Strollers on the Red Bus - A Public Hazard or Necessity?

Have the Park Slope baby stroller controversies come to Roosevelt Island?

Two recent letter writers to the Main Street Wire have complained about having to fold up their baby strollers before boarding the Red bus.
One writes:

I was surprised to learn that the Red Bus now requires strollers to be folded while riding for the "safety of our children."

Please tell me how it is safer for me to hold my infant in one arm, my folded stroller in the other, and any bags or belongings I have with me with that third arm I wish I had, all while standing on a moving bus!?

Let’s admit the real reason, which is that the buses are overcrowded and undeniably strollers do take up room. However, there are other things besides strollers that take up room. Just two examples: walkers and grocery carts.

Would it be correct to tell an elderly person they must fold their walker before entering the bus? No. Because the walker is a necessity for that person. And so is a stroller for a mother who has a heavy child or multiple children or must travel a long distance.

Would RIOC receive even more complaints if passengers were told they must remove their belongings from their carts and fold the cart before entering the bus? Yes. Because what is the use of a cart if one must carry their belongings by hand in addition to the folded cart?

I understand that the MTA buses do not allow for open strollers (or wheelchairs, walkers, and grocery carts for that matter). But, up until this point, the Red Bus has. And I, like many others I know, moved to Roosevelt Island assured that we could access the Red Bus with our children in strollers.

Much like anything else that takes up room on the bus, strollers are a necessity. Children are safe in them and should be allowed to remain in them on the Red Bus.

Another writes:

Would you please explain to me the thinking behind this new "safety" rule on the bus? How is holding a baby in one arm and a folded stroller in the other (leaving no arms to hold on with) safer than having the baby seated and strapped into a stroller?

In case you have not noticed, there are lots of babies on the Island and not one of their mothers thinks that this a good idea. Dangerous yes, unfair yes, inconvenient yes, physically impossible yes. Good – no!

You can expect to be hearing from many of them.

Also what should one do with the baby while folding the stroller, perhaps lay him or her out on the sidewalk; balance the baby on one’s head?

I respectfully ask that RIOC drop this nonsense

RIOC responds:

The prohibition against open strollers during rush hours only has apparently pitted one set of riders against the other. Everyone should realize that this rule is SOP on the MTA. My mail from adult users without children is highly supportive of the ban. I empathize with the stroller set. Rush hours seemed a reasonable compromise.