Activistas Meet TriMet: Join Us to Work for Change

Last time we discussed Tri-Met, we asked if you think it's family-friendly.  Well, we got our answer from all of you riders out there: nope.  So, natch, we're working on it.  We're meeting with a whole slew of Tri-Met staff to move this forward in late May.  The goal of this first meeting is to share info: we tell them what isn't working for us, what we'd like to see change.  They tell us why it is the way it is, what their barriers are, and what types of change they are willing and able to make.  The beginning of a fruitful give-and-take, we hope, that results in some near and long-term improvements. 

The major issue driving this from the get-go has been the (often burdensome) requirement to fold strollers.  Yeah, the ones with the kids and the gear and the groceries in them.  No easy task on a moving bus, while holding all the contents - live and otherwise.  But we've got other ideas for improvements, too.

Help Us Make Change!  If you ride regularly with young kids and are interested in getting this dialog rolling with Tri-Met, get in touch. We plan to bring 5-7 parents of young children to the table to share real experiences and suggestions for improvement.  Do you commute downtown with kids (like me), across town to your child care, school or work, ride during non-commute hours to grocery shop, schlepp kids to classes, ball games, the doctor??  The Activistas-TriMet conversation is downtown on Thursday, 5.29.08 from 10:30 to Noon.  We'll also get together for a one-hour planning meeting someday between now and then.  Maybe coffee with the kids at Sydney's? 

Comments

[Staheli Pizzutillo]

As a parent of two young children, I thoroughly disagree with the assertion that the need to fold strollers makes TriMet unfriendly to families. Let’s face it, strollers have gotten out of hand. They seem to get larger every year, and more parents use them with older children now than ever before.

This seems like a bizarre push by a group of parents that wants to infringe on the space rights of others, including parents who are considerate of the space rights of others.

Unless a child has disabilities, there is no reason he or she should be in a stroller post age two. We are in an age where childhood obesity is surging. Kids can walk. Yes, it is slower. But that’s what parents signed up for when they got pregnant.

Strollers for babies and wobbly toddlers are one thing. Big double strollers for the entire clan of toddler and pre-school age kids is another thing altogether. And that’s what I see more and more, on TriMet and elsewhere in town.

Why doesn’t this Activistas do something to work toward the health of their children, rather than push their SUV size strollers on the rest of the world?

[LTF]

Great points. I think our hope is to dialog with TriMet on what makes sense. Our goal is not to allow any and all strollers t the detriment of other riders. We also have many others ideas for making the transit system more family-friendly, from using bus ramps for strollers to increasing the education around its policies so we know what they are to asking drivers to not start the bus till parents with young children are safely seated or holding on.

I am very aware of these trade-offs, including the fact that we are but one type of rider that must respectfully share space with all others. But with the price of gas nearing $4/gallon, increasing traffic congestion and global warming, I think it makes good sense to consider policy and practice changes that facilitate family riders. Again, thanks for weighing in and adding a different angle.

[EE Borges]

I noticed this piece on TriMetiquette, and I commented on Staheli's post there. Since I am so fond of my own opinions, I thought I would copy and paste them here, as it appears that is what Staheli did.

"Indeed, Staheli makes some very good points about the seeming increase in both the size and prevalence of strollers. Riding TriMet with a fold-up stroller is one thing, but riding TriMet with a bulky, take-everything-with-you stroller seems quite presumptuous.

Granted, if a family has multiples, such a stroller might be somewhat necessary, but, for most parents, only one child would typically be young enough to definitively warrant the need for a stroller. (The caveat being, as Staheli pointed out, children with disabilities.)

While Staheli’s comments about childhood obesity and stroller use have nothing to do with TriMet, they do make one wonder a bit about all of the factors that have led to the current state of affairs with children and fitness."

[EE Borges]

I added this comment on the old board discussion on this topic. Since I'm not sure if anyone is paying attention to that board, I'll add my comment here, too.

"I would like to see TriMet add rules that would follow the rules of this sign from a streetcar in Vienna:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kemmerer/53900364/

(You have no idea how hard it was to find a photo of that memorable sign.)

I bring this up, because few Portlanders would offer a seat to my wife despite the fact that she was in the latter stages of pregnancy. I've seen the same lack of courtesy happen to others, as well. Further, I have had to stand, holding a poll with one hand, while carrying my baby and toddler in the other arm, repeatedly. Again, I have seen other parents face this discourtesy.

It seems like TriMet could help promote decency and safety in these situations, where pregnant mothers and parents who are carrying their children can get preference for seats."

[LTF]

1. I LOVE that sticker. I would be thrilled to sit under that sticker. Wow. Will print out and bring to our meeting :-)

2. There is a blog called Trimetiquette. Dedicated solely to discussing Tri-Met related issues. Wow again. http://www.trimetiquette.com.

[KYouell]

So sorry that I found this post while the meeting is going on instead of before. I have an almost-3-year-old with Down syndrome (does that count as a disability for this discussion? He won't walk far.) and a 1-year-old. We have been forgoing the bus that stops virtually outside our door for a 20 to 30 minute walk to the MAX station so that we can ride on a low car and not fold our strollers. An intensive search of TriMet policies online resulted in me finding that low MAX cars are the only place you are not required to fold up your stroller (despite the signs overhead that say you should). I found it at http://www.trimet.org/pdfs/code/TriMet_Code_Chapter_28.pdf, Section 28.15 (5) (a). If you search the pdf for "stroller" it takes you right there.

I just wanted to leave that tip for the next mama searching this site for stroller info.

Now if someone can point me to a side-by-side stroller that can handle a bit of off-roading (12" wheels?) yet fits through doorways and has a swivel front wheel and folds easily for bus riding, we can get out of our car a bit more!