A FORMER bus driver recovering from brain surgery is furious that he was barred from travelling on the route he used to work because his daughter had her bicycle with her.
Richard Taylor, who had an operation to remove a tumour in August and now has to use a walking stick,went to catch the H13 from Northwood Way, Northwood Hills, on Wednesday last week with his daughter Rianna, aged seven.
The bus driver opened the doors - saw the bike and waved the pair away before driving off.
Mr Taylor was forced to walk the two miles back to his home in Eascote Road, Ruislip, where he said he collapsed from exhaustion.
The 38-year-old drove the H13 route five years ago, and believes the rules on bicycles leave room for driver discretion.
He says the bus was nearly empty and criticised the driver for not explaining the situation.
He said: “If it had been an adult’s bike then they probably wouldn’t let it on, but a child’s bike is small,” he said. “I was angry about it and frustrated as well. He didn’t even have the decency to speak to us – it’s ignorance.”
His wife Jackie said: “I can't believe a bus driver would refuse a child with her dad just because of her so-called push bike. It’s disgraceful to say the least.”
A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman apologised for the upset but said the rules are clear.
“TfL does allow passengers carrying folding cycles to travel aboard its buses providing they can be safely stored in the designated luggage area.
“For safety reasons, and for the comfort of other passengers, non-foldable cycles are not allowed because they are considered too big to carry safely and could pose a hazard for passengers to safely manoeuvre around.
“These guidelines are clearly set out in Transport for London’s conditions of carriage.”
