I don’t know if this relates to the whole country or just here in London.
At the age of 11 children need to have an oyster card to travel free on the buses,
My daughter today forgot her oyster card for school as she gets a lift to school didn’t realise until home time.
She has to get two buses home from school and is 11 so has just started secondary schools.
She realised when walking to the bus stop that she didn’t have her pass, and tried to explain to the bus driver what had happened, she had her twin brother with her to, she was told she would have to pay or get off the bus there was nothing he could do. They don’t have money at school they have a lunch card and bus pass, so never need cash on them
They have just walked the three plus miles back from school.
I think to throw an 11 year old off the bus is appalling when full time students up to the age of 18 are entitled to free bus travel.
Am I alone in feeling this way?
What are others views?
The driver could have just let her off,she had a valid reason...he was quite clealy a cock!
I agree with Mr-Powers.
The only duty that people should feel bound to is the one that looks after children! Stuff the profits for big business ...
It is nothing to do with insurance!
One lousy piece of plastic should not be what it takes to keep our children safe!
Depends entirely on the circumstances.
Be ye throwin them powder monkeys head, or feet first?*
*Winchwench accepts no responsibility for posts made by her alter ego for the day, Pirate's Wench
I would advise your daughter in a case like that in future (although her oyster card will probably be the one thing she never forgets again!) to simply have returned to school. Am sure the school office/student services would have subbed her bus fare.
It is difficult. I work in a job where child protection is paramount. I also use public transport daily and the number of kids who use the 'I've forgotten my pass' line round here is overwhelming.
The bus driver is stuck in a dilemma really isn't he? As others have said, he could be disciplined for carrying passengers without a ticket. He also cannot afford to let every child who uses the excuse get on without paying either.
I am not for a minute saying your child was or would blag. But a number of kids do. Tricky.
Definitely advise them to return to school in future if any concerns or queries like that.
Nola x
I definitely know the answer to this one and that is No bus driver can either remove or ask a child to get off his bus because she/he doesn't have their fare.
If the parent were to complain to the bus company there is a good chance that the driver would be sacked.
Once again Bus Drivers cannot throw kids off buses, they can stop them traveling tho but not if the reason is that they don't have any money and they can't throw them off once they become passengers.
Depends if there is grass or concrete on the other side of the door :lol2:
I do think the driver was wrong specially since you have explained the lobster card