This Just In: A Sydney Council Has Banned Bikinis and Bathers on a Popular Coastal Bus Route
Passengers on the free bus service will have to cover up if they're dressed for the beach.
A popular public transport route on Sydney's Northern Beaches has had a new dress code instated by the local council, with a new ruling passed that bans passengers from boarding if they're in swimwear. The Hop, Skip and Jump bus route is a free service operating between Manly, Balgowlah and Fairlight, the immediate area surrounding one of Sydney's most popular beaches.
The decision comes from a number of complaints from older passengers, who say that swimwear is confronting clothing, especially "thong-style bikinis", but the council defended the decision by citing legislation that permits drivers to refuse entry to passengers whose clothing is "likely to dirty or damage the vehicle, or cause inconvenience or damage to other passengers or the driver".
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Northern Beaches Council Deputy Mayor Candy Bingham said, "The girls get on and all they have on is their bikinis. People are worried about the hygiene aspect when they sit on the seats … swimmers, wet from the beach and covered in sand, make a mess and leave the seats damp".
View this post on Instagram
Now, stops along the bus service are clearly signposted: "Please dress appropriately. Clothing must be worn over swimwear." As expected, the responses from the community have been mixed.
Comments on the news when shared by 7News on Facebook include everything from one person writing "Seems like a clear violation of the first amendment of the Australian constitution," while another points the finger at the source of the complaints, writing "boomers doing boomer things."
Many others support the decision though. One commenter proclaimed, "Good! Not hard to put clothes on," and another pointed out the Hop, Skip and Jump is a council-run service, not a Sydney metro bus, saying, "Not a normal bus route, so not a big deal! Sydney metro buses do allow it though."
Image: iStock
- The 25 Best Pubs in Sydney
- CP Picks: Aussie Summer Essentials — The Things We're Packing, Wearing and Using All Season Long
- CP Picks: The Editor's Gift Guide —What the CP Team Is Giving (and Hoping to Receive)
- CP Picks: The Best Gifts for Arts Lovers — From Gallery Prints to Music Gigs
- CP Picks: The Best Gifts for People Who Are Never Home — According to Travel Writers
- CP Picks: From Hot Sauce to Handblown Glasses — Small-Batch Gifts for Big Foodies