Bus commuters complain
Auckland bus drivers are compromising passenger safety by taking off too quickly, commuters say.
Janis Carter, who lives in Mt Albert, has had three incidents with buses in the past four weeks. Two involved buses taking off before she was seated, and one involved the doors closing on her daughter Racheal Hubber.
Carter said the first two incidents resulted in injury including heavy bruising on her knee as well as a popped rib.
‘‘After I got on the bus, the driver took off before I had a chance to find a seat and sit down,’’ Carter said.
‘‘The acceleration made me fall across the seat bruising my back and ribs. It made me feel sick, upset and shocked. I have a walking stick and need to be seated before a driver takes off like that.’’
A number of commuters on social media site Neighbourly.co.nz echoed Carter’s grievances. Judy Gillstrom from Sandringham said she saw drivers who did not wait for people to be seated, even the elderly.
Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said incidents of Carter’s nature were very rare, and taking off was at the drivers discretion.
‘‘Drivers are told they should observe as passengers board the bus and use their judgement about whether they should wait for the passengers to be seated before leaving,’’ Hannan said.