Unhappy With Gobus Hamilton...

[Cordes Express]

Over the last two days. I spent a little time in the Mighty Waikato... Yesterday in Hamilton & then today across in Raglan. I have to say. The Gobus staff I encountered in at the Bus Station yesterday were NOT friendly at all. Of all the places in the world I have taken photos of buses. This was the only place i have been given any grief. After being at the Bus Station only about ten minutes. I was asked "What the hell I was doing there???" & "Why are you taking photos of our buses?" Needless to say when I explained that I was taking them for my collection I was laughed at & rideculed by the couple of drivers there.... I won't be back! My daughter who had tagged along with me to spend a little time with me while my wife and her sister were shopping actually felt scared of the drivers there. Before my encounter, I did take a few photos of the Gobuses as well as two Ritchies & one Turley Murphy bus. But you know if that's how people are going to treat you then.... All I say to others paying a visit to bus stations, it's not just the passengers you need to watch out for.

So after all of that. Here are a couple of my photos from the last couple of days. There are more on my Flickr page.

Gobus 74 MAN 11-190 UU6391.JPG

Gobus 171 Man NL252 CSC713.JPG

Gobus 194 MAN 12-223 DMF974 Night Rider.JPG

Gobus 432 CLE200 Volvo B12.JPG

Gobus 24 MAN 22-360 DZP955.JPG

[kaiwhara]

Well, feel free to make your experiences known with both Go Bus AND Environment Waikato. Such attitudes from staff is highly unprofessional and should not be tolerated!

[Bedford-29]

I agree with kaiwhara I hate hearing about people and bus drivers mouthing off about someone hobby I would be complaining to Gobus so it don`t happen to anyone else why can`t us the bus & transport nut alone so we can enjoy hobby in piece.

[Vitalstatistix]

I'm quite surprised I've been a frequent photographer at the transport centre for almost 4 years and have never had the problem you encountered. Although lately I haven't been taking photos inside the transport centre, unless I really need to.

Great photos btw, I also note that Go Bus 24 is for sale on trademe.

[BUSPORN]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience at the hamilton transport centre. A similar thing happened to me late December at New Lynne bus station.was photographing an Urban Express bus when two large and aggressive ladies asked me why I was taking photos. When I explained I was a bus enthusiast they were laughing at me and saying they had never heard of anyone intersted in buses before.They hinted that I should leave which I did.Some people seem so narrow minded and have obviously ever had a hobby in their lives. Anyway hope this hasnt put you of Hamilton as its a nice place really. Great pictures by the way.

[Mr OC Benz]

I didn't have any problems when I was over in NZ, I did get a few stares and all, but I generally stay discrete and piss off once I get what I want. Normally when someone asks what I'm doing, I just say I'm a photographer taking photos of various surrounds, but really, they should mind their own business unless we are doing something which is wrong, which is highly unlikely.

I noticed when I was over there that the presence of the enthusiast community is fairly small, that doesn't help too much as not too many operators/drivers/customer service officers and the like will be aware of what we do as a hobby. It's just like someone who has an interest in cars or planes, only that there are more in that range, thus more people are aware of that.

There has to be someone to collect history and note down events that happen with any aspect of life or technology. Transport is one of them.

[kaiwhara]

Did you get a resolution?

[Cordes Express]

I was told, that The feelings and opinions of the drivers i encountered do not speak for the entire company. The guys at the Office appologised to me & said i was welcome to photograph their bses whenever I was in town...

[kaiwhara]

To me that answer still seems a little washed out

[Ribble]

There seems to be a bit of "History" about Hamilton Travel Centre and 'aggressive action' against anyone taking a photo of a bus there.....

Its maybe 6 years ago that I was also VERY RUDELY told that I was a "Security Risk" when taking photos from the PUBLIC access area by some "Inspector" of what I understood was the Travel Centre.

At the time I was clealry injured....and HOW on earth I could in any way be thought of as a Security Risk, I have no idea.... I simply ignored the guy and carried on what I was LAWFULLY DOING He seems to have 'got the message' and retired into the cafe. The whole issue of 'photographing in PUBLIC AREAS' is a vexatious one and seems to have started in the UK initially, but I have experienced it ni the USA and Australia.

Im sure that the Hamilton City Council own the Travel Centre, and they do not have a ByeLaw prohibiting "Photography" within their property.....and in my own experience......GoBus have ALWAYS been extreemly helpful and obliging to me over the years both at the Centre and the Depot. I have had nothing but good relations with the company If you still feel agrieved (as it was an employee) then a polite letter to the Company again repeating your concerns Im sure will get a better respone.

Clearly the "Company" managers cannot stop an employee saying what he does at the time.....but they can advise their Staff that people in Public Places are able to photograph what they choose to and thats that.

[dominodc122]

Ignorance is bliss on the part of the profanely thick and stupid in this world of ours - I suppose this is the post 911 syndrome finally hitting NZ shores where a camera is thought of as a "threat" !?
If it is any consolation guys, you may find that the very drivers who are laughing at you today, will be the very one's attempting to contact you in the future to see if they can obtain your images to relive how it was in "their day"

From my own experience, I would love to see the images pax had taken which included myself and the vehicles I was driving at the time on tours and driving express in Australia in the 1980s - so keep on clicken Gents - you are recording history after all!

[BUSPORN]

thanx Chris

[dominodc122]

Any time mate - keep up the good work!!! "happy snapping"