In addition to walking around downtown, we sometimes use public transportation for our adventures. There are four bus routes with stops within two blocks of our house, so it’s very convenient when we want to get to the Children’s Museum or other downtown spots a little faster than our legs will take us. Noodle loves taking the bus and the light rail, so sometimes I plan a special adventure to check out a different library or park near a bus route.
It is, however, often challenging taking a stroller on the buses. If you’ve got one of those big travel systems strollers - forget it. Most bus drivers and passengers have no sympathy for a parent hauling a baby in a car seat carrier, plus a diaper bag and a stroller. If you’ve got help, it can work. Trying to do it yourself is a frustrating and difficult experience. And the small community buses have especially steep stairs, so getting on carrying a baby plus a stroller is nearly impossible without assistance. Most of the bus drivers I’ve met on the community buses, however, are very willing to stop and help me get everything safely on the bus.
The light rail is much easier with a full travel system stroller – you just wheel that baby right on, and most of the time there’s room to park it near one of the doors. Just lock the brakes on it, and be prepared to move the stroller to allow other passengers to get on and off. If no wheelchair riders need the space, you could also use the spots designated for wheelchairs, but again, be prepared to allow a person with a disability access to that seat if needed. Courtesy is always the key – even if someone is rude to you! :)
When kids get bigger, it’s much more fun and a whole lot easier to get around on public transportation. I bring a small umbrella stroller and a backpack style diaper bag, and it’s a breeze getting on and off buses with only a little practice. Noodle loves riding the bus and the light rail, and it’s a great way to explore the city together. We especially have fun when I get a day pass. Noodle rides free until he’s 5, so it’s just my fare I need to worry about. It’s currently $2 a ride for an adult, and a day pass is $6, so for any trip where we’re going to do 3 or more segments it makes sense for me to get a day pass. I also like the day pass because we can get on and off as many times as we want. This is especially helpful with the light rail, since Noodle loves just riding it around town and watching everything. We’ll get on at Japantown and ride it down to the Children’s Discovery Museum, or stop at St. James park to play on the playground, or get off at San Antonio for a snack, or at the Convention Center to wander back to Cesar Chavez Plaza for a run up and down the paths.
Sometimes we’ll ride the bus to the light rail station rather than walking down to it, which always adds to the adventure. Or I’ll plan a little longer trip on the bus to go visit a different library branch or find a new playground. One of our favorite bus adventures is to take route 64 from downtown over to Willow Glen. We get off at Lincoln and Willow, then stop for a snack at Jamba Juice, Peets, &/or Noah’s Bagels. Then it’s a nice walk down Lincoln Ave, stopping to browse in the shops along the way. Noodle always loves Hicklebee’s, of course. We always visit the Willow Glen branch library (not far from the intersection of Minnesota and Lincoln), and sometimes catch the 64 bus again and head down to Lincoln Glen park for a bit. There’s plenty of great spots to stop for lunch in Willow Glen before heading home for naptime.
If Noodle does get fidgety on the bus or light rail, I can always get out a book or play I spy and finger games together. Sometimes on long bus rides, I get out my ipod touch and let him play a toddler game or hear a story.
If you’re worried about germs on the bus, just keep a few wipes and some hand sanitizer with you and use it frequently. When you get to your destination, find a bathroom and wash hands. Frankly, I think we’ve caught far more colds at playdates or in the church nursery than we have from riding the bus. And we’ve met all kinds of interesting people who love making Noodle smile.
