Josh Collins, Communications Manager for TriMet Operations, contacted me to clarify TriMet’s rules about using strollers on MAX light rail & buses. He says:
“TriMet does not require strollers to be folded on low-floor MAX trains. Three-quarters of our MAX trains have low floors (no steps at the doors), and all new vehicles that we will purchase will have low-floors. We require that strollers not block isles, and welcome parents with strollers to use the priority seating area as long as it is not occupied or needed by an elderly person or a person with a disability. As you indicated, we do require that the priority seating area be vacated when it is needed by an elderly person or a person with a disability.
On other vehicles (all buses and the older high-floor MAX trains, with steps at the doors) we ask that strollers be collapsed and stowed once they are onboard per the TriMet code. This is because there is not enough room to have the stroller aboard without blocking an isle. Additionally, it is due to the safety concerns of a stroller possibly rolling down steps if there were an incident.”
Makes much more sense. So, to paraphrase Josh:
- Strollers do not need to be folded or collapsed on low-floor MAX trains. They do need to be out of the way so they do not block the flow of passenger traffic
- Stroller do need to be folded or collapsed when using the MAX trains with higher-level floors & all buses once you’re on
4 comments ↓
Like everything else, its basically unenforceable on the bus, unless you want to hold up everyone and deal with the uncooperative person with the stroller.
I CAN’T DEAL WITH ENFORCING ALL THIS STUFF!
Its hard enough just to keep an eye on the kamikaze vehicle traffic.
TRIMET has so many rules and regulations is gotten out of control.
CALL THE STOPS, CALL THE ZONES, LOOK AT THE TRANSFERS, LOOK AT THE TICKETS, BOARD THE WHEELCHAIRS, BE ON TIME, DONT BE LATE, ALL THE WHILE SOME OF US ARE DEALING WITH FULL BUSES FULL OF LOUD MOUTH PASSENGERS ALL TALKING ON THEIR CELL PHONES AT ONCE!!
BLAH BLAH BLAH..
TriMet is very easy to use. The rules are basically common sense. As for strollers, parents need to have some decency and use small strollers when using mass transit. The SUV size strollers have no place on MAX or the bus.
And, yes, I am a parent of two lovely toddlers. I carry them, or they walk.
Childhood obesity is not something TriMet should be promoting.
Normally I would agree with Al on most points, but where do you draw the line? So it takes you a little extra time to have the child taken out of the stroller?
Last time I just “blew it off” and let mom keep the kid in the stroller, some jerk pulled out in front of me and I had to stab the brake a little harder than I would have liked. Now, mom SWORE she could just lock the brake on the stroller and keep an eye on little Susie.
Anyway, little Susie’s stroller got away from mom and rolled across the isle and hit the lady on the other side, who, fortunetly, was paying attention better than mom. After I checked on everyone, and with mom wide eyed in disbelief, I told mom she needed to pull her kid from the stroller, to which she readily complied.
Since that day, I will ask the parent (if they don’t automatically volunteer) to remove the child. I’m not too concerned about the stroller (most are moving vans anyway. If they refuse, the bus doesn’t move, at least until a)they get off or b) I get it on record with dispatch that I asked and they refused.
In all fairness and respect to Al, it’s his bus and he can obviously operate it the way he sees fit (to some degree, which, unfortunetly, is A BIG part of the problem..), but with 1300 operators all doing it different, AND with many of the really “seasoned” ones saying “it’s not my job” at a very decent wage, stopping short of doing anything that will get you beat up, THERE IS more to your job than just putting your fanny behing the wheel and pointing it in the right direction….would you clarify here just what do you consider your job for all that money you’re making?
No disrespect here…I’m serious…part of the problem is that we all need to be on the same page…read the posts. TriMet is only PART of the solution.
My job is this:
BUS DRIVER:
BUS-a large motor vehicle, having a long body, equipped with seats or benches for passengers, usually operating as part of a scheduled service; omnibus.
DRIVER- a person who drives a vehicle; coachman, chauffeur, etc.
Now as far as telling people how to handle themselves…
I’ll leave that to others.
I’ve never had any problems doing it this way btw, and no incidents involving strollers.
Al M
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