• Sweden edition
National

Man thrown off bus in gender row

Published: 3 Oct 09 13:15 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22448/20091003/

A jobsworth bus driver in northern Sweden refused to allow a man to travel with his girlfriend on transport arranged for a ladies night out.

Henrik Larsson decided to accompany his girlfriend for a spot of shopping in Piteå. But little did he know they would end up stranded in Arvisjaur, because he wasn’t the right sex.

The journey began in Arjeplog and was part of an organised evening out for a coach-load of women.

When the bus made a stop mid-way, the driver informed Larsson of the girls-only rule and told him he wasn’t allowed to travel with the group further.

”I’ve never felt so stupid,” Larsson told the Piteå- Tidningen newspaper. ”I didn't believe it was true. Nowhere did it state that it was only women that could go on the bus.”

The company that arranged the evening – Piteå Presenterer - say they regret the actions of the driver.

”This is simply badwill” says Susanne Gustavsson, spokesperson from the company. ”You can’t just throw passengers off halfway.”

Larsson and his girlfriend contacted a friend who drove a 160-kilometre round trip to take them home.

The bus driver could now face action on grounds of sexual discrimination.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

14:13 October 3, 2009 by delusion1982
Henrik! Would you please sue this driver's stupid arse
17:37 October 3, 2009 by Keith #5083
The principle of contract is OK - if the bus was hired for ladies only,at their request.That becomes a condition of the contract. It's the practice that's slightly askew. The driver should have refused the man access in the first place,not dropped him off later. Perhaps the driver was just showing goodwill by allowing him on. Perhaps the driver had 2nd thoughts,or was encouraged to do so. It is fair to say that the other ladies present may have felt inhibited by the presence of a male and had not the freedom to relax fully.

In any event,disciplinary action seems harsh - wouldn't Henrik settle for an apology by the driver for the driver's obvious contractural dilemna?

Any 'discrimination' occurred with the ladies group specifically requiring a female only contract.
19:48 October 3, 2009 by peropaco
But what the hell is Henrik Larsson doing taking the buss anyway? Leave that for the plebs. An A class football star like him should be driving at minumun a Porsche :-)))
21:02 October 3, 2009 by justanotherexpat
It's one thing to contract out a bus, it's another not to publicise the conditions of the contract - it's yet another to throw someone off halfway!

Legally speaking (I think) the bus driver entered into a contract with the passenger when he let the guy on the bus. Chucking him off halfway cos he suddenly "remembered" a women-only rule is utter nonsense - and techincally breach of contract.

I hope personally the bus driver is sued to within an inch of his life. 'Jobsworths' don't deserve aforementioned jobs when there are plenty of people looking for work and who will not be so damned petty.....
21:36 October 3, 2009 by Harding00
I live in Piteå, and I feel pretty ashamed right now at the actions of the bus driver. Forcing the guy off halfway into the trip, what the heck?
22:49 October 3, 2009 by Nemesis
In Piteå that is potentially dangerous. A bit of cold weather and the worst could have happened.
11:33 October 4, 2009 by peropaco
But what about the female passengers; how come they did not come forward and speak out on Henrik behalf? Typical swedish selfish behaviour. Jag jag jag. Not to mention they were probably drunk and incoherent as most swedes get when they are out and about.
15:31 October 4, 2009 by wabasha
who cares? this is news?
01:17 October 5, 2009 by RoyceD
Driver should have to pay the costs of the friend to pick him up, petrol + some time fee. The company should give Henrik something also, say a free charter of his choosing or whatever. And jobsworth get a slap on the wrist for being a bit of a retard.
19:00 October 5, 2009 by spy
Perhaps the bus was en route to the mystical female only city.
13:39 May 17, 2010 by Mr Gee
@Keith #5083

"It is fair to say that the other ladies present may have felt inhibited by the presence of a male and had not the freedom to relax fully."

Keith - sometimes I fear the worst for humanity from people with your type of futile opinions. Get real, this was simply a bus ride, let me make this clearer A BUS RIDE.

