Up to 10 emergency incidents involving children are reported by London bus drivers everyday - most of them caused by unaccompanied kids messing around. This week London Transport launches a new campaign to tackle what they describe as a huge problem. But the youngsters they are targeting say Islington's buses are intrinsically entertaining for those bent on mischief.
| A friend takes the mickey out of people. Sometimes he goes too far and tries to start a fight. |
"Buses were designed so that kids could jump on and off and muck around on them," states Andrew*, 12, who frequents Upper Street, one of the busiest bus routes in the borough. Andrew admits he regularly has play fights and insults passengers and conductors while on board. He doesn't see it as a problem.
"It's not wrong, it's just a bit of fun," agrees Sean, also 12, who takes his cue from peers. "You see other kids making a lot of noise and jumping everywhere, chucking bottles and things. You see people jumping off the 19s. I've done it once or twice too."
| | Top 10 problems | | Throwing missiles | | Large groups trying to get on at once | | Making distracting levels of noise on the upper deck | | Pushing to get on the bus | | Graffiti | | Assaults on staff or threatening behaviour | | Discarded bottles, cans and other rubbish | | Smoking | | Opening emergency exits | | Inappropriate ringing of bell | |
|
Open-backed buses such as the 19 and 38 allow kids to jump on and off at will and to boast about near misses and injuries gained as they try to out-wit conductors, as Peter, 12, demonstrates: "I've jumped off a number 10 and hurt myself. As it was going along I jumped off and hit my knee on a car. Once I was on the 19 and when I jumped off the conductor grabbed my shirt. He ripped a big hole in it because I tried to escape without paying."
Conductors on Islington's buses confirm bad behaviour, citing almost daily incidents. One conductor on a 38 bus remarked, "I see kids jumping on and off the buses all the time."
Another recognises passengers' unease in the face of unruly behaviour - "lots of them complain, especially about the swearing" - but sticks to low-key measures such as "making sure kids pay the right fare and sometimes throwing them off". The penalties of taking further action are too great. "I've had an egg thrown at me," he admits. A third added, "The police have stopped one boy coming on board but I don't know what can really be done to prevent them.
The majority of emergency incidents involving children on buses occur between 3.30-4.30pm as youngsters make their way home from school. Sean confesses his contribution to the problem is part of his weekday routine: "I usually go on the bus with a friend who takes the mickey out of people. Both of us start it and sometimes he goes too far and tries to make a fight." Andrew adds, "You just think, I'm bored so I'll do it. There should be a TV with Jerry Springer on it because you ain't got anything to do."
London Buses Safety Team Manager, Jenny Leggett, understands where kids are coming from, particularly at this time of year when the number of incidents is higher because the dark nights often mean there is less for youngsters to do. "If the right things aren't being done, kids get bored. There are very often issues in the area including a lack of thought about activities," she says.
However, she hopes the campaign will outline the consequences and discourage troublemakers from their antics. "I'm genuinely concerned about the risks they're running. If they go too far someone will be seriously injured. It could also result in a criminal record. They could have a curfew imposed on them or parents could be faced with a bill for any damage."
Despite such initiatives, the boys claim nothing will prevent them from using the buses as a place to play. "When you're sitting on the bus you don't really think about the consequences. You don't go, should I? You just think, yeah, go on! And you do it," says Sean, adding, "They could put doors on the 19 and 38 which would stop everyone jumping on and off. But I don't want them." Peter is of a similar view: "There could be more plain clothes inspectors sitting on the bus, watching people. But even that wouldn't stop me. I don't care."
* All names have been changed.
About the team
Interviews by editors Henrietta Norton, 15, and Stuart Fletcher, 16, and reporters Kierra Box, 13, Chris Fletcher, 12, Sekai Makoni, 11, Anna Chandwani, 15, and Issac Fihsoy, 10. This article was published in the Highbury & Islington Express.
