Press Releases - Department of Transportation
New MCDOT Stroller Policy Offers Relief for Passengers with Young Children
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Hopping on a bus can be a harrowing experience for a parent juggling a small child and a stroller, but a new MCDOT stroller policy offers Ride On passengers a respite from this taxing aspect of traveling with children.
Effective immediately, all bus operators on regular Ride On routes will deploy the ramp for the convenience of passengers boarding and alighting with strollers. As an added convenience, when the priority seating area of the bus is not occupied, passengers may park a stroller there and allow the child to remain seated, provided the stroller wheels are locked and the passenger holds onto the stroller at all times.
“We are pleased to implement this new approach to make life a little easier for our Ride On passengers with young children,” said MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh. “It’s a small step that goes a long way to support families and the friendliness of our community.”
While the open stroller policy is designed to remove barriers to Ride On use for young families, especially solo passengers who find it difficult to hold a young child while attempting to fold a stroller, the ability to travel with an open stroller is not guaranteed for all rides. When space is not available in the priority seating area, passengers must remove the child from the stroller and fold and stow the stroller in a safe location. At their discretion, Ride On bus operators may ask a passenger to move or fold a stroller if it is compromising the safety of others. The physical limits of bus aisles and the presence of other passengers with special needs must weigh into decisions about when strollers can remain open.
The new policy follows a range of industry studies of the components of family-friendly transit. It does not apply to smaller vehicles such as the Ride On Flex due to its more limited seating area.
Passengers are encouraged to provide feedback on the new policy by contacting MC311 online, calling 311 within Montgomery County or 240-777-0311 outside the County (Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.), or following MC311 on Twitter @311MC311.
Media Contact: Maureen McNulty 240-777-7199
