Conditions of Carriage

These Conditions apply from January 2021. Download a copy from our Policy Documents section.

Interpretation

In these Conditions of Carriage, the following expressions, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

The Company
Lothian Buses Limited, a limited company, registered in Scotland (No. 96849),
with its registered office at 55 Annandale Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4AZ.

Company Official
Any employee of the Company such as a Driver, Supervisor or Manager.

Conditions
These Conditions of Carriage and the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of
Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990, the Public
Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000, the Equality Act 2010, and
any amendments, statutory modifications or re-enactments.

Local Service
A service operated by the Company for the carriage of passengers at separate
fares, as defined in Part 1, Section 2 of the Transport Act 1985.

Timetables
The timetables of the Company’s Local Services.

Wheelchair
A manual or motorised wheelchair or specialist wheelchair buggy which is no
larger than 700mm wide, 1200mm long and 1350mm high.

Mobility Scooter
“Class 2” scooters with 3 or 4 wheels no larger than 600mm wide and 1000mm long, with a turning radius not exceeding 1200mm.


1. General

These Conditions form the entire contract between the Company and its passengers and
apply to all passengers. Entrance onto any of the Company’s vehicles or premises confirms
acceptance of these Conditions.

1.1 The Company uses all reasonable means to maintain the Local Services published in its
timetables but accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from
the failure to do so. The Company reserves the right, for operational or other reasons, to
alter, suspend, or withdraw services, conditions or fares at any time.

1.2 The contract between the Company and any passenger is limited to carriage upon the
Company’s own services and any liability shall be limited accordingly. In particular, but
without limitation, the Company has no responsibility for the acts or omissions of third
parties including any delays or cancellations to third party services.

1.3 The Company shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from any
form of communication given in good faith by the Company or any Company official.

1.4 From time to time the Company may promote additional guidelines or instructions for
travel based on advice from official or regulatory bodies as temporarily relevant to our
services. For example, If you are required by law to wear a face covering or to take any
other steps while travelling, then you must do so. While every effort will be made to
engage with passengers to communicate said advice and guidelines the Company has no
direct responsibility for the legal enforcement thereof.

Full details and information of any additional guidelines or instructions will be available
at www.lothianbuses.co.uk
If you are required by law to wear a face covering (or to take any other steps) then you
must do so.


2. Conduct of passengers

The legal obligations that apply to passengers travelling on buses are set out in “The Public
Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations
1990”.

2.1 Passengers must do nothing which endangers or causes discomfort or offence to any
other person on the bus. Specifically, passengers must not smoke, (including the use of
electronic cigarettes or personal vaporisers), put their feet on seats, play audio which
another passenger can hear or cause any other disturbance. No food or drink may be
consumed while travelling on the Company’s buses. Hot food and drinks must be carried
in a safely sealed container.

2.2 No alcohol may be taken onto any bus by passengers travelling to or from football
matches at Easter Road or Tynecastle Stadiums (or any association football match
grounds) and International Rugby Union matches at Murrayfield Stadium.

2.3 Passengers must not distract or obstruct the driver or interfere with any equipment on
the bus.

2.4 Drivers may refuse to carry any item which they believe to be excessively large or likely
to cause injury to anyone or damage to any property.

2.5 Passengers must follow all instruction given by the driver in relation to items brought
onto the bus. This includes certain types of pushchairs, prams, wheelchairs and mobility
scooters.

2.6 Passengers who break these rules must give their name and address to the driver when
requested and may be obliged to leave the bus by a Company Official, Police Officer or a
Special Constable.


3. Accessibility

We want as many people as possible to be able to use our buses in safety and comfort. You
can find out more about our commitment to wider accessibility at www.lothianbuses.co.uk

All our buses have a wheelchair space while some buses also have an additional space.

If there is no wheelchair user on the bus, other passengers including those travelling with a
buggy or with bulky luggage may occupy the wheelchair space.

If a wheelchair user / wheelchair buggy wishes to board the bus, the driver has a legal
obligation to take all reasonable steps to free up the wheelchair space in order to allow the
wheelchair user to board. In such a situation, the passenger being asked to move will be given
a ticket for further travel on another service if they are unable to continue to travel safely.

Please note that mobility scooters are not permitted on our buses unless they can be folded
safely and stored on the ground in the wheelchair space against the “ironing board” back rest.


3.1 Travelling as a wheelchair user or with a wheelchair user

All of our buses have a wheelchair space. A wheelchair user will not be able to board a bus
if there is already a wheelchair user occupying the wheelchair space.

