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Original poster

Mum kicked off bus because of crying child.

33 replies

wellsie · 07/09/2004 09:28

Did anyone see this on GMTV this morning?
A mum with 6 bags of shopping, 2yr old twins and an older child (not sure of age) were told to get off the bus as one of the twins was crying. Apparently the bus driver stopped the bus and told them to get off as he had had a gut full of her kids!
Now, I'm sure the 2yo was just playing up like any 2yo but is this fair, I mean the poor mum, it's not like she wanted this to happen. Luckily she was only a short walk from home but I'm horrified by this. When she rang the bus station they backed the action of the driver, apparently they can ask anyone to leave if they are being a distraction, well, how many bus drivers have you seen talking to people they know with only one eye on the road!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, felt really strongly about this so thought I'd post and see what others thought.

OP posts:
earlygirl · 07/09/2004 09:32

thats disgusting
which bus company was it?

MummyToSteven · 07/09/2004 09:33

Just consulted DH who used to be a bus driver - he agrees that technically bus drivers can ask anyone being a distraction to leave the bus, but that given the age of the children the actions of the bus driver were "a bit unreasonable"

earlygirl · 07/09/2004 09:33

its also dangerous if she had to walk far with her toddler and all that shopping if it was a busy road

ks · 07/09/2004 09:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

OldieMum · 07/09/2004 09:34

Dreadful, particularly considering how many mothers of young children rely on public transport. My experience has been very different. My mother and I took dd (20 months) on the train to London last week, also catching the tube. Everywhere, people helped us carry the pushchair up and down stairs and we received lots of smiles.

Angeliz · 07/09/2004 09:34

I saw it wellsie, i think it's a bloody disgrace!
I've been on buses where school age children are doing my head in they're that noisy but they don't get chucked off! (Maybe cause thet'd answer back???)
I CAN understand the point about the driver not being too distracted but i think you can't just chuck toddlers of for crying!!

OldieMum · 07/09/2004 09:35

Surely a situation in which a child is crying on a bus is so common that drivers should be trained how to shut it out? Doesn't it come with the territory?

Original poster
wellsie · 07/09/2004 09:37

MTS, yep they can ask anyone to leave, they showed the legal statement on GMTV but I just think it was totally unfair that poor mum.
Earlygirl, it was somewhere in Newport, can't remember the name of the company.
KS, bus drivers are permanently attached to their mobiles aren't they?!

OP posts:
MummyToSteven · 07/09/2004 09:38

Oldiemum - haven't children's cries been "designed" by evolution so that they are difficult to shut out

MummyToSteven · 07/09/2004 09:39

Oh yes I completely agree Wellsie. The last thing you need with a crying child to sort out is to be turfed off a bus!

OldieMum · 07/09/2004 09:45

mummytosteven - yes, but you don't see women crashing their cars every time their babies cry. Perhaps musnetters could offer training to bus drivers on driving whilst soothing a crying baby, singing 'the runaway train', handing back a teddy that has fallen out of the car seat, counting buses to entertain the child (or is that just me)...?

Avalon · 07/09/2004 09:55

That's absolutely awful. Surely it sets a dangerous precedent? If anybody finds out the address of the company concerned, I'll gladly write and complain.

earlygirl · 07/09/2004 09:56

me too

Kayleigh · 07/09/2004 10:04

I saw this too. Couldn't quite believe it. That poor woman. And what an ignorant view from the bus company. Are people with young children supposed to stay home for the first 5 years of the kids lives ??????

ks · 07/09/2004 10:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

JuniperDewdrop · 07/09/2004 10:10

I think we should all write or email. OMG I'm sooo angry If I'd been on that bus I'd have stuck up for her or even got off with her to help

lisalisa · 07/09/2004 10:12

Message withdrawn

RobA · 07/09/2004 12:30

I emailed GMTV for details of the bus company in case anyone is interested in directing their anger.

This is the response I got:

"Good Morning,

The bus company was Glyn Williams travel, part of their statement said that: 'The law states that if a person distracts the driver or causes discomfort to another passenger, they can be asked to leave the bus. This is at the driver's discretion...........'

Thank you for your email. Have a good week."

With a little bit of "Google'ing", I came across the details for Glyn Williams Travel. Also, given that all bus services are subsidised, comments to the relevant local authorities would probably have an effect too.

earlygirl · 07/09/2004 12:33

were are the contact details(feeling bit thick this morning)

nutcracker · 07/09/2004 13:23

Blimey thats awful.

Think i'd have refused to get off if it had been me.

fee77 · 07/09/2004 13:50

i agree, it is awful. I think the bus driver was just trying to assert his authority, and unfortunately the mum was an easy target. There are always teenagers messing around, being noisy, smoking etc on the buses round here but the bus drivers are too scared to say anything as they know they will get a gob full back. That poor mum was probably too stressed and shocked to reply. Let's find the bastard and strap a baby to him and see how he likes it!

MeanBean · 07/09/2004 14:18

Isn't it indirect sex discrimination? Are bus companies honestly saying that they reserve the right to refuse to transport mothers of young children? Because in that case, I hope mothers of young children will be exempt from any future congestion charges.

libb · 07/09/2004 14:26

so what do late night drivers do when they are carting drunken yobs singing rubbish and manhandling females passengers home? I have been on a few last bus runs and it is a nightmare - never once has one of our bus drivers stopped and kicked a pished person off.

The lady in the shop happened to mention the article to me as DS was grizzling in her shop this morning - appalling.

connyflower · 07/09/2004 15:39

ny dad is a bus driver and has always told me no matter what you dont have to get off a bus the driver would have to get police! no way would she have had to by company policy get off the bus obviously the driver was a bully! you can get on a bus without your fare if you leave the driver with your name and address! she should never have got off! suppose it was pure embarassement!

MadameButterfly · 07/09/2004 16:32

When I got the bus home from town today, a lady that I know to talk to said to DD "you better not be too noisy or the driver will throw you off".

I knew she was joking and we got talking about this.

I think it is absolutely disgraceful. I bet he would not have done it if it was a school child.