I think we need a God to help us!
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Body parts found in missing woman search

Body parts found in missing woman search

Human remains were found in a military building in northern Sweden on Monday night during the search for a 20-year-old woman who has been missing for two weeks. READ () »

Stockholm Internet Forum
'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake'

'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake'

Internet policy experts gather in Stockholm this week to grapple with online data protection and surveillance issues that everyone who surfs the web should care about, reports technologist Stefan Geens. READ () »

'Swedishness must be split from being white'

'Swedishness must be split from being white'

Sweden needs a new story better equipped to deal with and include today's demographic diversity and create a new Swedishness that is separate from whiteness, write representatives from the Multicultural Centre in Botkyrka near Stockholm. READ () »

My Swedish Career
The 'absolute truth' about tacos in Stockholm

The 'absolute truth' about tacos in Stockholm

Unable to find good Mexican food after moving to Stockholm to study in 2008, Monterrey native David Licona now finds himself running La Neta, one of the most popular Mexican eateries in the Swedish capital. The Local finds out more. READ () »

Gothenburg Instragram riots
Defamation charges for Instagram 'slut-shaming'

Defamation charges for Instagram 'slut-shaming'

Two Swedish teenage girls were officially charged with defamation on Tuesday for their involvement in the "slut-shaming" Instagram account that saw enraged teens in Gothenburg lay siege to two high schools last year. READ () »

Topless woman to be lifted from Swedish map

Topless woman to be lifted from Swedish map

After a caricature of a topless woman on a tourist map in western Sweden left some residents seething, a local official has promised to have the offending image removed. READ () »

Unrest in Stockholm
Fresh clashes as more cars burn in Husby

Fresh clashes as more cars burn in Husby

Cars were engulfed in flames on Monday night and youths clashed with police in the north-western Stockholm district of Husby for a second night in a row. READ () »

More National

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
 

 

Highlights
Scanpix
SPORT »
Sweden win ice hockey world champs at home
Scanpix
SPORT »
Swedes sweep top French football awards
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: Check out this funky three-room apartment on the Stockholm island of Södermalm
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Sweden win Ice Hockey World Championships. See the celebrations in Stockholm
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Youths burn 100 cars in north Stockholm riots
Finest.se scanpix.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Nightlife, Ice Hockey Gold celebrations, the royal family... You name it, this week's gallery has it
WikiCommons
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Solna voted best place to live in Sweden
Scanpix
TRAVEL »
Quiz - Think You Know Sweden? This week we head to one of Sweden's ten biggest towns. But which one?
Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Eurovision host: 'Not everyone has to like me'
Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö
Paul Hansen/World Press Photo
SOCIETY »
Award-winning Swedish photographer cleared of manipulation
DoToday
LIFESTYLE »
What's On:The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
A Congolese-Swedish pastor explains the roots to recent cases of parents exorcising demons from their children in Sweden
File photo: AP
NATIONAL »
H&M backs Bangladesh building safety accord
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Eurovision: second semi-final entries
Finest.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Scenes from the Arctic Council meeting, Eurovision demonstrations, and Stockholm nightlife
Screenshot: American Apparel
SOCIETY »
Swedes slam American Apparel over 'sexist' ads
Hasse Holmberg/Scanpix (File)
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Housing crunch forces more young Swedes to live with mum and dad
Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Eurovision - Centre State: 'It won't be easy to win again': Robin Stjernberg
Asif Akbar/sxc.hu (File)
OPINION »
'Not all discrimination in Sweden is racism'
Lana Wimmer
GALLERY »
Hidden Stockholm Gems: Ulriksdal's Palace
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
SOCIETY »
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
AP (File)
POLITICS »
Russia 'lacks capacity' to attack Sweden: Reinfeldt
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: This week, we're looking inside a home from the 1700s just west of Stockholm. Complete with two cannons.
Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
JobTalk: Top ten tips for earning a higher salary in Sweden
Juanma Perez Rabasco
SOCIETY »
Swedish kids start daycare earlier: report
Facebook
SOCIETY »
'Sex scandal' minister bathes in viral toilet puppy love
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
Illegal apartment rentals thrive in Stockholm flat crunch
Ben Grey/Flickr
SCIENCE & TECH »
Sweden 'second best' place to become a mum
Eddie Gee
LIFESTYLE »
Check out the back catalogue of all The Local's Swedes of the Week
Photo: The Local
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Stockholm International School - what’s in IT for students?
Dixie Thomas Hughes
SPONSORED ARTICLE
US expat David V. Hughes on determination and discovery by design

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: Boston Blatte

20 May 15:25

Hockey. Hockey. Hockey. »

"BANG!!!! BANG!!!! BANG!!! In the midst of the Stanley Cup’s Eastern Conference semifinals series, every Bostonian knows it is all about Bruins ice hockey. Oh right. I am in Sweden, home of the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation GOLD Champions. And there is certainly no doubt ice hockey fever has taken over Sweden. A lot of Swedes,..." READ »

The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com