How to hack NYC transit with a baby on board
It's actually never been easier to get around the city with a small new straphanger in tow
The best thing you can do for your child is to raise them in New York City. Of course, life here has challenges even before you're responsible for keeping someone else alive and in good health, but you don't have to go at it alone. New parent Kate Mooney is raising a city kid, and will be here every month to share what she's learned on how to do it in our new column, I'm Strollin' Here.
We spend a lot of time here talking and thinking about transit. Mapping out how you're going to get from point A to point B. Texting the group chat complaining that the bus still hasn't showed. You're going to be late because you forgot the G train isn't running this weekend, again. Maybe you'll just bike there, it'll be quicker.
Introduce a baby into the equation, and the constant mental calculation continues, with a whole new set of logistical hiccups in tow. Now you have this adorable homunculus, who comes with a bunch of hefty gear, to lug around with you as you navigate the standard delays and signal problems.
Since taking my baby girl Loretta home in April, I've had to ponder questions I'd never before considered, like, Which subway stations have working elevators? and Is there actually room for a stroller on the bus? and Should we bring the car seat in case the plan implodes and we need to get home, quick? Pretty much any time I leave the house with her, I'm deciding between baby-wearing, using the stroller, or a secret third option (alternating between both).
Most of my knowledge I've acquired through trial-and-error, like the time my partner and I unknowingly got out at the literal tallest subway station in the system — no elevators, and escalators were out-of-service—and had to carry a stroller down flight after flight of stairs (more on that travesty later).
As with everything when you're new to parenting (much less, new to parenting in New York City) there's a learning curve. But, lucky for you if you're reading this, you can skip the hard part and learn vicariously through my mistakes.
Once you get the hang of taking the baby around on transit or on foot, you'll feel refreshingly mobile compared to many other cities, where Driving Miss Baby constitutes 90% of your get-around.
Going baby mode? We'll give you all the tips for schlepping your little straphanger like a pro.
