Arriva has told passengers they must not wear rollerblades or other unsuitable footwear while travelling on its buses, as part of the company's Conditions of Carriage.
The rule is listed among a range of behaviours passengers are urged to avoid, including smoking, causing offence to other passengers and staff, and eating or drinking in a way that causes offence or a hazard.
Conditions of Carriage
Arriva, one of the main transport operators in the North West, runs services in Merseyside through Arriva North West. On its website, the company says: "Arriva values its customers and aims to offer a safe, comfortable journey on a clean, well-maintained bus."
The Conditions of Carriage set out customers' rights, restrictions on those rights and obligations as a customer of Arriva. They apply to any ticket issued by Arriva and any contract to carry any person or their property entered into by Arriva.
What passengers must not do
Among the things passengers are urged not to do are smoking at any time, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes and means of lighting them. They are also told not to behave in any way that causes offence to other passengers or staff, including verbal or physical abuse, being under the influence of alcohol, drugs or solvents, wearing soiled or dirty clothing, putting feet on seats, and consuming or playing music systems too loudly.
Other restrictions include bringing or consuming food, drink or other substances in a way that causes offence or a hazard, distributing or selling items without prior permission, deliberately interfering with or damaging equipment, taking part in criminal or legally prohibited activity, leaving rubbish on the vehicle, leaning out of the vehicle, and remaining on the vehicle when instructed by the driver to leave.
Footwear rule
On footwear, the operator says passengers should not "wear or use rollerblades, skates or other unsuitable forms of footwear whilst on the vehicle".
The guidance comes as passengers across the country prepare for cheaper bus fares. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a cap on single bus tickets at £2 during his first week in office, in a bid to tackle the cost of living struggle faced by households across the UK. Passengers will benefit from cheaper fares from January 1, 2027, and for the rest of the year, with maximum fares slashed by a third.
According to the government, the cap on fares outside London will help millions of people across the country access affordable bus travel more easily, breaking down barriers to travel for people struggling with the cost of living, opening up opportunities and boosting local economies. The cap will particularly help passengers in rural and coastal areas to save money, where single fares can be higher.
