'Pretty annoying': Passengers stranded over bus capacity rules

Thursday, 27 August 2020

Allan Warburton, 90, sews face masks at his retirement village to keep his friends safe from Covid-19.

Passengers are being left on the roadside over government rules as Wellington prepares for the national mask mandate to kick in next week.

Aaron Mehau is one of several Wellington commuters who were rejected from over-full buses on Thursday.

“It’s pretty annoying. I’ve been waiting here for 5-10 minutes and then just to get rejected. This happened to me yesterday and a couple of days ago as well,” he said.

“Because it’s freezing, I don’t really want to stand out in the cold for too long, it’s just annoying.”

Passengers are turned away from their bus in Manners St on Thursday evening. Aaron Mehau (at right) said he had been turned away from several buses this week due to capacity limits under alert level 2.

It was standing room only on a Wellington bus on Thursday evening, despite the fact they are meant to be running at just 30 to 35 per cent capacity with no standing.

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Bus drivers are leaving drivers stranded over one interpretation of Government rules (file photo).

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The official word from the Ministry of Health, relating to alert level 2, is that people must wear masks on public transport come Monday because physical distancing is not always possible.

But Metlink is also following government advice which says people must keep a 1-metre distance aboard public transport.

The necessity to socially-distance and wear masks meant capacity was reduced.

Metlink general manager Scott Gallacher said it could only carry 30 to 35 per cent of usual numbers on buses, 30 per cent on trains, and 50 per cent on ferries.

Gallacher said there was no grey area in the government rules.

Gallacher confirmed some passengers were being left waiting on bus stops as buses drove past because they were too-full for the reduced capacity.

Children under-12 and those in school buses will be exempt from mask rules, as will those on interisland ferries and charter buses.

Others on buses, trains, commuter ferries, and commercial flights will be required to wear face-coverings.

Health Minister Chris Hipkins said an educational approach would be taken in early days but those who refused could be punished with a $300 infringement notice or a fine of up to $1000 imposed by the courts.