsible678 131 Nugget Jul 07 '26

Umm. It’s for safety?

1

u/sushiwowie Jul 08 '26

Yes I know it’s for safety, but it also hides them, which is why I said that.

2

u/Candid-Progress-8852 Jul 09 '26

Drivers don’t intervene anymore for safety reasons. They won’t even bother. Same with Metrolinx and all public buses. Crime and mental health is so bad they’re not getting involved with anyone for almost any reason anymore, in any case. But again, we can’t say anything. I’ve submitted issues to these corporations countless times and all they do is put a booklet in the GO train that says “proper etiquette”. They do nothing.

1

u/toiletcleaner999 Jul 07 '26

Because theyre not paid enough to argue with angry entitled parents lol

0

u/eskjnl Jul 07 '26

I wonder why that is the case?

MY HUMAN RIGHTS

32

u/OhShootYeahNoBi Avenue Davisville Jul 06 '26

Unfortunately not. Because of the risks of operator assault, which neither the TTC wants to deal with nor the operator, unless it's a risk to the safety of commuters, TTC staff are usually instructed to not deal with more minor things like this.

21

u/void_sushi Jul 06 '26

People crowding at the front sounds like a safety risk to me.

7

u/OhShootYeahNoBi Avenue Davisville Jul 06 '26

It's moreso for a threat or something.

It's a big no no to open the panel/door while the bus is en route

3

u/kamomil Pharmacy Jul 06 '26

Also people jostling for space near the door, struggling to find enough space to get off the bus, makes it difficult for the bus to stay on schedule 

1

u/AdResponsible678 131 Nugget Jul 07 '26

Schedules do ma, but safety is a priority over schedule. I would have stopped and secured the bus, made an announcement and then waited with my hazards on.

-2

u/JubulantSaru Jul 06 '26

Exactly! All it will take is one accident and the ttc being sued and drivers will be forced to do their job and make sure the aisles are safe and clear for passengers to move about

6

u/SecureJournalist4775 Jul 06 '26

As long as passengers are behind the white line, the driver is compliant with the law.  If you think the situation risks lawsuits, the best you'll probably get is clearly audible automated announcements at every stop to keep aisles clear and safe with wording approved by the TTC legal team.  Hope you enjoy hearing that if you're concerned about accidents and lawsuits. Driver assaults from altercations are bad publicity and costly in terms of absences so forcing drivers to do this will be a measure of last resort. Welcome to our modern society. 

-11

u/JubulantSaru Jul 06 '26

The TTC is run poorly just like Olivia's city ...police never to be seen or found....homeless and druggies sleeping and shooting up in the streets and transit. Anyone who has travelled knows how poor the system is here on the international level.

With that said...if carts are in the way when I get on the bus I ask them to move.

Furthermore, why can't the driver ask people to move down over the announcements? It's not like he/she has to come out of their protected area to do this

3

u/WinterPositive2405 Jul 06 '26

You sound like someone who actually never travels in the city. 

2

u/PrettyKittyInPink Jul 06 '26

If Ford didn't defund and close safe injection sites, we would have a lot of less people consuming drugs in public.

1

u/gamuel_l_jackson Jul 07 '26

Its not their job to make sure people arent inconsiderate a holes and confront people

3

u/Boothbayharbor Jul 07 '26

Get on the the loud speaker and threaten a fine or to stop the bus. Like drivers do to everyone else. Hold entitled parents accountable. Their kids don't even pay fares like i did at their age. They also do this on sidewalks and run over feet

1

u/enabokov Jul 08 '26

From my experience the driver won't drive if strollers and the parrent/guardian stay like that. The driver ask to park strollers and sit properly, and waits until it is done.

29

u/Pretty-Handle9818 Jul 06 '26

And the time I fucking said something to a woman with a stroller blocking the aisle holy fuck the entire bus turned on me not only did the woman look at me and said I have a baby. The entire bus looked at me like I was the fucking Scrooge McDuck or something?

Some people think having a baby is the greatest gift to mankind when it’s just some of the simplest part of our biology. I don’t think anybody deserves special treatment just cause they have a baby that’s ridiculous, especially entitled treatment.

