The MTA is expanding its Open Stroller program across New York City to allow more parents and caregivers to ride buses without having to fold their strollers.

All MTA local and Select Bus Service buses will have a dedicated space for open strollers by the end of the year.

The stroller spaces are separate from the priority areas reserved for wheelchair users.

One parent said on Sunday the expansion could make riding the bus feel safer and easier for families with young children.

“They tell you to carry the baby in your arm, fold the stroller, and I’m like, 'that’s not safe,'” the parent said.

The MTA is retrofitting buses on a depot-by-depot basis. The designated stroller area will either be an open space near the rear door or a space created by flipping up two side-by-side seats, depending on the bus model.

All new buses purchased for service have come with a dedicated stroller space already built in since 2024.

The citywide expansion is being made possible through $1.5 million in state funding.

The MTA says the expansion is part of its effort to make public transportation more accessible for New Yorkers and their families.

When a designated stroller space is available, parents and caregivers can keep their child in the stroller while riding. If that space is already occupied, riders will still need to fold their stroller.