Concerns raised after man told to get off a bus due to unavailable disposable cards

The Land Transport Authority has stressed that it is the duty of the bus companies to ensure disposable cards are available in buses at all times.

This comes as concerns are being raised after a man was told to get off a bus at Nabua by police officers as the driver did not have $2 disposable cards which the man wanted to purchase to get home.

The man claimed that after work last Friday afternoon he boarded a bus and his bus card did not have sufficient funds after which he asked the driver to purchase a $2 disposable card with the only $2 coin he had left.

He says that the driver responded that he only carried $5 disposable cards and asked the man to get off.

The man then proceeded to board the bus as the driver did not have $2 disposable cards available.

The man then claims that the bus driver stopped the bus at the Nabua Police Station and with the assistance of police he was asked to get off the bus.

When questioned by LegendFM about the incident, the Land Transport Authority has stressed that under the e‑Ticketing regulations, bus companies and bus drivers commit an offence if disposable cards are not given to a commuter.

LTA says that at this moment they have not received any complaint on the matter, however are investigating this to take the bus company to task.

Fiji Bus Operators Association Secretary, Rohit Latchan has reiterated that all bus drivers must have disposable cards of both $2 and $5 available for passengers and bus operators must ensure that drivers have enough for all their scheduled services.

Latchan says that the e-ticketing system has now been running for a year now and it is also the responsibility of the commuters to ensure that their e-cards are topped up with sufficient funds adding that disposable cards are there emergency purposes. 

We are still awaiting a comment from Police.