Manchester Bans All Bus Smoking
Page 36
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
i—L. A TOTAL ban on smoking in Man
chester Corporation buses is to be introduced following a decision taken at a city council meeting on April 1. On the same occasion it was decided to discontinue the acceptance of cigarette advertising on the buses, a form of revenue at present running at more than £200 weekly. Manchester, like the majority of other municipal undertakings, previously has permitted smoking only on the upper deck. The complete prohibition is thought to be the first by any public operator in Britain.
Voting at the council meeting was 73-45 in favour of the prohibition and 64-49 in favour of the refusal of advertising. During the debate strong feelings were expressed. Cllr. A. Logan, chairman of the transport committee, suggested that prohibition of smoking would lead to a further loss of passengers.
As Manchester has joint operating arrangements with numerous other company and municipal undertakings the move will provide a number of serious problems. Mr. James Leese, general manager of the North Western Road Car Co. Ltd., told The Commercial 114olor that he could see many difficulties in enforcement and felt that the ban could place sonic of the joint operators in a quandary.
The main problem obviously concerns what is to happen when vehicles of other operators providing joint services enter the city and when Manchester Corporation buses cross into areas controlled by their opposite numbers.
Implications of the ban are to be discussed by the Transport and General Workers Union passenger committee at their April meeting. It is stated that many of the members fear considerable difficulty will be experienced in enforcing the regulation and that such troubles might interfere with their other duties.