Getting around HK with a stroller

S

swedishmum

Registered User
Hi
Im moving to HK in the end of sept and I have never been there before. I am wondering if it is difficult to get around HK with a stroller? Is it difficult usng the public transportation with a stroller? Are there any taxis with carseats? What do you do with your kids if there is none, do you try to have them sitting in your lap? Do taxidrivers drive ok?

Just a few of the thousends of questions I have :)
 
Hi SwedishMum,

As to your first question: Is getting around HK with a stroller difficult? I think the answer depends on how you define "difficult." There is a thread currently going on describing some of the difficulties women in HK with strollers have/don't have while using the MTR and public transportation.

It can be found here:

http://www.geobaby.com/forum/thread124853.html

Personally, I think that if you plan on using the public transportation system it's best to have a very narrow stroller as often the gates in and out of the system are narrow. Some of the stations are old and not updated and include lots of stairs and no escalators/ elevators (especially from the inside down into the station) or if they do have elevators/escalators they are often oddly placed and hard to access. I think it's best to read the above thread as you'll get the opinion of other women on this subject. Overall, I would say that using the MTR/public transport system with a stoller in HK is not easy, though the difficulty level is up for interpretation.

I have never seen a taxi with a carseat. I don't think these exist in Hong Kong. Sometimes we use a taxi for short trips from the train station to our house (10 minutes) and we either just hold our son (8 1/2 months old) in our arms in the back seat or sometimes strap him into the seat with us. Often taxi drivers in Hong Kong are not really willing to wait for you to set up a CAR seat as they are sitting in line. They want you to get in, put your stuff in and get going. And sometimes they don't much care if you have a baby with you or not. You'll find that this city runs at a breakneck pace and time really does mean money to most people--especially taxi drivers. It's not safe to not have your child in a carseat but if you need to use one, don't depend on the taxis to provide it for you. I always tell the taxi driver to drive more slowly (they drive a little crazy usually) when we have our son in the car--they don't think to do this so I always have to tell them.

I think that taxi drivers in Hong Kong are trying to survive and it's a tough job to have--there are a lot of them. So they are thinking about money and time so they drive "okay" but depending on what you're used to, that can be a harrowing experience.

Hope this gives you a starting place to learn more from.
 
I dread taking my daughter out in her pushchair. When I do go out I always make sure that I am going somewhere that is vaguely pushchair friendly. You will find that you will need to use escalators and lifts an awful lot. Some of the roads around Central have stairs, so you do need to plan in advance where you are heading to, in order to minimise using these roads. I also find that a lot of shops in HK are up steps or down in the basement. Where we live, I can get a lift to the ground floor but then need to take a flight of stairs down in to the car park!! I invariably have to ask for help if on my own.
We arrived in HK in January with a pushchair which I loved using back in the UK - here..it was a nightmare - too wide/bulky/heavy, so we went out and bought a Maclaren Quest which is light, easy to fold one handedly and can be manouevered around HK with ease. Do be aware that Central can be extremely busy and using a pushchair can drive you mad - don't expect doors to be held open for you and expect that others who are quite capable to use stairs/escalators will use the lift too and are not courteous in waiting for you to get in the lift - as soon as the door opens it is a mad dash to get in the damn thing!!
I do use taxis, but ensure that my daughter is strapped inside the seatbelt on my lap. We have a car and in that she has a carseat. I would choose to use the car anyday. As the thread above mentions - taxi drivers do not take in to account that there are children in the car. They want to get from A-B as soon as they can, weaving in and out of traffic etc.. I too have had to ask a taxi driver to slow down.
This all sounds very daunting to you, I am sure!! but HK is not the most child-friendly place! Something I didn't realise until I got here - coming from the UK it was a shock!
 
Hi, not sure how expensive taxis are where you are living, but they are at least very cheap here compared to Europe and especially the UK. Public transport is even cheaper, but it depends on where you live as to which will be best for convenience. I live in the mid levels and almost never take public transport with the baby - taxi is just easier.

