Parents pushing strollers soon will have an easier time getting settled on city buses.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week announced plans to expand its pilot Open Stroller program to all local and Select Bus Service routes across all five boroughs at a press conference in Manhattan.
Open Stroller seating works on the same principal as seating for wheelchair users.
Each bus depending on its model eventually will have either an existing space or a pair of adjacent seats by the rear door that can fold upward.
All buses ordered since 2024 came with dedicated stroller space already built in. The rest are being retrofitted.
“The expansion of the Open Stroller program allows us to make buses more accessible for more riders while providing fast, safe, reliable service for New Yorkers and their families,” said New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow in a press release. “We understand even the youngest New Yorkers have places to be and we’re ensuring our bus network continues to get them there.”
The pilot program began in 2003. Buses with stroller accommodations are identifiable by virtue of prominent stickers on the outside of the vehicle.
Once inside the bus, the designated space is marked with a similar decal. There can only be one open stroller at a time. If the space is in use already, customers must still fold their stroller prior to boarding.
“The Open Stroller program expands access to our bus network for parents and caregivers traveling with children in strollers while preserving equitable access for riders who use mobility devices like me,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “This expansion brings us one step closer to our goal of creating a transit system that is accessible for everyone, and I thank our elected partners for their support in making it possible.”
MTA officials said the expansion is possible through a $1.5 million grant from the state Legislature.
The transit agency said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows) was one of the supporters.
“Every parent or caregiver knows that getting around the city with a young child can be challenging, and something as simple as boarding a bus shouldn’t add unnecessary stress,” Rozic said in the MTA’s statement.
“That’s why I was proud to have secured state funding for the Open Stroller program expansion across New York City’s bus network as a meaningful investment in making public transit more accessible, convenient, and welcoming for families. Ensuring more of us can travel safely and with greater ease strengthens our transit system and makes it work for everyone.”
“With a permanent Open Stroller policy coming to buses citywide, many more New Yorkers can look forward to easier access to the promise of transit and to all the necessities and opportunities that the city offers …” said Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum. “We’re very pleased to see this inclusive program now becoming a permanent part of our public infrastructure and welcoming the newest New Yorkers aboard.”