Free Society?

A small Batley (Yorks) operator by the slightly improbable name of Loonat Coaches has once again opened the debate about taking bus photographs. A notice displayed on at least one of its Optare Solos is reported as reading something along the lines of ‘Bus spotters beware … we will prosecute you for taking pictures of this vehicle and driver…’

Why? What has Loonat got to hide? And we’ve argued before that it’s better for an operator to cultivate not antagonise the enthusiast, for a whole raft of reasons.

Such idle threats as Loonat’s haven’t deterred enthusiasts from doing what they do best. The image above is by kind permission of Leedsbusphotos, just one devotee to feature the bus. Of course, there’s nothing Loonat Travel *can* do, provided the photographer sticks to the public highway. The service in question is under contract to West Yorkshire PTE (Metro), an organisation unlikely to intervene on what is, after all, an operational matter for Loonat. Different matter on PTE-controlled bus stations, of course, but even then PTEs’ known stubbornness about photography seems exaggerated. Not that bus stations tend to be the best locations for this sort of thing.

I’ve never really been one for bus photography (which I regret with the passing of the half-cab, Bournemouth trolleybuses, Alexander J types, Badger Vectis, etc, etc). With the likelihood of almost instant publication on the web, photography does seem to have become a little less of an innocent pastime and more of a controversy.

There really shouldn’t be many rules. Never engage in bus photography near or at a school or at other locations where school pupils or children can be identified. Use common sense. Stay where it’s safe, away from running lanes or roads and never place yourself or anyone else at risk. Avoid a distracting camera flash. Ask permission on private property. Respect a negative response.

Otherwise, if it’s your passion, just enjoy it… while you still can. After all, it’s still a free society (at the moment).