Schoolboy's dangerous walk home angers mum

Fraser Bennett, 12, was left to walk home after he ran out of money on his bus card. Photo / APN

A 12-year-old boy had to walk in the dark alongside a busy Tauranga highway in a two-hour ordeal after a Bay Hopper bus driver refused to let him on board for the sake of a $1.60 fare.

Fraser Bennett's mother, Cherie Bennett, broke down in tears as she recalled the story to the Bay of Plenty Times.

Her son, a student at Tauranga Intermediate, went to catch the bus on 15th Ave following rugby league training about 4.10pm last Tuesday.

When he boarded the bus he realised his concession card did not have enough credit on it and the driver asked him how far he was going.

He replied that he was going to Bayfair and the bus driver told him that was too far and refused to take him.

The boy then walked back to school but found no one in the office and began walking home to Te Maunga. The majority of the trip was along a state highway.

"He got home at 7.10pm, cold, hungry, crying. He was absolutely exhausted," Mrs Bennett said.

She had been at work during the evening while the boy's stepfather was at home looking after four other children.

Mrs Bennett claims the bus company discriminated against her son because he is male and more than 1.8m tall, appearing older than he is.

She said the company told her the same bus driver had recently been complimented for taking two young girls home for free after they were unable to pay the fare.

She said her son had made an honest mistake and that no minor should be left alone in that situation.

"Children under the age of 18 are still in need of care and protection.

"I even felt like a negligent mother, I felt like I had let my child down."

Bay of Plenty Regional Council transport policy manager Garry Maloney said policy stated that a driver should contact their supervisor if there is a "safety or social morality issue".

In this case the bus driver did not contact the supervisor.

Mr Maloney said Go Bus had given drivers a letter reinforcing the policy on free rides for safety reasons.

Copies of the letter would also be placed on all notice boards and in the bus depot's drivers' room.

Go Bus supervisors have been asked to reinforce the message to drivers as they start and end their work shifts.

Mr Maloney said a council staff member had visited Mrs Bennett and apologised.

"We will also be writing a formal letter of apology to her and her son."

He said the incident was a reminder to parents to regularly check their children had enough credit on their bus Smart Cards.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES