People STILL not wearing masks on London buses

[custard6543]

I had to take a journey by bus earlier. There were about 10 people on the bus, three of whom were not wearing masks. Drivers need to stop letting people on without masks - these selfish passengers are putting everyone else’s lives at risk!

@LangClegsInSpace

If you can find 'ways of doing it' (aside from things like wearing it on your chin or dangling from an ear) then you are not exempt.

The reason this is important is that every time someone pops up and says, 'I'm exempt but I choose to wear one,' it makes others think that people who are actually exempt could wear one really, they're just not trying hard enough.

I would much rather be distressed wearing a mask than not wear one and get Covid. Therefore my distress (based on medical problems) warrants an exemption. It's not up to you to say I am not exempt just because I am wearing one. You don't know the distress I am going through by wearing one. You are poorly judging those that ARE exempt but choose to wear one. Are you applying your rule of thought to those children who are under 11 that choose to wear one.. are you saying they shouldn't be classed as exempt as they can wear one?

@Nacreous

Isn't the point that say you're like me (you have moderate asthma that's moderately well controlled but variable) you can wear a mask for a short period of time, on a day when your asthma isn't too bad, and it might impede your breathing but you can cope for a little while, but maybe you can't wear it for a whole bus journey or whatever.

I can wear a mask sometimes but not others. And it ultimately depends on the definition of the word "can" - I find not being able to breathe extremely unpleasant and I don't like deliberately doing things that cause me to need my reliever inhaler because one day I might not be lucky enough for it to sort things out, but obviously it probably won't kill me so maybe I "can"?

Anyway I don't wear a lanyard and it is bloody irritating hearing people go on about how awful you are (which has happened).

No, if you need an inhaler to be able to wear one then you shouldn't be wearing one.

I wonder if the woman who shouted at Alice posts on this board.

Why do people say they are exempt “But I wear one”. If you CAN wear one you are not exempt!!

But I can wear it, sometimes, for short periods without it doing that. Other days it will do, so you could probably say that I am exempt but sometimes choose to wear one - I think this is a reasonable thing to say.

Anyway I do agree with you that we don't want to create a stigma for those who can never wear masks by somehow implying it's a case of just not trying hard enough.

@HeIenaDove

Tensions are obviously high, supermarkets are a stressful environment for many.

The woman who challenged the lady who was not wearing the mask obviously had her own anxieties and stresses for reacting so strongly towards her.

There are two sides to every story, I can understand the anxiety on both sides and don’t have an answer of how to make it better.

@MaxinesTaxi

Probably true though, if selfish enough to not wear a mask (without good reason).

The woman who confronted Alice cant have been that worried about Covid or she wouldnt have got so close.

Finishing up the shopping, heading to the checkout, paying for the items, I turn to see a furious face inches from mine

I would much rather be distressed wearing a mask than not wear one and get Covid. Therefore my distress (based on medical problems) warrants an exemption. It's not up to you to say I am not exempt just because I am wearing one. You don't know the distress I am going through by wearing one. You are poorly judging those that ARE exempt but choose to wear one. Are you applying your rule of thought to those children who are under 11 that choose to wear one.. are you saying they shouldn't be classed as exempt as they can wear one?

You are claiming that you wear a mask even though it causes you severe distress? I don't think that's a good idea and it doesn't do you or anybody else any favours.

Wearing a mask will not stop you getting covid!

There is some evidence that if enough people wear one, in indoor situations where social distancing is not possible, they may help reduce the spread, by catching the droplets from the wearer. That's all.

Under 11s don't come under the 'reasonable excuse' exemptions. The rule just doesn't apply to them in the first place.

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/regulation/3

My daughter, who lives in London, and had underlying health conditions that meant she had to shield, has to catch a bus sometimes. If people who don't wear a mask that could, are also on the bus, it puts her at more risk. It is upsetting that some people don't bother. If you can't for whatever reason fair enough, but some people just aren't bothering. It's very selfish.

I take public transport as I don't have a car. I see loads of people not wearing masks. I find it hard to believe they are all exempt. Of course some of them are.

The sunflower lanyard is not perfect, but it's the best option we have. Of course some of the most crazy anti maskers would order one to pretend to be exempt, but most would not go that far. So encourage those with exemptions to get one, and empower transport staff to challenge those without as best they can.

I avoid public transport as much as possible because of the lack of mask wearing. I really resent this. I'd like to get out and about more but I don't drive. For example there's a couple of restaurants I really love which are too far away for delivery. I'd have happily gone there and got take away but I don't feel safe on public transport.

