The challenge
Finding solutions when obstacles are all you can see.
In 2010, I was assistant principal of an Edmonton school for pregnant and parenting teens. The school had a daycare that many students relied on. These students were juggling more responsibilities than most adults, and they inspired me daily with their determination.
Many students took transit buses to school, and during my first winter, I noticed that many were arriving late or not at all. Students told me that bus drivers were refusing to let them on because their strollers were too large.
After school, I went to the bus stop and took a ride to see what students were dealing with. For the girls, the main issue was space. There were eight girls, but the bus had space for only two or three because of their strollers. Some girls had to wait for another bus and would often miss their connection, causing a lot of stress. From the bus drivers’ perspective, they felt they had to limit the number of strollers so there was space for other patrons.
I brought out my trusty tape measure (yes, I had one in my office).”
After this exploratory ride, it took me a few attempts to reach someone at Edmonton Transit by phone. As I explained the situation, it was clear they did not fully comprehend the issue, so I invited them to the school. The next day, the moment they walked into the school, their jaw dropped — they were shocked by the number of strollers lined up all the way down the hallway.
I brought out my trusty tape measure (yes, I had one in my office). Guess what? These strollers weren’t oversized or extravagant; they were just regular strollers. The maximum size indicated on the transit website was for those fold-up strollers with tiny wheels, which none of the students used because they were impossible to push through the snow.
The transit representative realized that the stroller size restrictions were unrealistic and that they needed to work with us to address the issue for the benefit of our students and other bus patrons. Within about three weeks of the visit, we’d had several conversations about the students’ most common routes and Edmonton Transit had added “school specials” — dedicated buses for our students and their strollers. It was a pretty quick turnaround and it was great for our girls.
I recently checked in with school staff, and they informed me that the school specials are still running today. The moral of the story? Perspective matters. When we take the time to understand the challenges others face, we find better solutions.
