Here are some tips for traveling on public transport in Glasgow with a baby or toddler.  If your baby is in a sling or walking beside you, then you can travel as easily as you've always done.  If your wee one is in a pram, however, be prepared to follow the sometimes tricky rules below.  Happily, Glaswegians are often friendly and kind, offering to hold doors, carry prams up steps, or give you their seats along with their child-rearing wisdom.

Buses
There are several types of buses in Glasgow, but only the newest ones are designed to accommodate prams.  You can recognize a new bus by the large open area at its front that contains only two seats, allowing lots of space for wheelchairs or prams. Here is an official description of this good type of bus from the First bus company:

'Our new buses are fitted with a ‘kneeling’ mechanism that enables the driver to lower the passenger door closer to the pavement level. This allows easier boarding for the elderly, disabled passengers, or those with buggies, luggage, etc.'

If you board a new bus, you will be able to keep your child in the pram with the brake on, while you sit next to the pram on a seat.  If there is already another pram or two on the bus, however, you may be refused entry.  The space at the front will only accommodate two prams at most.

The older types of buses have steps for boarding that are divided in two by a metal railing.  In order to board this type of bus, you will need to fold your pushchair and place it in a holding rack at the front.  Traveling with a baby or toddler on the older buses is quite a struggle, so it's best avoided if possible.  Some bus drivers of the older buses will even refuse entry to parents and children who are traveling with a pram.

Trains
Glasgow's trains are easy to board with a child in a pram. Most trains now have several wheelchair-accessible areas on them, which are more spacious and allow you to sit next to your child. Look for the wheelchair sign next to a door when you're boarding.  A few of the older trains require that you stay in a designated area on the train. (This is usually the front or the back; the driver will often tell you.) There is no need to fold your pushchair or pram on a train. 

Lifts are available at Queen Street Station, Central Station, and Charing Cross Station.   Partick Station has  escalators.  Most other stations have lots of steps to climb.  Fortunately, Glaswegians are often friendly and helpful, offering to help you carry your pram up or down. 

Underground
When Glasgow's subway opened in 1896, no one thought about accessibility for prams.  Most stations had narrow entrances, long staircases, and slippery platforms. Not much has changed since then. 

It's best to travel with your baby in a sling or with your toddler walking.  If you wish to travel with a pushchair, be aware that you'll need to fold it before entering and keep it folded throughout your journey.  You will also need to fold your pushchair while riding on escalators.  This may work, if your child is willing to stand still or walk as required, holding your hand, while you maneuver the pushchair through the barriers, up and down stairs or escalators, and into an out-of-the-way space on the train.  If your child is as lively as mine, however, you might want to forget about using the subway seriously for travel.  Leave the pram at home and use this as a fun adventure in its own right. 

Here is the official statement on travel with young children from Strathclyde Passenger Transport:

'Parents with young children should fold pushchairs to avoid accidents on stairs, escalators or platforms.  Space on the small trains is so limited that pushchairs have to remain folded.  Please ask station staff if you need help.  Unfortunately, again because of space restrictions, it is not possible to accommodate large prams and pushchairs.'

Taxis
If you need to travel with your child in a Glasgow taxi, it's best to bring your child's car seat with you.  Glasgow Taxis (0141 429 7070) promises that each taxi has an 'integral child seat with lap and diagonal seatbelts', but these are intended for older children and not all taxis have them.