SFGate has a very spirited discussion of whether moms should be required to fold up babystrollers on Muni. Some seemed to have turned this into a gender issue but really this is an etiquette issue. Muni requires moms to fold up strollers for safety of passengers and children alike, but some have balked at the regulation.
There are over 110 comments on the original Chronicle story, “SF: Strollers must be folded up on Muni.” I, for one, think the rule is fantastic and wish Muni would add a couple more etiquette rules like, bring a couple of extra pacifiers to put in your child’s mouth if he starts crying. Please don’t pretend you don’t hear it because the rest of us certainly can hear the wailing all the way from the back of the bus. I would like the parents with monster strollers to fold up their baby SUVs on the sidewalks of Noe Valley and Pac Heights as well, just my personal request.
What do you think, should people be required to fold up their baby strollers on Muni?
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When you go to an open-air sporting venue they don’t allow you to use an umbrella because it is a hazard – how is this any different? Fold it up… or, if you prefer, sit it in and roll down one of our city’s steep hills – I know we can use the extra room on most Muni vehicles.
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I vote for closing them up. Like razormatt said, we can all use the extra room and the lack of an extra, possible pain-causing obstacle. Seems hard to enforce though – you have to pay to get on the bus, but people can and do sneak on all the time, for example.
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Now, why do you have to turn the safety issue of the strollers into complaining about babies in general? There was enough crap in the comments at SFGate. And I can see the first comment here is nice and violent, too.
Muni isn’t just for young childless people, it’s for all people who need to get places, and some people have kids. Do you really think people enjoy taking their kids on the bus? I don’t know a single parent who won’t do all they can to keep their kid from crying in public. Sometimes they just cry and a pacifier won’t help matters. Parents are usually mortified that their kid is making a scene.
I see so much hate on-line toward kids in the city, but then when I’m actually out and about and on MUNI, it never fails that someone wants to talk to my kid or play peek-a-boo. I guess the complainers are more vocal on-line than the friendly people.
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I agree with a lot of your points, Janice, namely that the city is highly kid-unfriendly and that people (myself included) are usually more likely to complain about it online than they are to your face. It does seem like it’s adding insult to injury to bother a parent with a series of dirty looks while they’re trying to calm their kid down.
Though Muni is indeed for everyone, I think any urban transit system makes for a negative experience unless you’re an able-bodied adult with a fairly high level of tolerance for other people. Unfortunately, a lot of people who don’t fit into this category will need to take Muni.
I suppose I’m wondering what the solution would be, then. There are special sections for handicapped and elderly folks…perhaps there should be similar sections (especially on the busier lines) for people with small children and a folded-up stroller? People are usually nice enough to give up their seat for a parent with a small child, so I’d be into the idea of having a sanctioned part of the bus for this.
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One solution is for just for MUNI to function better. Many complaints, and not just kid issues, but huge backpacks, standees bumping sitting people, etc. are caused by and exacerbated by overcrowded busses. If busses and trains weren’t packed there would be room for everyone. And if a parent didn’t have to stand on the corner forever waiting for a bus then the kid wouldn’t be so squirrely once they got on. Personally, when riding with my kid I do my best to avoid rush hour, check NextMuni, etc., but end up getting screwed over anyway, by busses that never come.
I like the idea of a sanctioned area, not necessarily seats, but just a little area where a stroller could be placed, or a bag of groceries for that matter. Parents aren’t asking for special treatment. They just want to be able to take the bus like everyone else.
I don’t even use a stroller, but empathize with those who do. It is really hard to fold it up, carry your bag, and a kid, and then try to find a seat. Ditto trying to get out the back door.
What really annoys me about this issue is less about MUNI and more about this city in general. People claim we are so progressive green. And that’s why I take MUNI, to avoid driving my car everywhere. People want to complain about moms in their SUV’s and then they complain when we try to do something good for the environment and not drive.
Same thing with bikes. I used to be an avid cyclist, partially for the same reason, to avoid driving. And the hatred toward cyclists and bike improvements is rampant, too. Support of cycling gets cars of the streets.
Transit First? I just don’t see it.
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