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.
‘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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The former bus driver added that bus cabs, where drivers spend most of their long shifts, were rife with cockroach activity.
What other creepy crawlies have been spotted on London transport?
- In October 2023, bed bugs were reported on the Victoria Line, prompting alarm from passengers and people on social media.
- Last year dozens of cockroaches were recorded scrambling around on the passenger seats of a north London bus.
- As far back as April 2012, it was reported by The Standard that the average commuter train contains up to 1,000 cockroaches.
- The same article claimed that seats can contain up to 200 bedbugs and up to 200 fleas.
‘The problem with not fumigating the cab – it’s a breeding ground for cockroaches and things like that.’
He said infestations have been going on for years and stem back as far as 2010.
Have you spotted a cockroach on your London bus?
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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.
Have spotted one? If so get in touch by writing in to reporter George.Hayes@metro.co.uk
London’s bus network is delivered by private companies under TfL contract and about five million journeys are made daily.
A TfL spokesperson told Metro that ‘most’ welfare facilities are cleaned multiple times daily and at a minimum once a day.
The spokesperson added: ‘All buses are also cleaned every night before entering service and reports such as these are rare.’
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