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Dogs on buses and coaches

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Simon75

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I'm interested to know on the rules etc between operators with dogs on buses and coaches (except guide dogs)
 
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LUYMun

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I believe dogs are generally accepted on most buses, minding that they are well-behaved and on a leash.
 
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Ken H

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L401CJF

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Some areas you have to pay for dogs, I'm sure Stagecoach in Wigan has a dog fare or did when I was there anyway. On Merseyside dogs are carried free. General rule is 1 dog per bus at a time unless a double deck in which case one dog upstairs one downstairs. Generally if there's a few dogs there won't be any issues provided they are all OK around other dogs etc
 

Gloster

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I think that dogs travel free on Southern Vectis. I have a vague feeling of hearing that they used to require a ticket, but not so many years ago SV introduced new ticket machines and there weren’t enough buttons for every possible ticket, so dog tickets were one type they stopped selling. From observation I would say that there is no actual limit, just a tendency to keep the number of large and unruly dogs to the limit. There are a number of people who carry small dogs on the bus and these are a problem: noisy, badly behaved and often sitting (or a very similar word - add an ‘h’) on the seats.
 

S&CLER

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A few years ago I travelled from Penrith to Keswick by bus, and no less than 7 people with dogs boarded. The driver made some of them go upstairs. Keswick has always been a doggy place in my experience.
 
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Rules when I started in 1985 were 2 per deck, but I seem to recall it was different for whippets, miners would race them on a Sunday morning and there was no limit, I suspect that rule dated back to pre war.

The company banned " bull" types of dogs, when the American pit bull was in the news, not sure how a driver was meant to be able to tell what was and wasn't a bull breed and it's not like a British bulldog was going to run amok. No one took any notice of these rules anyway, I think dogs were a flat 20p fare but this was abolished on deregulation, I never charged for a dog.

We had one driver who started bringing his dog to work and tying it up at the back of the bus, then it bit someone.
 

Cesarcollie

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Rules when I started in 1985 were 2 per deck, but I seem to recall it was different for whippets, miners would race them on a Sunday morning and there was no limit, I suspect that rule dated back to pre war.

The company banned " bull" types of dogs, when the American pit bull was in the news, not sure how a driver was meant to be able to tell what was and wasn't a bull breed and it's not like a British bulldog was going to run amok. No one took any notice of these rules anyway, I think dogs were a flat 20p fare but this was abolished on deregulation, I never charged for a dog.

We had one driver who started bringing his dog to work and tying it up at the back of the bus, then it bit someone.

Quite a few companies issue a Rover ticket ....... (I’ll get my coat......)
 

Eyersey468

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East Yorkshire charge 55p for large dogs but small dogs go free, what constitutes a small dog is up to the drivers opinion
 

Bishopstone

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East Yorkshire charge 55p for large dogs but small dogs go free, what constitutes a small dog is up to the drivers opinion

Everything about this is wonderful: the totally random fare of 55p (‘exact fare only’ would add to the wonderfulness!), and the non-defined large dog charging rule.

I would love for there to be a dispute about the application of this rule, which leads to a 27-page thread on this forum with all the armchair lawyers in their element, culminating with several bannings and warnings after a heated debate about the size and behaviour of labradors.
 

GusB

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I would love for there to be a dispute about the application of this rule, which leads to a 27-page thread on this forum with all the armchair lawyers in their element, culminating with several bannings and warnings after a heated debate about the size and behaviour of labradors.
I wouldn't! ;)
 

Eyersey468

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Everything about this is wonderful: the totally random fare of 55p (‘exact fare only’ would add to the wonderfulness!), and the non-defined large dog charging rule.

I would love for there to be a dispute about the application of this rule, which leads to a 27-page thread on this forum with all the armchair lawyers in their element, culminating with several bannings and warnings after a heated debate about the size and behaviour of labradors.
It was 50p from before I started in 2007 up to 2019 when it rose
 

Mugby

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Everything about this is wonderful: the totally random fare of 55p (‘exact fare only’ would add to the wonderfulness!), and the non-defined large dog charging rule.

I would love for there to be a dispute about the application of this rule, which leads to a 27-page thread on this forum with all the armchair lawyers in their element, culminating with several bannings and warnings after a heated debate about the size and behaviour of labradors.
Just as an aside to this, Last Saturday I had a trip on East Yorkshire's X46 service from York to Hull, an interesting journey of two hours and 15 minutes.

The single fare end to end is £8.05p!
 

Flange Squeal

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Well they’re allowed on Whippet’s bus services! :lol: From their frequently asked questions page....

