Buses World News
In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry
RACISM on BUSES * UK - Bus passenger was victim of racist abuse
A man victim of racist abuse on a Southampton bus
Southampton, UK -The Daily Echo, by Bethan Phillips -12 October 2010: -- The incident happened during a journey between the city and Hedge End after an Asian passenger boarded the number 3 Solent Blue Line bus... Another passenger refused to let the man sit next to him and made racist remarks... When an 18-year-old white woman and her male friend intervened, the man tried to punch the woman’s friend and ripped his top... The attacker got off near the Bittern Pub on Thornhill Park Road, and walked to Somerfield petrol station where he intimidated staff... The police were called and a 44-year-old man has been arrested... Labels: discriminations
RACISM * South Africa - Indian bus owners claim racist bid to shut them down
Durban Indian bus owners say they are being forced out of business by rivals. Vehicles have been torched and operators threatened
Durban,South Africa -The Times (Johannesburg,Gauteng,South Africa), by Narissa Subramoney -Sep 13, 2008: -- ... Last week, a transport operator had two buses torched in Newlands West, while another owner reported that his bus was set alight in Cato Manor two weeks ago... Speaking to the Sunday Times Extra this week, a group of 11 operators from Tongaat, Phoenix and Newlands West said they had been victimised and intimidated to close their business... Chan Rumnundan, owner of Mona Lisa Bus Services in Tongaat, said he lost five buses in June. He said he had received anonymous phone threats to stop operating his remaining four buses. “The threats were very specific. They told me they don’t want Indian buses in black areas, and if I didn’t stop, they would burn the rest of the buses”... Another bus owner, Satish Dipchund of Siyabonga Coachlines, lost his entire fleet of seven buses last year. Before the buses were set alight, Dipchund said taxis blocked the road and started removing passengers and forcing them into the taxis... He said his decision to stop operating sparked a public outcry from the community, who called for the return of the buses. Soon afterwards, he lost his entire fleet... Bus owners claim the threats are racially motivated... Bala Reddy of Flaming Rock Express said his buses were damaged and stoned. As a result, he withdrew three buses from the route...Labels: discriminations
Discrimination * Malta - Immigrants 'refused boarding' on buses
Two immigrant Eritreans have claimed that a bus driver at the Valletta terminus did not let them ride his vehicle because of their skin colour
Valletta,Malta -The Times of Malta, by Herman Grech -30 May 207: -- While the Malta Transport Authority said it would be questioning the bus driver about the alleged incident this morning, immigrants at the Marsa centre say that such occurrences are not uncommon... The two men had been shopping at the open-air market in Valletta last Sunday and planned to return to the Marsa open centre on the No. 3 bus... But, as soon as Aman Hiyabu Drar, 30, and Yonas Maosho 35, set foot on the bus at 11.20 a.m., the driver ordered them off, immediately shutting the door behind them, they said. There were just four other passengers on the bus and plenty of space available...Labels: discriminations
DISCRIMINATION * Lithuania - Off their trolley!
zsbvKaunas,Lithuania -Gay.com (UK) -17 May, 2007: -- ... Trolley-bus drivers in Lithuania have a different problem entirely, and it has nothing to do with revolting passengers... Drivers are refusing to drive buses which sport adverts advocating tolerance towards the LGBT community, which is barely visible anyway... Algirdas Krivickas, director of the trolley bus company in the town of Kaunas, said employees had reacted strongly to the adverts which read: "A gay can serve in the police" and "A lesbian can work at school"... So, it seems the forward thinking drivers would rather make locals walk for miles with their shopping than surreptitiously bring a bit more love to the world... Perhaps, in the future, buses should carry adverts reading "An idiot can drive a bus"... Following the drivers' protests the allegedly offensive adverts now been removed...Labels: discriminations
