The Scoop

Health and safety fears stop passengers hopping on and off London's new bus

Adam Bienkov | Tuesday 25 June, 2013 18:23

Staff on Boris Johnson’s new hop-on, hop-off bus are preventing passengers from hopping on or off due to safety concerns, Transport for London have admitted.

The rear platform is closed during the evening and when there is only one member of staff on board.

However some passengers have also reported staff routinely blocking the rear platform in between stops.

One ‘conductor’ reportedly told passengers:

“You can’t get off except at the stop, it’s health and safety.”

TfL today insisted that passengers could alight in between stops but admitted that some staff were being too restrictive.

In a statement they said they were working to ensure that conductors balance passenger safety with “freedom of choice.”

A spokesperson told The Scoop that: “The role of the conductor on the New Bus for London is primarily to ensure the safe boarding and alighting of passengers using the open platform.” but added that

“Passengers are able to hop on and hop off the bus between stops if the bus is stationary in traffic. The conductor will advise passengers to watch out for moving traffic. We are working with the new conductors to ensure they balance the need to keep passengers safe with the need to allow passengers the freedom of choice to hop on and off the bus when they want to.”

Further confusion has been caused by TfL’s current conditions of carriage which state that:

“on our bus services, you must board or alight from the vehicle only at official bus stops”

Previous statements from City Hall have“repeated this advice” in relation to London’s new bus.

The new buses have also experienced a series of technical problems this week. A number of the buses on the first fully operational route reportedly broke down during service.

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