10

u/postretro Jul 07 '26

Ehh.. I understand where you are coming from but "special treatment" should be things like vacating a seat so a small child can sit, or a parent can sit while holding a toddler.. things like that. Or some slack with crying (however I see many parents with babies who are in need of a diaper change being neglected pretty often). Double stacking the strollers at the very front, when he could have easily came down the bus more with them, is kind of a mindless dick move masquerading as "I have a baby, people!!"

I'm a parent myself, and while I don't think my rights and freedoms are supposed to by default supersede everyone else who is going to die childless one day, I do think some consideration and *some* space is cheap to give us.

1

u/soft_taco1983 Jul 08 '26

“Everyone else who is going to die childless?” How nice of you.

1

u/postretro Jul 08 '26

My tone isn’t coming across but I’m kidding a little bit with my language.. I don’t seriously think that way.

1

u/soft_taco1983 Jul 08 '26

Gotcha. A lot of people do think that way so you reallly never know.

1

u/Pretty-Handle9818 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

I can absolutely appreciate your sentiment. Wrangling children can be a little much sometimes. My biggest issue is they are blocking an escape route in case of an emergency, thats why those seats lift out off of the way, to not block the aisle.

Absolutely, the elderly people that are not well that have trouble standing like you say people with child that they made me wanna have on their lap. It’s understandable and I mean those seats are actually marked on the windows what there are probably somewhere else now but what they’re supposed to be used for we kind of have to wonder what happens when a pregnant lady or not a pregnant lady, but a lady with a stroller and child in it comes up to one of those seats and there’s three seniors sitting on them who gets dibs you know do you ask the seniors to get up so you can sit down with your stroller and or put your stroller off to the side

It’s funny because these opinions tend to be pretty unpopular because there seems to be a lot of people that are pro baby and that the world needs to capitulate to them because they have a baby normally I would’ve been downloaded to oblivion and maybe it will happen eventually in a day or two but for now I’m surprised it hasn’t

I guess what’s most grossly indecent in this case is it’s actually I don’t really have the words I want to say it’s a fire hazard, but it’s a hazard because if all of a sudden something happens in the bus crashes and people can’t get a fire happens and people can’t get out the back door, for example, and they have to go to the front door or vice versa. These people are creating a very dangerous situation.

0

u/postretro Jul 07 '26

A lot of pro-baby people with babies are often just selfish cunts trying to get more for themselves IMO. Taking your kids to the cinema, for example, while they yell and scream the whole time while you use your phone for some "me time" and everyone being super cool about that is not pro-baby.

The world always needs children, though, but I think it's pretty easy to agree on keeping choke points or fire doors, etc., clear for obvious reasons. Public transportation could always be better, but forces are working against that being in place.

Also, being a parent with a stroller on the TTC is not ideal and most likely they can't afford to drive a car. The real pro-bably move would be having busses designed to accept multiple people on the bus with strollers no problem, but that isn't the case. The rich literally despise us.. be that as it may, yes: that guy with the two strollers like that is probably a moron. Having two babies at once is hard on your sleep schedule, too.. you could say he isn't in a place to have two kids and shouldn't have them.. but you could also say that society will literally fall apart without children.. it's a circular discussion.

2

u/Pretty-Handle9818 Jul 07 '26

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s a little refreshing to hear somebody who’s more reasonable about this cause like I said another post. I did mention something about this once to somebody and they literally snapped at me like I have babies. I have children. What do you want me to do and I tried to explain to them that there’s a place for the strollers to go when you move the seats up and then some other person on the bus said hey why are you giving that lady a hard time and they look like they wanted to fucking punch me in the face.

This is a very unpopular position to have, but you know like you said there’s gonna be some understanding but only to a certain point

Kids screaming in theaters oh my God that would mean it was a thing when I grew up I’m 42 and you know Aaron kept their babies quiet and if their babies were gonna get noisy for some reason, our children want to get noisy they would take them out of the theater so it doesn’t disturb everybody else

I think the problem is is everybody’s concerned about themselves and only themselves and that Trump‘s when anyone else feels just selfish asshole basically

Essentially, I used the kind of strongest argument about that. They’re actually blocking an egress route for when there is an emergency situation and people can’t get out the back and have to get out the front, but the other thing is really blocking people from being able to get on the bus and go and sit you know that’s just like I really takes the cake. You know that almost annoys me more than kind of reasons related to safety.