Whippets travel free when accompanied by a human with a valid ticket or pass. Other friendly dogs will also be allowed to travel with their owners. All dogs must be on a lead, should sit on the floor (not blocking the aisle) and should be taken upstairs on double-deckers. If another pet is already on board then the driver may refuse access to the bus.
 

randyrippley

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A few years ago I travelled from Penrith to Keswick by bus, and no less than 7 people with dogs boarded. The driver made some of them go upstairs. Keswick has always been a doggy place in my experience.
Ruff place to live
 

TR673

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Quite a few companies issue a Rover ticket ....... (I’ll get my coat......)
Nottingham City Transport's dog ticket was actually called a Dog Rover last time I checked. If I remember rightly it was £1, but they've put the fares up a couple of times since then so it might have changed. Assistance dogs are free, but all the times I've taken NCT buses I can't remember seeing anyone bring a dog of any kind on board.
Once saw an old-ish couple take a dog on the tram, which doesn't allow them, so they hid it in a suitcase.
 

gnolife

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I'm just starting to do a lot of travelling by bus with a greyhound - what most companies I've used have as a rule is that dogs travel free, with the exception of if the bus joins a motorway, in which case they are always prohibited. It's usually been my choice of where is best for me to go, although occasionally I've been refused travel on busy-ish frequent routes where the driver has thought that there would be nowhere suitable.
The only company I've travelled with that's charged me a fare is Stagecoach Manchester, where there's a £1 dog day ticket.
 

jumble

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We ( see left) travel quite a lot on TFL services and up till last week have never been refused ( except once on a on bus running day which does not really count)
Last week we were refused in Tottenham on the basis that there was apparantly another dog already on the bus although there was also one on the next bus but this was not an issue.
We have however travelled on the M4 on a Rail Replacement coach in the past without a problem.
 

6Gman

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A friend of mine has a brilliant story from his days running a small depot (the identity of which I will not divulge).

A driver came in off his run and said "I'm not sure if I've done the right thing boss". Words which chilled him because such words are rarely good news.

"What have you done?"
"I was working the 32 [made-up number] and just before XXXX there was a girl waiting at the stop. With her pony. Wanting to get on."
"So what did you do?"
"I thought the pony was about twice the size of a dog, so I sold her two dog tickets."
 
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We ( see left) travel quite a lot on TFL services and up till last week have never been refused ( except once on a on bus running day which does not really count)
Last week we were refused in Tottenham on the basis that there was apparantly another dog already on the bus although there was also one on the next bus but this was not an issue.
We have however travelled on the M4 on a Rail Replacement coach in the past without a problem.
Officially TFL buses can’t have more than one dog on the bus apart from assistance dogs and the dog (and presumably owner) is supposed to sit upstairs
 

jumble

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Officially TFL buses can’t have more than one dog on the bus apart from assistance dogs and the dog (and presumably owner) is supposed to sit upstairs
Can you please cite where this is stated
The CofC says
9.9 You can take an assistance dog on our bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail services. You can also take any other dog or inoffensive animal on our bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail services, unless there is a good reason for us to refuse it (such as if the animal seems dangerous or not properly controlled). You must keep it under control on a lead or in a suitable container and must not allow it on a seat. Staff are not allowed to take charge of any animal.

Red book explicitly says only refuse if dog is dangerous
I should have reported that driver to TYFL
 
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Can you please cite where this is stated
The CofC says
9.9 You can take an assistance dog on our bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail services. You can also take any other dog or inoffensive animal on our bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail services, unless there is a good reason for us to refuse it (such as if the animal seems dangerous or not properly controlled). You must keep it under control on a lead or in a suitable container and must not allow it on a seat. Staff are not allowed to take charge of any animal.
It’s in the “Little Red Book” and got mentioned during training regarding ‘normal’ dogs and only being able to carry one on board in addition to an assistance animal in which it has travel on the upper deck if applicable.
 

GusB

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Remember to provide links to your sources. Quotes must also be enclosed within quote tags.
 

dan5324

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I find it strange that dogs aren’t allowed on National Express coaches when most of the passengers are utter dogs.
 

Martin2013

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Mod note: this was created in a new thread and merged into an existing one

Other than assistance dogs, is there a general rule regarding the carriage of dogs (and other animals) on buses in the UK or is it up to individual operators to set the rules?

Are there any examples of operators who accept dogs, charge for the carriage of dogs or who outright refuse them?
 

GusB

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There is also a discussion about canine fares here:
 
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