Posted by:
W von Papineu
at Fri Nov 19 07:25:39 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by W von Papineu ]
BEDFORDSHIRE ON SUNDAY (Bedofrd, UK) 14 November 10 Owner told his pet snake isn’t allowed on bus-sssA snake enthusiast has been banned from taking his pet boa constrictor on the bus.
Daniel Sullivan received a letter from Meridian Line Travel saying that he was not allowed to take any animal on the E3 service from Blunham to Bedford that could be perceived as ‘dangerous or threatening’.
The 33-year-old said he previously took Fritz, a threeyear- old boa, on the bus in his bag without any problems and would travel to different places to show members of the public.
He would also occasionally take other pets including some of his spiders.
Tim Dawes, managing director of Meridian, said that following a concern raised by another bus passenger about the reptile, the decision was taken to ban Mr Sullivan from travelling with it under statutory regulations.
He added: “I don’t know whether this person had a phobia and was frightened because of that but I came to the decision which was backed up by the local authority.”
Mr Sullivan said the snake had its fangs removed and so was not dangerous although he added that it did ‘strike out from time to time’ when provoked.
He said: “I’ve travelled with my snakes on other buses for years without any problem. It’s my hobby.
“Now I have to have my bags searched every time I want to go on the bus.” Mr Dawes said that the bus company had been experiencing ‘difficulties’ with Mr Sullivan relating to his behaviour and conduct.
He said: “He has been audibly expressing his opinions and we have lost passengers because of his conduct.
“It is his choice to let us look into his bag and there haven’t been any times when he’s refused this.”
Mr Dawes added that Mr Sullivan had been given a final warning about his conduct and if he broke it he could be banned from the service completely. Mr Sullivan has previously raised issues about the condition of the bus stating that it’s not wheelchair accessible but Mr Dawes says that it is and has a ramp at the rear of the vehicle.
Cllr David McVicar, portfolio holder for safer communities and healthier lifestyles at Central Bedfordshire Council said: “This particular service is contracted to Meridian Line Travel by Central Bedfordshire Council and we fully support the action that has been taken by the company in regards to Mr Sullivan’s behaviour and we will continue to ensure the safety and well being of all passengers that use this service.
“The drivers have a duty of care to everyone who travels on the buses and if they believe that an individual is acting or behaving inappropriately then they have the right to have them removed from the bus.
“Mr Sullivan has been warned several times about his conduct on the service and if he continues to upset or distress fellow passengers by bringing animals onto the bus then Meridian Line Travel is well within its rights to exclude him from travel.”
Owner told his pet snake isn’t allowed on bus-sss
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 GBR Press: No pet snake on bus-sss - W von Papineu, Fri Nov 19 07:25:39 2010
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