As noted in a previous post (SacRT ambassador escalation, family hostility), SacRT has a regressive policy on strollers on transit, which is a family-hostile policy. I mentioned some progressive policies, but here are more details on four transit agencies. In most cases these policies were adopted after pressure from parents with young children and transit advocates, and it will likely take the same to change SacRT’s regressive policies.

SacRT often compares itself to TriMet (Portland) because the cities are similar in size. TriMet’s policy is first below.

It is apparently illegal under ADA and FTA guidelines for any transit agency to deny access to adaptive strollers for children with disabilities, or to parents whose disabilities make it impossible or unsafe to hold their child.

TriMet (Portland)

Strollers on board (Traveling with Kids)

• You’re welcome to bring a stroller on buses and trains, but there may not always be room on board. 
• We recommend using a folding “umbrella” style stroller. Large and double-wide strollers are not practical for use on TriMet. 
• You can board the bus with your child in the stroller, and your baby or toddler may remain in the stroller if there is space in the priority seating area. 
• The stroller should be positioned so that the child faces the rear of the bus and any applicable wheel locks must be secured. Make sure your stroller is not creating an obstacle for other riders. You must keep your stroller with you and it can’t block the aisle, stairs or doorway.

CTA (Chicago Transit Agency)

Traveling With Strollers (Info for parents with children)

Children in open strollers are welcome on CTA, however we encourage parents to be considerate of other customers and adhere to these rules when traveling with a stroller.

Keep strollers clear of aisles and doorways aboard buses and trains.

If a bus or train becomes crowded, please fold your stroller to make room for others. Also, if a bus or train is crowded, a CTA employee may ask you to fold your stroller or wait for another vehicle—please follow their instructions. During certain periods of high ridership, we may require that all strollers be folded before you board.

Seniors and riders with disabilities have priority use of the Priority Seating area aboard buses and trains. If these seats are not in use, open strollers may be parked in this area to help you to keep from blocking the aisle. On buses, you may also request use of the access ramp or lift to help you board and exit.

Please yield Priority Seating areas if a rider with a disability, a senior, or a person using a mobility device wishes to board. 

Children in an open stroller should be seated and secured in the stroller before boarding the bus or train. If traveling with an open stroller in a multi-level facility, please use elevators or ramps where available (strollers are never permitted on escalators). On train station platforms, position your stroller parallel to the platform edge (not facing it), use wheel locks/brakes and stay with the stroller at all times.

SEPTA (Philadelphia)

SEPTA Stroller Guidelines (Traveling with children)

SEPTA supports families, caregivers and our youngest riders by allowing open strollers onboard buses and trains. Strollers may be in the open position while riding, boarding and exiting SEPTA vehicles. Please follow the instructions of crew members as they attempt to accommodate your need for space while prioritizing everyone’s safety.

The priority seating area must be vacated to allow a person with a disability to board and ride.

• Park open strollers in the area identified with Stroller Spot signage, when available. (Note: SEPTA has modified buses on popular routes to actually provide a spot designated for strollers.)
• In vehicles without a Stroller Spot, park open strollers in priority seating areas and use flip-up seats.
• Yield priority seating spaces to persons with mobility limitations.
• Secure the child within the stroller.
• Engage stroller brakes.
• Hold the stroller while on board.
• Keep the aisle and doorways clear.

Strollers on the Bus

• In a crowded bus (full seated load), operators may ask that a stroller be moved or folded.
• You may request the driver to kneel the bus or use the access ramp at stops that permit curb access. Not all bus stops permit curb access.
• To avoid tipping your child out of the stroller, board the bus forward and leave the bus backward.
• Make sure your stroller is 26” or less. Double strollers cannot be accommodated.
• In priority seating areas, use flip-up seats by pulling the yellow handle of the seat toward you.

Strollers on the Train

• When possible, board at doors with ADA signage.
• Boarding trains from a low platform require strollers to be folded.
• Strollers cannot use escalators in stations.

WMATA Metro (Washington DC)

Metro now welcomes open strollers on Metrobus

Metro’s youngest customers and those traveling with them now have one less barrier to a stress-free ride on Metrobus. Metro today announced that effective immediately, open strollers are welcome on Metrobus, replacing a policy that required strollers to be folded before boarding.

“Metro is committed to making transit accessible and convenient for everyone, and that includes those traveling with young children,” Clarke said. “This family-friendly initiative relieves a hardship many parents told us they face when riding Metrobus, and we hope it encourages more families to choose Metro.”

Those traveling on Metrobus with strollers should utilize the priority seating area with the stroller brakes locked while the bus is in motion. Strollers must not block aisles or doorways, and should be held on to at all times.

People with disabilities and seniors will continue to have first priority in the priority seating area. Metrobus operators will maintain discretion to ask that a stroller be moved or folded if they determine it is compromising the safety of other passengers.