Middle-of-road antic ends in woman's arrest

A 35-year-old woman was arrested after she stood in the way of a bus after its driver gave a stop near Lok Ma Chau MTR station a miss as the double-decker was full.

Police said yesterday the arrest was made after online footage of the incident came to officers' attention.

The woman, Li, was picked up from her Fu Tai Estate home in Tuen Mun about 12.30 pm on Tuesday for causing obstruction to traffic or in a public place.

Released on police bail, she will have to report back mid-next month.

The incident saw a packed route B1 bus heading to Lok Ma Chau station and not stopping to pick up passengers at San Tin Public Transport Interchange around noon on August 20.

Dissatisfied with being unable to board, Li walked into the path of the bus, stretched out both arms and stopped it from moving for four minutes.

In that time, Li also pointed at the driver and passengers, shouting: "Stand further inside!" in Cantonese with an accent. Passengers did not comply.

Another middle-aged woman was also caught on camera standing in front of the bus taking photos of the license plate and captain of the bus.

Other passengers at the interchange criticized her for stopping other buses from proceeding, calling her to take the next bus and saying "blocking a bus does not mean you can get on."

The police said that apart from posing a danger to pedestrians and other road users, the woman had also committed the offense of causing obstruction in a public place.

She shall be liable to a maximum fine of HK$5,000 and three-month imprisonment, officers said, reiterating that people should not violate the law.

However, after the video of the incident went viral, some people also pointed out that route B1 buses were often full or hard to get on.

"I had to wait for eight B1 buses to come around to another stop," someone online said.

"It isn't because there aren't seats available, it's just that people did not want to stand all the way at the back of the bus."

Another person said online that "the bus company should launch other special bus routes to facilitate passengers."