Yes, the taxi drivers go fast and can be crazy drivers (I would not limit to just taxi drivers here..) but at least typical journey's / distances in HK are quite short. It's as MLBW says, it's what you are used to. Driving in Italy and Paris - very similar! Otherwise, yes HK taxis may be a harrowing experience..

if you have a younger baby with a stroller / maxi cosi then getting those strapped into and out of taxis is not bad and the safe option. On occaision, some taxi belts are not quite long enough to work properly with a maxi cosi so you need to improvise.

Starting off from your home is generally fine as you can take you time to get sorted and get the baby in etc.

Most importantly you will eventually develop strategies for getting to different places e.g. getting out at nice hotels as the bellmen are always happy to help you in/out and find a taxi, getting dropped off places where lifts are close to avoid stairs.

Once bub is bigger it get's more tricky. Not absoutely ideal, but you can wear the baby in a bjorn/baby carrier and put the safety belt between you and the baby for some degree of protection (never around you and the baby together - this is more dangerous than not wearing one at all).

My baby is a year and although really too big for the bjorn, I can still get her into it for taxis. Always prefer to use our car and a proper car seat where possible, but as only my husband drives when it's her and I, or the helper, we still have to taxi.

There are other options online for portable car seats for older children, I will need to look into this soon I think.

HK is not brilliant for prams, but once you are used to it things become second nature. There are so many other great things about having kids here (plentiful, cost effective help etc.) that outweigh. Sadly air quality is not one of them!

Second Lucylou on the Maclaren, we have a bugaboo which lives in the car and is great for long walks (of which there are many in HK), the beach and and if she will be in the pram for a long time. I have a Maclaren Quest that I use when I'm on my own in town or taxis as it's easier to put up/down with one hand. The bjorn allows me to get out of the taxi wearing the baby and then get/open the pram up.
 
cabs are cheap here and/or otherwise just ensure you don't bring a big pram but rather a nice narrow maclaren or something similar to that and you'll be fine!
 
Depends

mumto2 said:
cabs are cheap here and/or otherwise just ensure you don't bring a big pram but rather a nice narrow maclaren or something similar to that and you'll be fine!
Click to expand...

Whether or not cabs are cheap here really does depend on your income level and what you're used to in your home country. The bill can add up if you get stuck in traffic--which happens a lot on HK Island especially. It just depends. But totally, a narrow stroller is the way to go in HK. Sometimes I see people pushing strollers in HK that look like they could go "offroad" they are so big and the tires so thick! They must not be using the public transport system, I think. :0)
 
thanks MLBW as i was basing it on the fact that the original poster might actually be from Sweden...
 
Neha said:
www.prampushers.com gives u alot of information about pram friendly exits on MTR and roads
Click to expand...

I can't find anything there. Can u provide a deep link?
I di find this, though with a link to the MTR's website which is, presumably, update:

http://www.hongkongbabies.com/notes/index/show?noteKey=Buggy_Vs_Carrier?


"MTR stations do, theoretically have lifts or ramps. See their guide. However, trying to find the way is often a challenge. If and when you do, you'll have to fight armies of able-bodied passengers too lazy to use the escalators.

Some carriages on the MTR have an area for wheelchairs and/or buggies. Look for the signs on the platform screen doors. They are placed to put you nearest the lifts."
 
oh no it seems that getting around HK will be challenging. Yes I from Sweden and here you would never dream of getting into a car with your child without a carseat, but I guess Ill have to although I dont want to.
We wont have a car in HK and I just hope that it wont be so difficult or scary getting around that we will be stuck in the aparmentcomplex most days.

Im used to getting around so easily (we have a car and the city and transportation is super kidsfriendly (stockholm)) oh well suppose that will be part of the living-abroad-experience.
 
HK is horrible to get around in a stroller. We moved from NYC (which is not that great either) then from London to here. London was amazing - you can roll the pram right onto the bus and into taxis. Central HK has lots of levels AND stairs. The sidewalks are crowded and not that wide. I dread taking my son in the pram into town from the southside. We have the Maclaren Techno which I thought was pretty travel friendly compared to the Bugaboo, but now I think I have to get an umbrella one that's light, narrow and easy to fold up.
 
ohh no...this doesnt sound good at all..
i sold my bugaboo cameleon and bought a bugaboo bee as I thought it would be more HK friendly. I dont want it to be a big problem just getting from point A to point B :(

So do you all have cars? My husband told me that most expats dont have cars in HK as it is soooo easy to get around town anyway. Or do you try to spend most of your time in your imidiate surroundings? Maybe this is why I need a domestic helper I wasnt planning on getting one.

