Why I Walk!

Okay, two posts in one day! Who'da thunk it? This, however is a long overdue rant. It's not something that I encounter every day, but when I do, I remember why I prefer to walk than take the public transit system.

Strollers. I remember when strollers were called umbrella strollers because they folded up and were convenient. They were also small and usually unintrusive. This morning I had to do a favour for Rachel which involved the bus. When I got on, there was not only a stroller at the front, it was the super duper Jeep, front seat back seat, room for two kids and all the gear you need for a week's outing as well as cup holders to hold your drink. I think it was as long as an actual Jeep, but not only that it took up almost the entire aisle! Now I can duck and dodge with the best of them but after sitting down, I watched as the bus stopped and an elderly lady with a cane tried to get on while a man with crutches tried to get off. I realize that the newer busses are built with wider aisles and seats that fold up to accomodate these massive transport devices (this was not one of them by the way), but in order to accomodate them, the Handicapped seats must be folded up. Wouldn't it make more sense to have seats near the back door that fold up in order to make room for the strollers, clearing the front door and the aisle for people who need to enter/exit the bus and leave the handicapped seats for the people who need them?

I think that car manufacturers should stay out of the business of creating strollers. IT'S JUST A STROLLER. IT CAN BE STANDARD - YOU DON'T NEED ALL THE EXTRAS!!! If a car manufacturer wants to create a carseat that works with their cars, go ahead. Leave the strollers to the people who make baby products. This one that I saw this morning, I don't think would have fit in a Jeep.

Anyway, that's my rant. Nothing against people who buy these things, more against the designers of busses for not recognizing that even the newer designs of busses need to be revamped.