12-year-old kid 'kicked off bus' at night and 'told to iron ticket' by driver
A 12-year-old boy was allegedly kicked off a bus because his ticket was 'crumpled'.
Andrea MacFarlane, from Edinburgh, says her son, Freddie, was on his way home when he jumped on the number 31 from East Craigs heading towards the city centre last Thursday (27 April).
The young lad should have been home at about 8.30pm, but his mum became worried when he didn't show up.
About an hour later, Freddie came through the door and told his mum what had happened.
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He explained that after getting on the bus he showed the driver his day ticket but was allegedly told it was 'too crumpled' and that if he'd 'give it an iron', he'd be able to use it.
Freddie had recently lost his travel card and was given money for a ticket by his mum, so was forced to walk all the way home.
"I know kids muck about but they should still let them on," Andrea said.
"He was totally by himself and I even thought he may have just said that as he was late, but the fact he said what the driver said about ironing the ticket, Freddie would never have thought to use an excuse."
The concerned mum complained to the bus company over the incident.
"I think the way they act towards children is a power trip and they would never say that kind of thing to an adult," Andrea said.
"If I had a ticket like that no bus driver would say that to me. The bus wasn't even busy and it terminates at East Craigs so that can't be used as an excuse.
"On another occasion, a driver wouldn't let him on when he was with a friend, he just shook his head and kept going.
"They don't even look like teenagers, they just look like young boys. My younger son goes out with a hoodie on, so I thought it could be due to that and what drivers may initially think but my older kids who go to a private school and have uniform on have witnessed similar incidents."
After hearing of the incident, local SNP councillor Euan Hyslop said he would be taking the case to the bus company as well.
He said: "I was shocked reading reports from a local resident that her 12-year-old son was turned away from the bus due to a crumpled ticket.
"The parent who voiced their anger on social media has every right to be upset, and it is important that Lothian look into the incident to prevent this type of situation occurring in the future."
A spokesperson for the operator said: "Lothian is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our people and our customers.
"We are in the process of conducting an investigation into the alleged incident and are in direct contact with the family involved."
Dominic Smithers