It was when Thomas Englund's twelve-year-old son was to take bus 310 home after school on Tuesday afternoon that the driver did not let him get on board.
- The driver did not want to let go because there were enough people on the bus.
It is up to the driver to judge, according to UL's customer service, says Thomas Englund who contacted customer service immediately after what happened.
The family lives in Krägga a mile outside Bålsta.
The son had to wait for the next bus that leaves an hour later.
He goes to Västerängsskolan, but also four or five children who go to Gransäterskolan are said to have been denied the same bus.
According to the parent Sara Bonnevier Kronlid, the bus just passed them.
One of the children was her twelve-year-old bonus daughter.
- I was not very worried, but you get quite annoyed.
We went and picked her up, but another time you might not be able to come and pick her up, she says.
"Children should never be left"
Due to the corona pandemic, bus drivers can refuse to take passengers if they think there are too many people on the bus to keep a safe distance.
- It is very unfortunate that this is happening.
Our instructions are very clear that children without adult company should never be left at the stops, says UL's press manager Helena Klange and adds that this was their attitude even before the corona.
- When it happened yesterday, a renewed UL message went out to all drivers to remind them of that attitude.
We have taken the measures we could now, she says.
But how should drivers act then, if a child wants to go with them and they think the bus is full?
- You should let the children go in any case, says Helena Klange.
In this case, the bus driver must have informed his operator that he could not let all passengers board.
Can you guarantee that it will not happen again?
-
Unfortunately, we can not.
It is still the individual driver who must make a decision in each individual situation, says Helena Klange.
No extra buses
There are no school buses in Bålsta, but the students travel with UL's regular routes.
- The least you can expect as a parent is that they should take responsibility for picking up the children so that they come home, says Sara Bonnevier Kronlid.
According to Helena Klange, there are no resources to deploy extra buses at short notice.
- We have ongoing dialogues with the municipality and the schools, to see where there are a lot of people who travel, she says.
- I think it's damn bad that they do not have better back-up.
The children have school cards to be able to get to and from school with UL's buses.
Then you have to make sure to solve the problem, says Thomas Englund.
250 alarms about overcrowded buses - in one week;
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UL's press manager Helena Klange tells how they work to reduce congestion.
Photo: SVT