Is there a solution to this growing problem?

I think if they offer cash, but it’s a cashless bus, that is different to not trying to pay, full stop.

Not sure of the solution, however!

I suppose cashless has come about partly because of robberies of the cash?

I take Witzend’s point, too, but it had me thinking about the difference between refusal to pay and refusal of payment. The first I would consider to be wrong on the part of the person who refused to pay, the second is surely wrong on the part of the service provider.

Though, if course, it also depends on how one views the bus service. Should it be a purely profit generating business or should it be a public service which contributes to the general ‘good’ of society, and so available to as many people as possible.

I would have commended the driver of the ‘no cash’ bus for his act of kindness. I think it’s very sad that the recipient of that kindness is suspected of being fraudulent. Is there no space for trust these days?

MaizieD I agree with your post of 09.12.26 👍

As an ex-bus driver, I've been physically assaulted 3 times, one of which I was head-butted by a drunken moron who had recently been released from ''prison'', the ''police'' were utterly useless, one of which, while he didn't actually say it, made it very clear that as a woman bus driver, I should be driving prams, not busses.

Loads of times over the 2 years I was driving, I was spat at, kicked, punched, threatened with all kinds of stuff, various sexist, women-hating remarks, etc. I was groped and had vile sexual comments. Various bullies and scumbags.

Not just me, but other drivers, male and female. A trans driver, from male to female, had all kinds of freaks having a go at her.

I've worked in retail where an old woman in her 80s tried to actually mug me for my handbag as I was leaving the shop after my shift. In retail, restaurants and cafes, I've been physically assaulted and verbally abused and treated like filth by customers AND other staff.

The world is getting far worse.

TheWeirdoAgain60

As an ex-bus driver, I've been physically assaulted 3 times, one of which I was head-butted by a drunken moron who had recently been released from ''prison'', the ''police'' were utterly useless, one of which, while he didn't actually say it, made it very clear that as a woman bus driver, I should be driving prams, not busses.

Loads of times over the 2 years I was driving, I was spat at, kicked, punched, threatened with all kinds of stuff, various sexist, women-hating remarks, etc. I was groped and had vile sexual comments. Various bullies and scumbags.

Not just me, but other drivers, male and female. A trans driver, from male to female, had all kinds of freaks having a go at her.

I've worked in retail where an old woman in her 80s tried to actually mug me for my handbag as I was leaving the shop after my shift. In retail, restaurants and cafes, I've been physically assaulted and verbally abused and treated like filth by customers AND other staff.

The world is getting far worse.

That’s bloody awful. So very sorry and thank you for your service 😊

And it is the world, especially the ‘western world’ of so called ‘civilised’ and advanced nations. Not just the UK. When there is talk about the UK going downhill and being broken I think to myself, tell me a country in Europe, Australia, Canada etc and the USA that isn’t. The ones on the ‘up’ are China, Poland, Singapore - not the traditional ones.

I was verbally abused when I worked at the hospital. It’s horrible.

Witzend

Calendargirl

Witzend

Only 2 days ago dh and I were on a bus where a young man who was refusing to pay, had been told by the driver to get off the bus. He stood right by the driver’s area, very loudly abusing him, while the driver maintained that he wasn’t moving until the bloke either paid or got off, and if he didn’t very soon, he’d be calling the police.
He did eventually take himself off.

Good for the bus driver.

Of course, it will be pointed out that you never know if the offender is carrying a knife…..

But why should these idiots get away with blatantly refusing to pay their due?

OTOH more than once I have seen some scruffy looking bloke whose means of payment was refused (no cash on our buses) then saying to the driver e.g. ‘Look mate, I’m only going for a couple of stops…’ and being waved on inside.

I dare say the drivers just can’t be bothered with the aggro if they decline.

That's got me thinking for the day then - ie just how does anyone pay for their busfare on a bus that deliberately refuses cash? Are people expected to pay from a smartphone? Do they accept credit and debit cards?

What are the mechanics of how one pays other than cash if cash is all one has? Do they think you're supposed to get back off the bus again and do without your bus ride? Serious question. I'm assuming they have to accept people paying with their debit/credit cards - if they're someone that doesn't pay for things with a smartphone?

I've not had to think about that for years - as I was 60 when I moved to Wales and started needing to take buses here - and I've just been paying by waving my pensioner card at them.
So how to pay only arises when I got back to England and up comes the "Why can't I use my pensioner buspass somewhere else in Britain?" debate (though I know it's not accepted the other side of the border and still havent gone into the ins and outs as to why it isnt). I just think "How odd" and resignedly pay (in cash).