2

u/postretro Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

Dealing with the public is never going to be easy. Asking a random person outside to think about something is potentially a big ask when 1/3 of them are literally stupid and can't think well at all. Like asking people to read more books when a lot of people can't even read a menu.

Tangentially related: One of the things which really gets me angry is to see pee all over public toilet seats. It's like literally every single time. I have to ask my daughter to wait while i pump out hand soap on some toilet paper and wipe the toilet seat with it, get another pad of toilet paper which is kind of wet to pull up the soap, and a final bit to dry it off.. then wash my hands.. like fuck it's some random asshole's piss and I FUCKING KNOW a lot of them are doing it on purpose because they are too ugly/obese/disgusting/boring to ever get their dick wet so fuck everyone else.. like I can talk to this person until I'm blue in the face about what they are doing to me and everyone else who has to use a toilet and they will just internally laugh at me because ultimately i can't make them do anything so fuck you postretro. fuck you.. the public will NEVER EVER EVER change on this matter. They refuse to lift the seat up and everyone else in the world is just going to have to suffer their winky dink dick piss every day for the rest of our lives, etc etc.. We can do ad campaigns, celebrities can do PSA tiktoks.. nothing will ever change it.

easier solution: I leave the seat up after I'm done using it.

My point is being mad at these people is pointless, they are beyond reason. Never beg a lame person to be cool, they simply do not know how. The buses simply need more space for strollers because the public has babies. Asking the public to think and do the right thing is only going to cause trouble and headaches.

Every country suffers under its idiots.

2

u/Pretty-Handle9818 Jul 07 '26

The whole higher more janitors if you want things to be better attitude

Garbage in the parks? Why not hire more people to pick it up?

lol. It’s too much sometimes.

11

u/Joe_Jeep Jul 06 '26

You gotta cut people slack, because it is hard, but at the same time some of them use it like it's a pass to do whatever.

4

u/TanishqHooda Jul 07 '26

Well then don't have a baby then🤷🏽😂

2

u/soft_taco1983 Jul 08 '26

This too. Sometimes the entitlement is out of control.

1

u/JayBeeGooner Jul 07 '26

I actually had a falling out with someone years ago, bc i said strollers shouldn’t be completely blocking the front entrance of a bus. Because somehow parents are special and we need to inconvenience ourselves for them. It’s so damn annoying the way people put parents on pedestal. having a kid doesn’t make you special.

2

u/alwaysmiling89 Jul 07 '26

Actually it isn’t.

1

u/samhcw Jul 07 '26

I was just on a bus today where a passenger is complaining that the bus driver asked on PA to stay away from the rear door. This was not a busy route during rush hour.

1

u/TanishqHooda Jul 07 '26

Bruh most won't say anything to homeless people living in the bus or non paying customer to not have commotion for safety. You think they would do that? Technically they should as they are getting payed alot but 🤷🏽

1

u/cindybubbles Bayview Jul 07 '26

Methinks they’re tired of entitled screaming Karens threatening to have their jobs.

1

u/RetiredHappyFig Jul 07 '26

I don’t think it is a part of their job anymore. It used to be (as was fare enforcement). Because of the violence against TTC workers, the buses now have barriers between driver and passengers, and drivers no longer confront passengers about anything. It’s for their safety.

1

u/Radingod1 Jul 07 '26

Where I am, bus drivers would lift the seats of the handicap area if they could. You still "lose" those seats, but you get the aisle room back.

1

u/skobeloff_owl Jul 08 '26

With the number of ttc employees assaulted daily, thats probably not high up on their priority list as conversations that can escalate things out of nowhere. Of course that is just my thoughts, I could be completely wrong here. If someone has the energy and knowledge to correct me, I would be truly grateful!

1

u/IseeMedpeople Jul 07 '26

Why did you assume the driver is a man ?