Submitted by Steven Hewins, Feb 10, 2007 08:52

I am not a parent, so I don't have a stroller, but I think I get the idea. Not only does it make it easier to get around with little Sally, but some of these things can really pack a lot of shopping into them. They're like mega-purses. That said, this being New York, space is tight, aisles are slim, and cafes and restaurants are usually designed to maximize table space, not stroller space. There has to be some recognition on the part of the very righteous stroller-pushing parent that they are occupying quite a bit more space than just that of a parent and child (or children). The outrage that is generated whenever a store or restaurant tries to limit stroller access in order to give *everyone* an appropriate amount of space is out of proportion in some cases. It's very easy to cry "anti-baby" or "anti-parents" in these cases, and who could or would argue against motherhood and the American way? But, honestly, even the smallest, flimsiest strollers can be a walking/browsing hazard, exacerbated by a lack of awareness on the part of the adult or a sense of proportion of personal space they're taking up. And the double-wide strollers? In New York City, that is something that borders on hubris. Even on the widest sidewalks along the avenues there is simply no room for these contraptions. It is to some extent a display of selfishness to bring a stroller, especially a large, mulish one, into a store or cafe and expect every accommodation be made for it. A stroller is an imposition on space, and etiquette asks that we be aware when we are making such impositions and do everything we can to mitigate them for the sake of the comfort and safety of those around us, as opposed to adopting a "how dare you" attitude when asked to fold up your baby's SUV or to leave it aside. Those of us without children/strollers are not out to get you, we'd really just like to shop in our neighborhood stores without all of the roadblocks and hazards and the the looks we get when, for the third or fourth time, we have to ask you to excuse us while we try to navigate around you.

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