london buses 'infested with cockroaches', drivers say

London bus drivers have been battling cockroach infestations – including in their eating areas

London bus drivers have demanded a quick resolution to the blight of cockroaches that has invaded their eating areas.

They have been battling infestations on their vehicles and in eating areas,footage shows,including a skin-crawling video in which a critter was found in a driver’s soft drink can.

The images and videos have sparked calls for urgent action to address the disgusting problem facing drivers and commuters in the capital.

Transport for London (TfL) has launched an urgent investigation,and safety campaigners have written to transport bosses to highlight the problem.

Kevin Mustafa,a London bus safety campaigner and former driver of five years,told Metro that the cockroach problem was not just a one-off but a nightmare allowed to continue since vehicles are not fumigated.

London buses are infested with cockroaches – see one above on the Oyster reader (Provider: London Bus Forums)

A bus driver had to spit out a cockroach which had crawled into her soft drink can (Picture: London Bus Forums)

‘Drivers are finding cockroaches crawling around in their cabs.’

Kevin added that the female bus driver who took a sip of her drink only to discover a cockroach inside was left reeling. ‘It was so terrible she went home sick.

‘There’s a culture of fear in London buses,drivers don’t like to report safety issues because they fear the management will target them for their job – there’s been a culture of fear in the industry for years.’

When asked whether he was satisfied with TfL’s response that the buses are regularly cleaned,Kevin said: ‘That’s absolute nonsense – the buses are out all day and they don’t go back in until 1 or 2 am ready for the next morning.

‘What we were seeing was a cleaner would get on one bus,wipe the floor with a mop,and use the same cloth on another – it’s a very quick lickover with a mop or a lickover with a mop.’

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Thorough and more frequent cleans,the use of insecticides and sealed barriers in infestation hotspots are among measures demanded by campaigners.

The London Bus Forums group also said it was a public health issue and announced drivers will be marching on November 5 this year for safer conditions.

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