I was on the bus today (No 53, going from town to lowedges) and a gang of youths got on and started shouting profanity. They started with the word Bogie then progressed into stronger words which disturbed the older folks and mothers with young children. Yet no one did nothing. Most decent people want to keep there head down and stay out of trouble, probably because they dont want all the hassle of going to court for giving the scum a well deserved kick in.

Anyway, the driver said keep it down ever so quietly. I was so unimpressed. I was hoping he was going to turf them off the bus - but no. The drivers need more authority or some sort of backup.

When one of them through something at me I turned to them and we passed a few words. By this time my body was surging with adrenaline ready to kick start my muscles, but I sat back down. They did it again and this other passenger backed me up and the groups started arguing with themsevles all blaming each other. They got off at the next stop and had a bit of a pushing contest.

So what should the bus service do? I think they should either be more controling of the idiot youth and kick them off the bus. Tricky if there is more than one, I cant see many drivers wantinging all that hassle. Or they could start a new type of bus, maybe paint them two different colors, one colour bus for the chavish scum, the other for decent people, or young children with an adult.

Would it be considered a form of predudice or an infringement of human rights if you targeted the uneducated moronic youths of today in such a manor?

This is abit of a long shot, but maybe you should stop crying ?

Originally posted by 2c4s
This is abit of a long shot, but maybe you should stop crying ?


__________________________
My $0.02
I feel that you're greatly over-valuing your contribution to the thread on this occasion! ;)

One approach that has been taken in the past is for the driver to simply drive to the local nick.

He can radio ahead to his despatcher, or even request the despatcher asks the Police to send a car to meet the bus.

I'd like to see this happen occasionally, along with some serious fines or custodial sentences. The problem for a driver is that there might be half a dozen youths, any of which might be carrying a knife. The driver has responsibility for the vehicle and his passengers, but isn't a policeman. Perhaps the re-introduction of conductors might help.

This would require the collaboration of police, courts and bus companies, and passengers would have to be patient as well.

thestruggle - that was very public spirited of you. Nice to see someone standing up to these idiots.

Cheers

Joe

Originally posted by 2c4s
This is abit of a long shot, but maybe you should stop crying ?

If you have nothing of value to contribute, please don't post inane comments.

Thanks,

Joe

Conductors may be an idea, but who's going to want a job where you have to put up with that hassle day in, day out?
I think the drivers definately need some back up, but to employ another person to ride on each bus is going to drastically reduce the company's gross profit, thus resulting in... you got it: another fare increase!!! :clap:

There's no easy solution to this. CCTV/Conductors/Police back up... I just feel sorry for people who have to put up with this.

Originally posted by caprice
Conductors may be an idea, but who's going to want a job where you have to put up with that hassle day in, day out?
I think the drivers definately need some back up, but to employ another person to ride on each bus is going to drastically reduce the company's gross profit, thus resulting in... you got it: another fare increase!!! :clap:

There's no easy solution to this. CCTV/Conductors/Police back up... I just feel sorry for people who have to put up with this.

Oh I totally agree about profits - and they would pass the cost on - but it's a wider issue in that we want a safer community but we're unwilling to pay for it.

Some of this payment is in hassle - for example, if you have stops that are frequented by yobs, you don't pick up there for a few days. I'm sure the local community would start putting pressure on to calm these kids down - after all, they're someone's son, grandson, sister, brother.

Paying more might be another aspect of cost that eventually we might all end up paying for - or what about a separate levy on some services to pay towards a conductor until the behaviour improves?

Or, when you identify the kids, remove PERMANENTLY their rights to a pass. No student pass, they end up paying full fare all the time. If they carry on, extend the pass ban to their immediate family - parents, siblings. It sounds harsh but peer pressure might be the only thing that will bring these eejits in line.

Joe

When I used busses (I boycotted them well over a year ago now) I personally chose to 'deal with' several acts of loutish behaviour where the driver had failed.

I was able to do this with a result because of my imposing size (18stone) and Paddington style hard stare. :mad:

That and the fact that I choose to 'dress-down' when using buses to-from work, made me look like a bit of a nutter I guess :D

Many times the yobs would get off at their school gate :loopy: which took one phonecall from me to their headteacher when I got in.

One day the headteacher phoned me back having tracked down the louts & had them appologise to me on the phone.

Double result :thumbsup:

Trouble is these days one never knows if the lout is armed with something more than a single brain cell.

P.S. to 2c4s, I appreciate that you are only 14 but, do reconsider your opinion in 15 years when you have grown up a little. :thumbsup:

It is difficult for any driver of a bus service to stand up to a group of youths. It takes more than courage and they are on to a loss from the start and have my sypathy.

Yes some groups may calm or leave the bus but many wont. Thsi coudl either result in violence or more likely police invovlement. If a drivewr stops his bus and refuses to go further until the police arrive then it is a fact he will face complainst from joe public who will be late, same problem if he takes a trip to the local police station. However JoeP is right in that if more drivers did it it may send out a message.

Conductors will only bring additional costs which will result in higher fares or require funding from elsewhere.

Trouble on bus services is just another sad fact of todays society i'm afarid which will get worse before it gets better.

We get people lke that on the buses down here. there now saying if your under 16 then you will loose your free travel(under 16's get free travel now). they graffiti the seats and the windows. and jsut mess around. I have to pay £1.20 to use the bus