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S*odding bus driver!!

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Smowball | 09:25 Wed 05th Dec 2012 | ChatterBank
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Snowing heavy here. Son and friend left to get usual bus to school. Got on bus and realised he had left his travelcard at home. Offered the driver all his dinner money instead. Driver said no, it was still 30p short and kicked him off!!
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As an ex Bus Driver (retired, thank God) I have a lot of sympathy with the bus driver. If your on a popular school route and you've had umpteen schoolkids getting on with 'No money', 'No pass' and quite simply 'No intention to pay' it simply irritates the driver.
Most bus companies now allow minors to travel with out payment, not because of the morality aspect, but quite simply because the only other re-course is to delay the bus whilst it's sorted. Lost mileage is lost profit.

You ought to hear the 'little darlings' squeal when the ticket inspectors used to have a blitz and give all of those without a valid ticket a 'penalty fare' notice to give to their parents.

Myself, wanting a quiet life, I just used to tell them 'OK, sit down, be quiet and don't do it tomorrow'.
Just as a point of interest Smow, how old is your son?

Lisa x
I wonder if all you bleeding hearts would be as sympathetic to the driver when he lost his job for allowing non-fare-paying passengers on his bus.

This is just one of the perils of privatisation, profits before people.
"Most bus companies now allow minors to travel with out payment"

Only of an evening, not morning travel
Question Author
Sorry guys, Ive been at work. re driver - he knows my son gets the bus every single morning. And the travel card gives them free travel. so by accepting the £2 my son was offering he would have been making money for a change from the kids. It was heavy snow, on a main road and he just made him get on and let all his friends on. Bet if it was a colleagues son he wouldnt have kicked him off!
it may sound a bit mean but thats his job.

hes heard it all before.
this is the morning, broad daylight and presumably very near to your house ... he probably just thought, well he can go home and get it.

if it was midnight and deserted then yes id think there was a safety error of judgement... but theres no reason to think a child cannot be in the street without being in danger at this time.


i was dragged off a bus when i was 14, by a lad from my school - it was about 10pm and my sister an mate were screaming at him - they had hold of my hair and he had my clothes and they were both pulling me - eventually we fell apart and the driver just closed the doors and drove off the second i was through the door, my sister and friend freaking out - he wouldnt stop to let them off.

the lad didnt do anything to me, he just laughed and walked off.. he just wanted to annoy me and make me miss my bus ... but it could have been much worse ... the driver just couldnt care less, and just didnt want to be late.... disgusting

i wish i had reported him at the time.
Question Author
Just had an email from TFL re me speaking to them yesterday:

Basilly it says they were disappointed with the drivers conduct and he should have not asked my son to get off the bus. It is standard practise now when a child or adult does not have their travelcard, is to issue then with a UPN - an Unpaid Fare Notice, which gives the passenger 7 days to pay the fare and therefore be allowed to travel on the bus. Nobody is meant to be refused to travel.

Clearly with a busy bus in the morning he didnt want to fill one of these in.
Couldn't 'all of his friends' chip in the 30 pence?
Tfl are almost right, if it were an adult a UPN should be issued, if the adult is prepared to give a name and address (they don't always!).

A minor is a different kettle of fish. A UPN involves taking Name and Address. TFL are quite aware that Drivers have officially objected to this as several have been accused of 'grooming' after asking for name and address details of minors. 'Grooming' is treated very harshly as should be expected.

What should have happened is that the Driver should have issued a 'Yellow ticket' (I cannot remember the official name for it) to the minor and allowed free travel. Nowhere on the 'yellow ticket' is recorded name or address details, only the reason for issue ie: No money, no pass, in distress. This ticket is then handed in at the end of shift.
Question Author
Thanks SA.
Neveracrossword - I did ask him this and none of his 'mates' had enough spare change!

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