Man with fish refused entry onto bus
A MAN was not allowed on a bus – because he was carrying a fish in a bucket of water.
Cliff Sims is annoyed with Nottingham City Transport (NCT), saying he was left stranded.
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outlawed: Cliff Sims with the fish in the bucket C210409ma3-2
He was trying to catch the number 68 from Bulwell town centre to his grandmother's home in Hepple Drive.
But the driver said he could not get on because he was carrying the bucket.
"He said I couldn't get on because of health and safety reasons," said Mr Sims, 31.
"I walked on to the bus and the driver took one look at the bucket and said 'no'. All it had in it was the fish and a couple of plants.
"Using the bus is my only form of transport. I think it was ridiculous. I don't understand how having a fish in a bucket provides risks to health and safety."
The driver called for an NCT inspector to explain why Mr Sims couldn't get on.
Mr Sims said he was taking the fish, a shubunkin, to his great aunt's house because she has a pond. He said he had two shubunkins, which are similar to goldfish, but this one had grown a lot bigger than the other, measuring about six ins long, and had begun to bully the other smaller fish.
He said: "The only place I could take it was my aunt's pond in Sellers Wood Drive.
"Because the bus driver wouldn't let me on, I had to walk it all the way round.
"It's ridiculous. You get on a bus where you can pay to take your dog on, but you can't take a goldfish. The driver said if it was in a bag it would be all right, but a bag with a six-inch goldfish in it would just pop."
The incident happened at around 11am on Monday, April 20.
Mr Sims added: "I actually asked the passengers on the bus if they objected to me having the fish on there. Not one person said they had a problem with it. It was just the driver. They then called for assistance. I just feel it was all very over-the-top.
"It is a fish after all. It is hardly going to do a lot of damage."
An NCT spokeswoman said the driver acted correctly as the bucket was a health and safety risk. She said: "The bucket was quite full with water. Obviously, when you are travelling on a bus it can be a bit bumpy. If there were spillages it could lead to a risk to customers slipping."
38 Comments
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by izzy, nottm
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 6:27AM
“MARDY nit picking NCT sooo pleased i do NOT have to use them”
by Judy, Nottingham
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 5:17PM
“Surely you would buy a freakin' car or at least use a taxi.”
by Pete, notts
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 4:18PM
“what a clown getting on a bus with a fish , just a fool ,
stacey get him up to at least a tenner .”
by stacey, Notts
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 3:23PM
“Matt is making himself look really stupid!
Oh dear! i feel sorry for you Matt.”
by stacey, Notts
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 2:46PM
“*chuckles*
Always get one dont you lol :D”
by Jason, Notts
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 2:40PM
“Stacey I dont think Matt is very bright. I think he was looking for CBeebies website and came on here by accident. :D”
by guess who?, nottingham
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 2:03PM
“I do feel sorry for the chap but i applaud the bus driver. He is providing a public service and needs to think of the safety of other passengers. I dont think anyone would want to get on a bus stinking of fish, unless hes Jamie Oliver”
by Bill, the meadows nottingham
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 1:02PM
“Good point (billy, Nottingham) I thought this bloke was a bit soft in the head, but then again at least he had the common sense to put the fish in plenty of water abeit a bucket, unlike the little cellophane bags the pet shops dish out.”
by Daz, Nottingham
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 12:38PM
“I too got accosted by a bus driver earlier this week when I tried to get on the bus with my pet fish, the driver was quite reasonable and said that if I could tell him the fishes name we could both get on.
I told him his name was
ALi BUTT”
by Jason, Notts
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 12:29PM
“It should have been bleedin' obvious to this wise-guy that if you take a bucket of water on a bus, even with a fish in it, you will be pulled up on it. Its just common sense!
You can't have everybody bringing their fish on a bus-ride, you would get water everywhere and It would end up stinking like a Fish Market.”