A wheelchair user or carer can ask the driver for assistance if necessary.

Wheelchairs which are in a condition that could endanger other passengers or damage
their belongings or the bus will not be carried.

If you have concerns about whether the size of your wheelchair can be accommodated
on our buses, please contact our Accessibility Officer at [email protected]
prior to travel and they will be able to advise you further.

Wheelchair users and/or carers must ensure that the wheelchair is positioned against
the “ironing board” backrest facing the rear of the bus with the brakes ON, forward
facing travel is not permitted.

Wheelchair buggies are permitted on all of our services, where space is available as
described above. We ask that passengers make it clear to the driver that they have a
wheelchair buggy as these are not always instantly recognisable.

A travel warrant is available to people who cannot fold their buggy because they or the
child in the buggy have a disability. If a warrant holder shows their warrant to a driver
they will not be asked to fold their buggy. This warrant does not provide any priority
over other passengers when boarding.

If you have questions about a travel warrant or wish to apply for one, please contact our
Accessibility Officer [email protected] and they will be able to advise you
further.


3.2 Travelling with young children

Space on our buses is limited. We recommend that passengers who intend to travel on
our services with a small child use a smaller, easily foldable buggy where possible.

Buggies including pushchairs and travel systems which will not obstruct the aisle may be
brought onto our buses unfolded if there is space available. The aisle cannot be
obstructed at any time. Passengers who board with an unfolded buggy must place it in
the buggy space whenever that space is available. If the bus does not have a buggy
space, or on buses which have available space but it is occupied, one unfolded buggy
may be placed in the wheelchair space.

In common with all other passengers, whenever the wheelchair space is needed by a
wheelchair user, passengers with unfolded buggies must move to make the space
available. In order to allow a wheelchair user to board, any passenger occupying the
wheelchair space with an unfolded buggy should fold it and place it in the luggage rack.
Alternatively, they may choose to get off the bus, in which case a ticket will be issued to
allow them to complete their journey on a following bus free of charge.


4. Standing passengers

Passengers are not permitted to stand upstairs or on the stairs. Notices are posted downstairs
to indicate other areas where standing is not allowed. When standing, passengers must not
block the driver’s view or obstruct the flow of other passengers boarding or alighting.


5. Tickets

5.1 On boarding the bus, passengers must state their destination when required, pay the
correct fare or possess a valid ticket which they must show on request to the driver or
any Company Official. Tickets are only valid for the person they are issued to, not
transferable and remain the property of the Company at all times. Please ensure that you
are issued with the correct ticket for your journey, and that this ticket is retained for the
duration of your journey.

5.2 Most of our services do NOT give change for cash payments. It is the passenger’s
responsibility to ensure that the correct fare is paid. If a passenger is obliged to pay more
than the required fare, an overpayment slip will be issued if requested. Such
overpayments can be reclaimed from a TravelHub after 5 working days. Please visit
www.lothianbuses.co.uk for further details on this.

5.3 We reserve the right to refuse travel to anyone who presents a ticket which we believe
has been obtained fraudulently or which is damaged. A fraudulent or damaged ticket
may be confiscated by the driver or Company Official.

5.4 Lothian Buses participates in the Scottish concessionary travel scheme for Older and Disabled people, and the Young Persons’ (Under 22) Free Bus Travel scheme. The terms, conditions and rules which apply to the issue and use of applicable bus passes are set out by the Scottish Government, and administered by Transport Scotland. Eligible cardholders travelling on our services using either of these schemes must also comply with these conditions.

More information can be found at https://www.transport.gov.scot/concessionary-travel/

5.5 Most of Lothian Buses ticketing products and payment methods are subject to their own Terms and Conditions, details of which can be found at the point of sale, issue and/or at www.lothianbuses.co.uk


6. Fares

6.1 Fares and ticket prices for travel on the Company’s services may be posted at bus stops.
The most up to date information on fares and prices is set out at
www.lothianbuses.co.uk

6.2 Children aged from five to fifteen inclusive will be charged the Child fare. Up to three
children under the age of five may travel free when accompanied by a fare-paying
passenger who is responsible for them. Additional children under the age of five will be
charged the Child fare.


7. CCTV

7.1 Our buses and premises are fitted with CCTV and, in the area around the drivers cab
only, audio recording. This is to ensure that evidence of any act of violence or other
inappropriate behaviour or of theft or criminal damage can be passed to the Police and
the prosecuting authorities.

