London Buses - School Party Travel - Driver Refusing Travel

[flythetube]

Ok, so full circumstances not entirely known but this afternoon whiist travelling on Route 93 (Running No. 4), direction NORTH CHEAM, a school party wished to board between Tibbets Corner and Wimbledon War Memorial but the driver refused them travel.

Plenty of seats available.

When we get to Wimbledon Hill, again, another School Party wished to board and again was refused and again plenty of seats on board.

Teachers were remonstrating with the driver and passengers also remonstrating with the driver all to no avail.

It may have been that neither party had obtained tickets through the regimented School Party Travel Scheme and under that scheme anyone under 18 is considered a Child and all those over thus an Adult.

10 Chiidren allowed per adult according to the SPTS Terms & Conditions.

School Parties at both locations were of Primary School age with a ratio of 6 children per adult.

Rang Tfl Customer Services whose stance was if they don’t have tickets from the scheme then they will allow travel at the ratio of 4 children per adult, which just seems like CS rep is using family travel as the guidance.

The kids travel free on London Buse whatever the circumstances so apart from all the regulations associated with the scheme, should not common sense and discretion come into play here?

I suspect they were all headed to the Wimbledon Polka Kids theatre for something and this could have caused them to be late and missing the start of a performance.

Plus the kids will have a negative view of bus travel telling their parents or carers that they were not allowed on the bus (well that one).

Any Tfl Bus Drivers have guidance or experiences of conveying School Parties whether as part of the scheme or not?

Who is right?

Who is wrong here?

 

[318266]

This concept is foreign to me - from Scotland where entourages of pupils at much higher ratios than 4:1 are perfectly fine as long as they all have their passes!

 

[Busaholic]

The 93 is a London General route, operated by Sutton Garage now as almost since the dawn of time, so it might be anyone concerned should contact them for comment on these particular circumstances, rather than a generic reply from TfL.

 

[londonbridge]

Waiting for an SL7 this morning, when it arrived a whole class of kids all in high-vis vests piled off, obviously on some sort of outing, had to wait a couple of mins for them to all come down from the top deck, didn’t count how many adults were with them.

 

[richw]

In Cornwall some schools have picked up on the family ticket being 2 adults and unlimited children to get good value travel. It certainly makes things interesting when 2 teachers appear with 20 kids.

Did the bus in London have adequate capacity for the group?

 

[flythetube]

In Cornwall some schools have picked up on the family ticket being 2 adults and unlimited children to get good value travel. It certainly makes things interesting when 2 teachers appear with 20 kids.

Did the bus in London have adequate capacity for the group?

Yes, the bus had more than enough capacity for the first school party, although had they been on board at the time of encountering the second party then the second party would have had to wait for a subsequent bus, which being London isn’t that long!!!

 

[richw]

Yes, the bus had more than enough capacity for the first school party, although had they been on board at the time of encountering the second party then the second party would have had to wait for a subsequent bus, which being London isn’t that long!!!

Would the driver have been aware of a pre booked school party further down the route

 

[flythetube]

Would the driver have been aware of a pre booked school party further down the route

I have no idea if the School Party Travel Scheme after issuing and sending tickets fir a particular date and intended time of travel actually then notify relevant garages so that they may post up some sort of notice as to party travel that day.

Maybe they should if they don’t.

Not sure how that would work with remote booking on away from the garage or change of drivers en route as not all drivers may have had an opportunity to read any notices!!

Driver could / should? have called control to let them know school parties were waiting for subsequent buses but might not have wanted to dob himself in by having to explain why he didn’t take them.