NEW YORK (AP) — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Thursday it is expanding its Open Stroller program to every local and Select Bus Service route across New York City, allowing parents and caregivers to keep children in their strollers while riding instead of folding them before boarding.

The program provides a clearly marked stroller space that is separate from priority seating reserved for passengers using wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Depending on the bus model, the space is either an open area near the rear door or is created by flipping up two adjacent seats.

The initiative, first launched as a pilot in 2023, has received approval ratings of more than 80% in customer surveys, according to the MTA. Officials said buses are being retrofitted depot by depot, while all new buses ordered since 2024 already include dedicated stroller spaces.

The expansion was made possible by a $1.5 million grant from New York state lawmakers, including state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, former state Sen. and current Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Assembly members Nily Rozic and Jo Anne Simon.

Transit officials said the policy is intended to improve accessibility for families while maintaining equal access for riders with disabilities. Only one open stroller is permitted at a time, and if the designated space is occupied, passengers must still fold their stroller before boarding.

MTA officials said the program was developed with input from disability advocates, parents, bus operators and customer experience staff, describing it as part of a broader effort to make the city’s bus system more accessible and family-friendly.