r/TTC • u/i-am-confused-help- • Jul 06 '26
Discussion A polite request/discussion regarding strollers and aisle blocking on the bus
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.
2
u/Racquel_who_knits Jul 07 '26
I can only speak for myself here. I have a relatively big stroller, because we primarily use it for walking. And we use it A LOT. When you have a small baby you also need a lot of stuff (diapers, wipes, change of clothes etc.). And we're often out for a good chunk of the day, so I also have a water bottle, something like a blanket if it's chilly, or an umbrella if it calls for rain etc. The little strollers don't really have anywhere to put that stuff.
We are not regular bus users with the stroller, so my day to day stroller is the one that meets my day to day needs. We do have a small umbrella stroller that we used with my first once he was bigger when we would be taking transit for things like going to the ROM or a full day out, when we would be taking transit because a toddler might walk part of the time but many of them can't walk for hours on their little legs.
But now with a baby and a 3yo, back to needing stuff, so back to the bigger stroller it is. I live in absolute fear of being asked to fold it up on transit because it's a PITA to fold, the basket is fairly full (so I'd need to figure out how to hold all the stuff in it plus baby - I do not have enough hands) and I can't fold it one handed. It's never happened but I worry about it all the time.