I do wonder after this is over if the Government will plunge money and research into major studies on amount of people who have had PTSD or Trauma that previously the medical profession had no idea about.

Ditto all the breathing difficulties in the population compared to other similar sized countries.

The reason this is important is that every time someone pops up and says, 'I'm exempt but I choose to wear one,' it makes others think that people who are actually exempt could wear one really, they're just not trying hard enough

And that’s the problem. There’s no way anyone could convince me that the young men sitting spread-eagled on the tube with their trakkie bottoms halfway down their arses all coincidentally happen to have some sort of hidden condition that makes them exempt from wearing a mask. So people like that - who no one will ever challenge - mean it’s hard for those of us who hate wearing a mask, but still do, to believe that every anti masker really is exempt.

I feel desperately sorry for those that have to go on public transport with health conditions. Knowing that every time they do they are risking their life. Seeing groups of people without masks must be so distressing for them. But they won't find any compassion on MN. Neither will bus drivers or teachers. It's just tough fucking luck anc if you don't like it don't go out or change jobs. Lovely.

To clarify my original post - people who genuinely cannot wear a face mask for health reasons should of course be allowed on public transport without one. As if anyone would think otherwise FFS!

BUT people who get on buses and Tubes with no mask and no reason not to wear one are selfish and are putting other people’s health at risk. If you disagree with that then quite frankly you’re an idiot and I can’t he bothered to engage with you.

@Jaxhog

Do you really think your life has been put at risk because three people on your bus weren't wearing masks?

How do you know? Someone selfish enough to not wear a mask is selfish enough not to self isolate.

Or they're, y'know, exempt.

@Akire

Why do people say they are exempt “But I wear one”. If you CAN wear one you are not exempt!!

This.

I'm so sick of 'if I can make the effort, so can you' bollocks. Some people cannot wear masks. The end.

Is it really that unbelievable that 3 people on the same service were exempt? It’s such a small number.

@ChaChaCha2012

Are you suggesting disabled people should not be allowed to use public transport because a small minority of non disabled people might be breaking the rules?

I think disabled people should be able to catch a bus...without the risk of catching Covid. Which of course has disproportionately killed disabled people. I also think the bus drivers should have the right to work in as safe an environment as possible. Too many of them died in March/April.

Have you heard of the bus driver in France, beaten nearly to death for asking a passenger to wear a mask? The poor guys are being paid absolute peanuts, have worked throughout the worst weeks of lockdown, and are constantly abused by passengers. They should have nothing to do with policing people not wearing masks. Public transport is just that- a PUBLIC transport- anyone can use it, and there will always be some idiots. If you that concerned don’t use it.

To clarify my original post - people who genuinely cannot wear a face mask for health reasons should of course be allowed on public transport without one. As if anyone would think otherwise FFS!

That's the point I and others are making though, you made a snap judgement about the 3 people on your bus, for all you know those 3 people are exempt. You cant tell who is or isn't and therefore unless there is a 100% fool proof method developed by the Government then it's not up to the poor driver to make the decision on who they permit onto the bus.

If you that concerned don’t use it.

Oh yes, and get around how exactly? Not all of us can afford a car you know - and not all of us are able to stay at home 24/7 either.

people who genuinely cannot wear a face mask for health reasons should of course be allowed on public transport without one. As if anyone would think otherwise FFS!

Oh, but they do. The abuse I've had over the past few months and the posters who pop up on every thread like this to say 'no mask, no service'/'if only we were like China!' etc etc are proof positive that many people feel that way. And threads like this fan the flames.

Oh great another opinionated idiot with no empathy who thinks those with exemptions should all lock themselves away and never go out

Dd was on the tube a few day’s ago and of all the people not wearing a mask, not one was exempt.

She knows this because the police came onto her carriage and handed out fines for those not wearing a mask and not having an exemption.

Just because a person isn’t wearing a mask doesn’t mean they are exempt. They could just be entitled a**holes

If I had breathing difficulties I'm not sure I'd want to be out and about much when there is the possibility of catching a potentially fatal respiratory disease either. Much as it might be my right to do so.

I understand the exempt mask wearers toughing it out for long enough to do the shopping then gasping into their inhalers completely. Ditto the PTSD sufferers and ASD people practicing at home for hours so they can do 5 minutes in one.

They may not be 100% effective but short of locking yourself away what else have we got? I don't want my health ruined forever and I'm sure most don't.