Now Im dreading moving to HK!!!
 
Don't worry! The Bee is great for getting around town with. Yes we have a car, and it's very handy for trips to the New Territories or to beaches with baby. The good things about HK are (i) iit's easy to find reasonably priced second hand cars (ii) domestic help is relatively inexpensive and there are lots of good helpers out there (iii) there are nice beaches....and once you get to know some people, you'll get the hang of things! :-)
 
Oh...and public transport is not THAT bad. More inconvenient than in Sweden, probably, but you sort of manage....Local people really like babies. I find people much nicer to me when I'm out with baby than, say, if I'm out with my dog! (or on my own!) Go figure....
 
i is good to be a bit prepared for what you are in for when you get here. I have been surprised by just how difficult it can be getting around with children. Life in London was MUCH easier in that respect.
I find that here in HK i actually do need a helper and even WITH help here, life in London was easier for us for day to day things. I didn't have a car in London and never felt that I needed one.
We live on the southside so we have a car and use it a lot.
If i were to live in Midlevels I would probably still have a car just because of the kids.
 
Don't dread coming here - it's not all doom and gloom! I think the experience totally subjective.

Compared to London, our life is 100 x more convenient day to day and I think of a much higher quality. May not be the case when you compare to Stockholm, but you may well really enjoy the diversity of life in HK and being in Asia.

Definitely get a car - it gives you so much freedom. There are some wonderful places to explore in an around HK on and off the island , a lot of beautiful nature spots that you wouldn't expect. A car is so convenient with a baby in tow and as plumtree says, second hand cars are really inexpensive here.

Really don't worry so much about getting from A to B with strollers and taxis - it's not THAT hard. You get used it and find ways of getting around the problems. Most journey's are super short if you live on the Island and after always leaving an hours travel time in Europe to get anywhere, I am constantly early for everything!

The whole helper thing is difficult to get your head around if you are not here and understand how it works, but I would definitely consider getting one. Again, it just gives you so much freedom. You can go out with your husband in the evenings (spontaneously!), all the boring bits (cleaning, washing etc.) get taken care of allowing you to focus 100% on the children. Or, your helper can be more a part of the family and take an active role in your child's life and development - bit like an aunt who lives with you! At the very least, you are providing someone with a job who really needs it to send money home to their families.

From a privacy perspective, it can difficult and depend on the layout of your house as to how comfortable you are with it. There are also 'live out' options, but there are legal issues with that - loads of people do it though, again it's what you are personally comfortable with.

Most importantly, take you time and pick where you live carefully, it depends on what you and your family like. You can stay very central but still be 5 mins walk from nature and great country parks, or go further out and have more space and a country/village feel.

I've been here 3 years and would NEVER go back to London, not least because I'm not sure I could cope without my wonderful helper!
 
thanks for the advice..so where do you recommend that we live ....my husband is looking at apartments tomorrow:) So far he has looked at Bel-air and is going tomorrow to 118 Tung Lo Wan Road near Tin Hau MTR station. I dont know what is best since ive never even been to HK....I have one child...plan on getting one more during our time in HK. Id like to have lots of company around (as im free during the day) have a nice aparment near kid friendly places (the kids and their needs has prio 1), preferbly close to shops and to the beach.....is there such a place??? maybe we should get a car....ill have to discuss that with my husband once i get there...
 