7.2 Appropriate signage is in place where required and the video and sound recordings will
be used solely for the monitoring of safety, security, service quality and in support of
relevant criminal and civil legal proceedings and complaint investigation. Images may be
provided to the police, DVSA, the Traffic Commissioner or any other enforcement
agency where we are required to do so by law.

7.3 We will always use all means to secure prosecution of anyone who commits an act of
aggression towards our staff, a violent or criminal act on our buses or in our premises.

7.4 All CCTV equipment and its operation comply with the General Data Protection
Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 (including the ICO’s CCTV Code of
Practice).

7.5 Our Privacy and Data Protection Policies are available at www.lothianbuses.co.uk

8. Luggage

8.1 Accompanied luggage is carried at the driver’s discretion and the passenger’s risk. The
Company will not be liable for any loss of, or damage to, luggage.

8.2 Luggage must not be placed on any seat or cause any obstruction.

8.3 The following items may NOT be taken onto the Company’s buses:

a) any weapon or explosive or any article which is dangerous, combustible
(including unsealed batteries or petrol), offensive or excessively cumbersome

b) bicycles other than folding bicycles which are folded and fully enclosed in a
suitable carrying bag

c) electric scooters other than those which are folded and stored safely in the luggage rack
or on the ground in the wheelchair space

8.4 Paint may be brought on to buses only if it is in a sealed, newly purchased container and
is placed on the floor of the bus.

8.5 Passengers are liable for the cost of any cleaning or repairs required as a consequence of
any spillage from articles they have taken onto the Company’s buses. If cleaning or repair
requires the bus to be withdrawn from service, the cost will include any revenue lost.

8.6 Passengers are responsible for the safety and security of their luggage and liable for any
injury, damage or loss which it may cause to the Company’s buses, property, employees
or other passengers.


9. Lost property

9.1 If you find any property which someone else has left on the bus, please hand it to the
driver.

9.2 If you leave property on a bus, please report the details to our Lost Property office as
soon as possible by completing our online Lost Property form at
www.lothianbuses.co.uk/lost-property

9.3 A fee is payable when lost property is reclaimed from our offices. Details are published at www.lothianbuses.co.uk

9.4 Lost property will be held for one month unless it is perishable when it will be disposed
of immediately. Property which is, or becomes, objectionable may be disposed of sooner.

9.5 Please note that some items will not be held as lost property. Drugs and medicines will
be disposed of immediately. Passports, debit and credit cards and other personally
identifiable information shall be confidentially held for one month after which they shall
be returned directly to the UK passport office or other relevant office.

9.6 Lost Property is available for collection:Monday to Thursday (10:00 – 17:00), Saturday (10:00 – 14:00)strictly by appointment only. The office is located at Shandwick Place TravelHub, 49 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, EH2 4SD.

9.7 Personal property is the responsibility of the person travelling.While we will always endeavour to reunite customers with their belongings if they think that they have left them on board our services it is not always possible to do so.In the event that a customer believes a crime has been committed in relation to an item of property we would encourage them to contact Police Scotland directly.


10. Animals

10.1 Small animals are carried entirely at the driver’s discretion. Guide dogs, assistance dogs
and learning dogs will be carried if space is available.

10.2 All dogs must be on a lead and muzzled if required by relevant legislation.

10.3 All other animals must be secured in a suitable cage or carrying case.

10.4 The driver may require an animal to be taken off the bus at any time should it become
aggressive or is causing a nuisance. At no time should an animal be allowed on seating
within the bus.

10.5 Animals taken onto the Company’s buses are the responsibility of the person they are
travelling with. If you bring an animal onto one of our buses, you will be held responsible
for any damage caused by that animal to any person or property on the bus. The cost of
any necessary repairs or cleaning will be charged to you. If cleaning or repair requires the
bus to be withdrawn from service, the cost will include any revenue lost.

10.6 All animals are carried at the owner’s risk and the Company will not be liable for any loss
or injury.


11. Contacting us

11.1 Lothian welcome all customer feedback. You can contact our Customer Support team at
www.lothianbuses.co.uk/customer-support/

We will initially aim to resolve your complaint within 20 working days. Details of how we
handle customer contacts can be found at www.lothianbuses.co.uk

11.2 If a customer contacts us on social media, our advisers will try to assist with their enquiry
in the first instance. On some occasions it may be necessary for enquiries to be
escalated to our Customer Support team. Should that be the case, the customer will be
given contact details for the Customer Support team, and will be requested to forward
their query to that department directly for further assistance.

11.3 If for any reason you contact us and are not satisfied with our response you can contact:
Bus Users UK on 0300 111 0001 or e-mail [email protected]

Write to Bus Users UK, 22 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PR