Crackdown on feet on seats

Deborah Linton

November 19, 2008

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COUNCIL bosses have launched a crackdown on anti-social behaviour on buses - targeting people who put their feet on seats.

Manchester council says it can be `very intimidating' to see someone put their feet up and then have to sit on the dirt they leave behind. The campaign has been launched with local bus companies - and organisers say anecdotal evidence from the public suggests it is one of their biggest bugbears.

Stagecoach, First Group, Arriva and Bluebird will all display signs to encourage better manners on their vehicles. Tommy Walsh, of Manchester's Valuing Older People group, said: "Most people wouldn't dream of putting their feet on bus seats, but some do it on a regular basis.

"It can be very intimidating. And who wants to sit on the dirt left behind on the seat by someone's shoes?"

Passengers who are caught will not be fined, but environment spokesman Coun Richard Cowell said they wanted to make journeys more pleasant and promote good manners.

Stagecoach marketing manager, Karen Coventry, said: "Stagecoach Manchester has made a considerable investment in new buses and are in the last stage of completing a £15m investment for 2008.

"A new bus costs £150,000 and it's always disheartening to see people ruining the seats with dirty feet."

Student Kathleen Jennings found herself in court after rail firm Merseyrail introduced a similar policy, but used fines to hammer home their message.

The M.E.N. reported last year how the 19-year-old was one of 600 passengers due to be taken to court by the firm after getting a fixed penalty notice.

Kathleen, from Oldham, who could have faced a maximum fine of £1,000 after being caught with her flip-flops on the seat for 10 seconds, was handed an absolute discharge by magistrates, who labelled the company action `draconian'.

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PW, Manchester (19/11/2008 at 07:43)

They are going to try to teach some people basic manners? Well, good luck!

A Bus Driver (19/11/2008 at 08:31)

Maybe they will teach the passengers to come on the bus one at a time and not all plunge on like little children the second the doors open.

Albert J Beancounter, At Home (19/11/2008 at 08:46)

A spokeperson for the Yes con-pain said:
"This slight problem will be solved well before the 2013 implementation of the con charge, passenger can be assured that the cabin personel will be able to serve you drinks and that your viewing of the in bus tv or playing on the inbuilt play-stations will not be affected".

Marc (19/11/2008 at 09:27)

I'm so glad my tax money is being spent on the real issues at hand.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (19/11/2008 at 09:37)

How right they are too,workers putting their dirty riggers/wellies/boots on seats as well as youths putting their feet on seats denying others particularly the elderly and disabled is wrong and it SHOULD be stamped down on even if it means fines and even prison for offenders,also the dirt on seats can spoil other people's clothes which is particularly irritating,especially where you have to been clean and presentable for interviews or meetings.

Manchester by Day (19/11/2008 at 11:09)

I wonder if this will extend to the yobs that travel on the top decks? I doubt it. More likely the officials will target middle class students.

emometalhed, Rochdale (19/11/2008 at 11:11)

maybe they should crackdown on the people who sit at the back of the bus whilst their music is playing on their phone out loud

Marc (19/11/2008 at 11:41)

'maybe they should crackdown on the people who sit at the back of the bus whilst their music is playing on their phone out loud'

Agreed. Possibly the most annoying thing that can happen to you on a bus.

Last Pint of Holts, Middleton Manchester (19/11/2008 at 11:51)

This is why I wont use the bus. Full of the ‘great unwashed’ and ignorant!

JTC Formerley JimC (19/11/2008 at 12:16)

I once sat on a bus seat that was soaked in urine, luckily i was not far from my mothers,so i was able to go and get cleaned up. Possibly one ot the most disgusting things i have experienced on public transport.

Nasty.

Ace for PM (A.K.A Ex BD 118 118), Manchester (19/11/2008 at 12:55)

i think it was between 1990-1993 Gm Buses Introduced signs that said "from such a date there will no longer be smoking allowed" some 15+ years on and people still smoke on the buses, even on single deck vehicles

SO WHY are companies wasting their time and money making these signs that the ignorant public especially the youth and scumbag dole dossers will see fit to ignore just like the no smoking signs

Solution is simple those seats at the back which do enable people to use as footrests make them hard solid plastic

Ace for PM (A.K.A Ex BD 118 118), Manchester (19/11/2008 at 12:57)

JTC thats not uncommon thesedays alot of the buses can be smelling and sometimes have urine on them however its not the drivers or the company thats putting it there

Same with the litter No bus company in the country/world employs anyone within the company to drop litter on the bus

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (19/11/2008 at 13:35)

Bean B4, manchester (19/11/2008 at 13:45)

Once you've all been herded onto the bus by the introduction of the Congestion Tax, they will remove the seats altogether thus solving the problem of feet on seats.

