Parents and caregivers riding New York City buses with young children will soon be able to keep their strollers open on all city routes as the MTA expands its “Open Stroller” program systemwide.
The MTA announced Thursday that the program, which began as a pilot in 2023, will now be available on all every local and Select Bus Service routes across the five boroughs.
The expansion eliminates the previous requirement that parents remove their child from a stroller and fold it before boarding.
Buses are being retrofitted with designated stroller spaces on a depot-by-depot basis, according to the agency. Depending on the bus model, the space is either an open area near the rear door or is created by folding up two side-by-side seats.
All newly purchased buses already include a dedicated stroller area, the MTA said.
The designated stroller space is separate from priority seating reserved for riders using wheelchairs.
Passengers can identify participating buses by a stroller decal on the outside of the vehicle. Inside, the stroller area is marked with a similar decal.
Only one open stroller is permitted at a time. If the designated space is already occupied, riders must fold their stroller before boarding, the MTA said in a release.
According to the agency, customer surveys have given the program an approval rating of at least 80% since its launch.
“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,” Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said in a statement. “We understand even the youngest New Yorkers have places to be and we’re ensuring our bus network continues to get them there.”