Sacked bus driver interested in Uber

A BUS driver fired from Ritchies earlier this year after numerous reports of lewd conduct on Dunedin buses still holds a passenger endorsement on his licence, and has shown interest in driving for ridesharing company Uber.

The driver was stood down in April while the Otago Regional Council and bus operator Ritchies investigated allegations of inappropriate conduct towards female passengers on the Port Chalmers route.

Shortly after, Ritchies sacked the driver when the investigation found his conduct had been in breach of his contract.

NZ Transport Agency spokeswoman Frances Adank confirmed in April it had launched an investigation into the driver’s passenger endorsement on his licence, which required all drivers of buses, taxis or shuttles to be a ‘‘fit and proper person’’.

She said yesterday the driver still held his passenger endorsement on his licence and the NZTA’s investigation was ‘‘still ongoing’’.

‘‘It hasn’t reached a formal conclusion.’’

The Otago Daily Times understands the man has shown interest in becoming a driver for international ridesharing company Uber, which launched in Queenstown earlier this month and in Dunedin last month.

Uber NZ communications lead Nicky Preston confirmed the man had attended an Uber event which was open to the general public.

However, he was not an active ‘‘driverpartner’’ on the platform and had not uploaded the necessary documents to become a driver, she said.

Uber required all drivers to hold a passenger endorsement and have a car 10 years old or less.