VOTE NO FOR PROGRERSS.

Marc (19/11/2008 at 14:13)

Jim, thats pretty disgusting. I once heard a guy on the seat next to me making a honking noise. I moved just in time to avoid his projectile vomiting.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (19/11/2008 at 15:13)

BeanB4,how do you know the bus companies will remove their seats from their buses to make everyone standup once the congestion charge is in place? THEY WON'T.

JTC Formerley JimC (19/11/2008 at 15:20)

Marc it was, i wonder if the congestion charge will include nappies and sick bags for people using public transport.

Ted Striker, Banned from being Cunning for no apparent reason it would seem... (19/11/2008 at 16:20)

I would also give bus drivers THE FULL RIGHT to eject; ignorant smokers who light up on buses young AND old, antisocial children and youths who behave badly and cause damage/assault passengers, anyone who plays music loudly on their phones/mp3 players, as well as people putting their feet on the seats.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire

I'd say they can do that to a certain extent anyway. But be honest, you're a bus driver on your own. Are you going to go up to a group of lads on the back of a bus and tell them to put their fags out or else you'll throw them off??

No, I wouldn't either...

JJ against Leese's Tax! (19/11/2008 at 18:11)

One of the big problems is that drivers are intimidated when groups of ill mannered (the sort that would look you in the eye if they were on their own or with their mother)youth think they have these unprecedented rights to do what they like.

There is no chance a driver is going to risk his/her personal safety (I couldn't blame them)by challenging the idiots!

Even if they did manage to offf load the idiots, there is the high probability that they would throw a coin/object at the bus in retaliation hoping to smash a window (at which stage they would run away like the wimps they are)and the effect would be that the remaining passengers would have to come off the bus until another comes along......

So much for investment in public transport! Safety is not guaranteed! I wonder how many Anti Social incidents on public transport will we read about in the MEN in the run up to Christmas and over the New Year.....

David,North M/C (19/11/2008 at 23:28)

People shouting down phones and playing music is far worse than feet on seats.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (20/11/2008 at 07:32)

Well if a group of lads or youths lit up on my bus and refused to stop smoking when asked;I would refuse to set off until they either put their fags out OR got off, and if things become difficult where the youths or young men are giving me abuse and/or gyp over it then I would take things to the next level and quickly summon assistance from the police and/or bus depot. I don't care if I got reprimanded and disciplined, the bus is NOT a playground nor is it a youth club they WOULD see the wrath of me if I started and they wound me up the wrong way!

Ted Striker, Banned from being Cunning for no apparent reason it would seem... (20/11/2008 at 09:25)

they WOULD see the wrath of me if I started and they wound me up the wrong way!

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire

Then, the knives come out and it gets messy

I'm sorry but I wouldn't put my life on the line like that to be honest. Try telling a group of lads on a 192 going through Longsite to stop acting up or the bus isn't going anywhere. They'd kick you off the bus and drive it themselves. Seriously...

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (20/11/2008 at 09:47)

No they wouldn't Ted,because I would put my foot down to them and REFUSE to bow to them and go nowhere threats or no threats!!!

Ted Striker, Banned from being Cunning for no apparent reason it would seem... (20/11/2008 at 13:43)

No they wouldn't Ted,because I would put my foot down to them and REFUSE to bow to them and go nowhere threats or no threats!!!

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire

So you wouldn't be concerned or bothered even if one of them pulled a weapon out? I admire your bravery Anthony but these things do actually happen and nobody is invicible now matter how hard they reckon they are

Marc (20/11/2008 at 13:48)

'Try telling a group of lads on a 192 going through Longsite to stop acting up or the bus isn't going anywhere. They'd kick you off the bus and drive it themselves. Seriously...'

I can believe that. Try getting on a 192 without suffering some kind of mental or physical torture at all...

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