Student’s protest over ticket to ride

BUS pass problem . . . Aaron with dad David

A student who staged a sit-down protest over a bus pass bungle feared he would be arrested over his 80p fare when police arrived.

Although term has now finished, IT student Aaron Atkinson, of Limeside, was still using the First 409 service along Ashton Road every day last week to catch up on his course work at Tameside College.

The 18-year-old has a concessionary pass, valid until July 31. It allows him to pay the reduced 80p fee.

But drivers on First Bus 409s were refusing to accept the pass because, he says, they thought he was using it illegally as term has now ended.

Aaron said: “I’ve been pulled up three or four times now.

“The first time it happened, I went to the Travel Shop at Ashton bus station. They said I should get on and not take no for an answer.”

But things came to a dramatic head when Aaron, from Higher Lime Road, tried to get home from Ashton bus station on Thursday.

One driver refused him so he went back to the Travel Shop, checked his pass was valid and tried a second bus. Aaron began his sit-down protest after the driver still refused to take his 80p fare even after Aaron told him he had checked with bus station staff.

He said: “It was a bit of a stand-off. I sat at the back of the bus for 10 to 15 minutes. The driver said he would get the police.

“The driver told people to get another bus but about five stayed on with me until the police finally came.”

Aaron then showed the police officer the bus pass.

“The driver began arguing and shouting but I was trying to explain,” said Aaron.

They went back to the Travel Shop where staff called the management — Aaron was again told that the driver was in the wrong.

“Something was radioed through to the policeman about arresting me for illegal use of the pass, but he said he was not going to do that,” he added.

“I think he realised I was in the right.”

Eventually, the officer gave Aaron a log recording what had happened and told him no offence had been committed.

But when Aaron later tried to board another 409 First bus he was refused by another driver.

“I showed him what the policeman had just written out for me and after a few minutes of me talking to him and explaining it, he let me on,” he said.

“The whole thing took about an hour.”

Aaron’s father David added: “He was just so frustrated.

“His other friends used their passes on Stagecoach buses going towards Stockport and didn’t have a problem.”

Aaron’s ordeal is finally over as he has now finished his coursework in time for a week’s work experience which starts today — and he’ll be getting a lift there from mum.

A statement from First said: “Concessionary passes to and from a college are used in term-time only.

“However, as stated on the reverse of the pass, out of term-time, and in the case of Tameside College which finished on July 17, the pass holder is required to carry a voucher which informs the driver that a concessionary pass is allowed.

“The company accepts that the pass was valid until the July 31, however, our driving staff are informed when schools and colleges break-up.

The driver made the decision for police attendance due to the whole incident getting out of hand.”