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Board urges SFMTA to permit strollers on Muni while preserving safety and transit-effectiveness goals
Summary
The Board adopted a resolution urging the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to allow strollers on Muni vehicles under safety rules and in a manner consistent with the Transit Effectiveness Project. The resolution passed 11-0 after two floor amendments.
The Board of Supervisors on April 10 adopted a resolution urging the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to permit strollers on Muni vehicles, while maintaining public-safety standards and the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP) goals to improve speed and reliability. The measure passed 11-0 after floor amendments.
Supervisor Carmen Chu introduced the resolution, saying public comment and constituent feedback had shown the existing policy effectively prevented some parents from using transit with very young children. She proposed an amendment — offered at the request of SFMTA director Bruce Oka — to require the change be implemented "while maintaining the current standards of public safety." That amendment was adopted without objection.
Supervisor Scott Wiener offered two amendments tying the policy to the TEP rollout; he asked the SFMTA to ensure a stroller policy supports the agency's ongoing work to improve Muni speed and reliability. Wiener said, “I strongly support this resolution,” and asked that the agency formulate a specific policy that balances stroller access and operational needs. The board adopted Wiener’s language and Chu’s safety amendment; the final roll call showed 11 ayes.
Public commenters — parents and advocates — described the difficulty of boarding buses with infants and strollers and urged a common-sense rule (for example, strollers with children strapped in and wheels locked) to facilitate family use of transit.
Why it matters: Allowing strollers under clear safety rules could reduce barriers to transit use by families and support San Francisco’s goal of encouraging Muni ridership while the SFMTA implements speed and reliability improvements under TEP.
What happens next: The resolution asks SFMTA to develop a stroller policy that preserves safety standards and aligns with TEP objectives; SFMTA staff will draft the operational rules and return to the board or agency processes as appropriate.