We've been here three weeks.. and it does take some getting used to with your stroller. I use a Maclaren Quest as well because it is light-weight and easy to 'pull' up and down stairs... and it seems to take the beating. Most MTR's have disabled lifts, but there still might be stairs to get to them. Places like the zoo are stroller friendly though (very nice surprise).. it's just a matter of discovering the route with ramps. People are friendly, and several have assisted me when I've been stuck in an MTR station with just stairs.. (although I suspect they are the Hk'ers who have lived/studied overseas). It is true however that you get the rude ones who quickly press the close door button on you while walking to the lift, or are able bodied but fill the lift so you have to wait... (although I also had my fair share of those in Sydney as well).
Taxi's can be a blessing and a nightmare. My son sits on my lap while we use taxi's.. and as uncomfortable with that idea as I am... again, it is generally only short taxi rides so I am getting used to the idea. I haven't had any speeding issues yet, but I have had a taxi driver who wanted to drive through red lights all the time which I was quite upset with... also, make sure you know roughly where you are going as some taxi drivers will try to 'rip you off' by taking you on a much longer route. I have had 2 taxi drivers try that with me so far (I've been to HK several times before, so I know where we should and shouldn't be going with most places on HK Island).
We don't have a car yet. We are tossing up the idea... there seems to be quite a few carparks here which are reasonably priced (in Australian terms) which may make things like shopping easier. Second hand cars are relatively cheap depending what you are after from what we have seen. Obviously you pay more for your european brands.
Choosing the apartment is a hard decision because you have so many factors to base it on. For us, the kids were our #1 priority (while staying on Hong Kong Island), so we wanted good sized bedrooms for them, and some facilities either in our complex or close by. The apartment we've got has a playground for the kids in the complex and a swimming pool. A minibus out front leaves every 15 minutes for Causeway Bay... so we're hoping we won't have too many worries. We also set a strict budget on how much we wanted to pay in rent.. make sure your husband has a good agent to do the negotiating for you as they can definitely get the rental price down, or extras (such as a car parking space) included...
Coming from a house, apartments here were a culture shock. The size of bedrooms and general living space can be quite small. Maids rooms can also be a bit of a shock to realise how some landlords expect a maid to live... but you work out what you think is a reasonable compromise and you go with it.
We're also undecided on getting a full-time maid. We are going to get a part-time maid service until we make up our minds, although we do have a maids room in our apartment to give us the option of having one when we are ready.
Hong Kong is fun for the kids... there are lots of different things to do and see aside from the shopping. There are indoor playrooms, outdoor parks, the zoo is free, a trip on a ferry is cheap, trams are challenging (with a stroller), but my 17 month old son loves them as a fun thing to do and once you get used to the MTR and which places have stroller friendly access you can venture virtually anywhere on the network to explore. I've decided not to let the accessibility issues hold me back from going out and exploring, and as such, my maclaren is getting a bit of a hammering... but it is worth it.
Good luck!!
 
Budget is usually a defining factor, unless your husband is on a package with rental then the world is your oyster! Sadly we're not, so our current search for a new flat is quite challenging.

To give you an idea, we are in 1080 Sq feet, two bedrooms, large living area, no maids room - with a baby and dog. We fit .... just. For the new place it will be 2 babies, us and a dog (plus we want our helper to live in) so we are looking at 1600-1750 Sq feet.

You'll get more for your money in Tin Hau in terms of size, but it's quite urban. We looked at some there but I was worried about the air quality.

Agree with kiwioz that facilites are great, an indoor playroom and pool is so handy with a toddler. But, I think we are going to have to trade off facilities for space as no. 2 is on the way. No way we can get the space we want for our budget, with facilities. Older style low rise buildings tend to have more sq footage but are unlikely to have the facilites - you can be lucky though.

I'm sure others will comment on Bel-Air specifically, but I think the area is great (Cyberport/Pokfulam). Sea views and lots of green space around - it's where we hope to find something.

Southside is lovely and close to beaches, but comparitively more expensive and further from town - you'd maybe then need a car for real mobility. Stanley is great but further around the coast still so traffic would be a nightmare.

Happy Valley is an option, a sort of villagey feel (in parts) whilst still close to town and a nearby tunnel that would get you quickly to the beaches of Southside.

Then there is the mid-levels - if you go high enough you will be close to nice walks but still very handy for town/zoo/classes. The Peak would be great of course (air good, lots of pre-schools, nice walks etc.), IF you can afford it.

It's very subjective, we saw 40 flats before taking our first one... Its so eye-wateringly expensive we didn't want to make a mistake. And we were childless then and the dog was our only consideration!

I'm sure people will post more advice on other potential areas.

Good luck!
 
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