we have continued riding the bus. i enjoy having the babe in the sling,though today we were out from 9:30-4:30 (storytime,coffee shop and park can take all day!) and by the end of it i was so ready to take off the sling. i think i will need a gramma cart for groceries. it is the only real way to make it happen. if i could get groceries in the girls backpacks i would, but twenty minute-5 block walk from the bus station is tricky enough. i dont want to add any variables.

the buses around here are ridiculous. the routes are super limited, run once an hour, appear to arrive at times not really reflective of the schedule and sop running at 5pm. i wish there was a late bus cause i really enjoy grocery shopping solo late at night.

And, I'm sure that Velma knows best about this, since shes the PT queen, but for people with strollers, I always just see them fold the stroller up while they are waiting for the bus, and then get on, and they store the stroller on the flat shelf-like thing by the door...or under the seat.
I always had Ds in an ergo when I rode the bus with him, so it was pretty easy...though if I were getting groceries, I would probably wear the baby, and then strap backpacks on the girls and have them carry as many of the groceries as they could fit in their packs, and carry the rest in bags. It's tough work!!
Dh usually does grocery runs with the bike trailer early on Sunday morning, which I'm thankful for...

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sling, or other baby carrier, and backpacks for the groceries.
we live in kcmo and our buses run pretty often. even still, i plan out my route, especially if there are transfers involved, and write down the schedules for when i need them.
example:
25 troost bus north @ 915 930 945 1000
transfer to
39 39th st bus west @ 932 948 1004 1020
that gives me options and then i do the same for the approximate times i'll be headed back
i ride the same buses pretty often and get to know the drivers, it helps!
you could also plan to head towards shopping in the evening, then have your husband pick you up if it's on the way back..?
good for you for trying!! good luck!

I agree with the lady who suggested the gramma cart and sling/back/front pack. We have one car but we don't find it convenient for daily use or to do our shopping at the center of town. So we always use one of those gramma carts and it rocks the house. I don't know what your schedule is like or how often you have to move and stuff, but we often buy groceries every couple of days, just on the way when we are walking home from work and put them in our back packs. I think it's nice because we don't waste anything this way. Then we only use the the gramma cart when we have to buy kitty litter, or on farmer's market day.

with 3 kids, I would think about putting the itty bitty in a front pack (do you have one?), carrying a nice sized backpack for your groceries and just watching what you buy, then you can have 2 hands free - one to hold each hand of the other 2. the 2 bigger girls could also wear small back packs and help with carrying some of the light groceries, it might even be fun for them.
Good luck!

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Where I live you only have to break down the stroller if the bus is standing/crush room only and I've never been asked to break it down by any driver...If the bus isn't crowded and the stroller wheels can be locked into place I can see no real reason to break it down. I wonder if there is a listed policy about this on your buses that you could refer to just to make sure the driver wasn't just being an ass?
That being said, if you have one of those little umbrella type stroller they break down super easy and fit better on buses than any other stroller.
I've done a lot of trips with one babe in a sling, one on my hip and one holding my hand or sitting beside a stranger. I've also had teens stand up so I (or my kids) could sit and I have in turn given my seat to seniors...
In general, I find my kids love the bus--looking out the windows of the buses thrills them and as long as I have snacks and drinks and books on hand we are good.

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you should be able to wear the baby on your back & then you can be hands free. I would suggest one of those square shopping cart thingies that old ladies usually drag on the bus to take on grocery outings because bus driver's never ask you to break those down ( those old ladies are onto something cause you really can stuff a ton of groceries in one.. i had one back before I had a driver's license). Another suggestion is to install collapsable metal baskets or two square five gallon buckets to the back end of a bike. Ride bike into town after your man get's home and just get a bag for each basket. Sorry your car died. Have you checked into the possibility of selling your new tires & buying a cheap-o beater ? I have a friend who only bought beaters & her rule of thumb was that they had to always be less than $300. She meagerly carted her four kids in one craptastic beater after another until she met me & made a payment plan on our old subaru.

and only rely on public transit. I think it's so cool you're trying it. I hope everybody gives up their cars.

Groceries is something I don't do on the bus. It would be impossible and I really take my hat off to you for managing! We get ours delivered (no husband) but your solution of only going on Saturday is cheaper. Could you use a backpack for groceries?

I don't know much about your bus system there, but basically memorizing as many routes as possible and memorizing when they stop running is important. Also it's good to learn their frequency. We've been stranded in Sellwood a couple times for an hour + and that wasn't fun.

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