City council rejects OC Transpo stroller restrictions

Parents with young children who ride OC Transpo on a regular basis can breathe a sigh of relief.

City council rejected proposed rules that would restrict the type and number of strollers that board the bus.

The rules had been proposed by advocates who felt that large strollers in the front of the bus could prevent seniors and people with disabilities from having room to sit down or park their wheelchairs.

The proposal included a ban on non-folding strollers, a limit of one open stroller on board at a time and a requirement to fold up a stroller if a wheelchair needs access to that spot.

However, some argued that taking a small child out of a stroller and then folding it up on board is unrealistic.

For now, OC Transpo's policy on strollers will allow them to be in the aisle if wheelchair spaces are taken up and will ask that parents fold their strollers only if they are blocking the movement of other passengers.