A bus driver is calling for stricter enforcement of fares - and better security measures - on Auckland’s bus network after he says he was punched in the face by a passenger refusing to pay.
Ashraf Almoukdad, 63, told the Herald he believes being a bus driver is now among the most dangerous jobs in New Zealand, with a “silent majority” of drivers fearing the passengers they serve.
According to inspector Dan Weir, police were called to Massey Rd in Māngere about 8.30am on Wednesday following reports “of an incident involving a Ritchies Transport bus driver” near the Gull service station.
“Initial enquiries indicate a female passenger boarded the bus without paying a fare,” Weir said.
“When the driver challenged this, the woman allegedly assaulted him by punching him once in the face before exiting the bus and leaving the area on foot.”
Weir said the driver received facial injuries but didn’t require hospital treatment, and police were now working to identify the alleged assailant after documenting his injuries and obtaining a formal statement.
“Police remind the public that assaults on public transport workers are taken seriously and encourage anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist, to contact police,” Weir said.
Almoukdad said he was operating a bus on Auckland Transport’s Route 32 when he stopped for two women at a bus stop.
The first paid their fare via card while the second boarded without paying, leading Almoukdad to question why.
“I said, ‘This bus is not going to move unless you either use your card or you get off the bus’,” he said.
“So she went back and punched me right in the face.”
Almoukdad said the punch briefly knocked him out, and he was left in shock, struggling to see and bleeding from the upper lip.
He plans to return to work on Monday, having taken two days of sick leave after being sent home on Wednesday, but said he will refuse to drive a bus without a protection screen.
“I’m not taking the risk anymore,” Almoukdad said.
“I’m not in the age to be punched up.”
Having operated buses for Ritchies’ AT contract over the past year, Almoukdad said there’s “a silent majority of us drivers” who are “really scared of our passengers”.
“We seem to hide the fact that the drivers are getting a really big chunk of the violence.
“And we cover for it because we don’t want to discourage drivers to come and work.
Almoukdad said it pains him to see passengers deliberately avoiding paying fares – he likened it to stealing.
He called for an accelerated deployment of driver protection screens and the introduction of transport officers across the bus network to help mitigate threats from law-breaking passengers.
“We can’t let people, as a habit, use public transport without paying and get away with it ... otherwise they think it’s by right.”
Auckland Transport (AT) said 65% of its bus fleet has had screens installed, with 80% planned by June.
“The 20% not fitted with screens are scheduled for retirement or replacement in the next few years,” a spokesperson said.
They noted transport officers are already deployed onboard some buses, trains and ferries to address fare evasion and bolster security presence, but acknowledged they “can’t be everywhere all the time”.
The spokesperson said AT’s teams try to maintain and promote a safe environment across their services and facilities, but “the issue of community safety and antisocial behaviour extends well beyond public transport”.
“The rare incidents we see taking place on Auckland’s public transport services are a symptom of broader challenges our society is grappling with, and we can’t address these issues in isolation,” they said.
“To make our buses, trains and ferries safer, we also have to make our homes, communities and streets safer.”
AT’s group manager for public transport operations Rachel Cara said assaults against drivers, while trending down, remain “unacceptably high”.
“Like many public-facing roles, bus driving reflects the realities of the communities our drivers serve,” she said.
“Drivers are trained with de-escalation techniques as part of their inductions and are advised not to get into confrontational situations that can escalate.”
Weir asked anyone with information about the alleged assault to contact police via 105 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers, referencing the file number 260429/8818.
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