Natalie Turner, of Kirkby Drive, Ripon, was travelling on the 36 bus from Ripon to Harrogate to visit a friend on December 13, when she had to get off the bus for medical reasons.
Miss Turner explained she was ill to the driver and needed to leave the bus in Ripley to use the public toilet.
Despite holding a valid £4.80 bus ticket, the bus driver told her she would not be allowed back on the bus or on the next bus if she left to use the toilet –so the 19-year-old student had no choice but to walk along the dark rural route to Harrogate in minus two degrees.And mum is, of course, furious. And does, of course, charge straight into the fray in the local newspaper:
Miss Turner’s mum Vikki, 46, said she is “appalled at the blatant disregard for a young girl, travelling alone, in extreme temperatures in the dark along a lonely road.”
Mrs Turner, a nurse for a GP practice in Ripon, told the Gazette: “Natalie didn’t have any cash on her and was only wearing a short skirt with tights and a leather jacket instead of a coat.”Bit hard to see how that's something that's the fault of the bus company.
H/T: APILN
14 comments:
I assume you did notice the bit about her having medical reasons for needing to go to the bog? Have a heart.
-2 is an extreme temperature? If it was that cold, why did she dress like a lap dancer in an equatorial climate? Perhaps it was 23 degrees when she left the house, e.g. In August.
Regardless of the girl's clothing, it's pretty jobsworth of the bus company, no?
If she had a medical reason then it is fair to say that she (and mum) may have expected such an incident...BE PREPARED - they weren't, she wasn't and so, as ever, it becomes someone else's fault. Bit harsh? maybe....but maybe a lesson learned - something Mum - a GP practice nurse should have banged into the silly little girl a while ago.
If she had a medical reason then it is fair to say that she (and mum) may have expected such an incident...BE PREPARED - they weren't, she wasn't and so, as ever, it becomes someone else's fault. Bit harsh? maybe....but maybe a lesson learned - something Mum - a GP practice nurse should have banged into the silly little girl a while ago.
Stonyground Says:
Not exactly a great advertisement for public transport either is it?
I don't see the problem.
MOST tickets do not allow a "break in the journey".
The bus driver was merely pointing this out.
And, IF she has "a medical problem", why the Hel was she not signed off sick and staying at home, instead of travelling the country dressed like a tart?
If the bus driver had eve experienced BPH, Over-active bladder or irritable bowel syndrome, he might have taken a more sympathetic view. Sometimes, when you've gotta go, you've gotta go and those ailments can trigger a sudden urge irrespective of when you last went. It's a real problem that affects an awful lot of people.
Not a great advert for the bus company, frankly.
Silly question but if she was "traveling... to visit a friend" one assumes she would then 'travel home by bus' and therefore would have had sufficient funds to pay for the return journey, yes?
So the little dear decided to walk instead of wait for the next bus, or spend the money and borrow enough for the return. Just how is that our or the bus drivers concern?
Being 'caught short' is no fun but an adult (and 19 is an adult in anybodies book) would have prepared and had something in reserve 'just in case', or knowing of the possibility, purchased a ticket allowing multiple journeys (eg, Day-saver), No? Maybe 'mummy' should stop whingeing and just start taking her little dear to her friends to play since she obviously shouldn't be let out on her own FFS
Oh, and I'm betting 'being let off' wasn't the issue for the driver, it was probably having to stop and wait whilst she 'powdered her nose'. My experience, being a smoker who has travelled regularly on longer distance bus routes, is that when the stop is a long one the drivers don't bat an eye if you nip off for a 'crafty'.
Just Sayin'
Having had a cursory glance at the local rag, I've got to agree with Bessie, Mark and Longrider. If the story is anywhere near true, the incident occurred late afternoon, so it is unlikely that Natalie was 'overly refreshed' and so requiring an unscheduled 'comfort stop' for that reason.
As I now approach my dotage, I can sympathize with anyone unexpectedly caught short through no fault of their own. If I were in a similar position, I would hope that the transport company would be sympathetic enough to allow me to continue the journey on a later bus, having already bought a valid ticket, even if I had broken the letter of the contract due to extenuating circumstances.
It does rather smack of jobsworth syndrome, the curse of the times.
"I assume you did notice the bit about her having medical reasons..."
I read that that's the reason her mother gave, yes. Does that mean I wholeheartedly believe her?
Errr, no.
"If it was that cold, why did she dress like a lap dancer in an equatorial climate?"
Ever been to Newcastle in winter at club turning out time..? ;)
"Regardless of the girl's clothing, it's pretty jobsworth of the bus company, no?"
As FT & Able point out, the rules and conditions for travel on public transport are quite clear. The driver could be sacked for failing to uphold them.
"Not exactly a great advertisement for public transport either is it?"
So...the rest of the passengers should be inconvenienced for this one girl?
"If the bus driver had eve experienced BPH, Over-active bladder or irritable bowel syndrome, he might have taken a more sympathetic view."
Well, that's if she has one. I'm doubtful.
Well, that's if she has one. I'm doubtful.
Which, of course, neither did he. If she did and only she would really know (although IBS sufferers tend to have a card to show people when asking to use a toilet on private premises), the inconvenience would have been minor and no harm would have been done.
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