Taking a car battery on a tfl bus

Matty246

Does anyone know please if you are allowed to take a car battery on a bus? 

Grumpy_chap

Matty246 said:

Does anyone know please if you are allowed to take a car battery on a bus? 

I can't see any rules against it:
https://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-conditions-of-carriage.pdf

molerat

Grumpy_chap said:

Matty246 said:

Does anyone know please if you are allowed to take a car battery on a bus? 

I can't see any rules against it:
https://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-conditions-of-carriage.pdf

But that also does not mention thermo nuclear devices

It does though reference The Public Service Vehicle (......) Regulations 1990 which states

(4) The article or substance referred to in paragraph (2) is–

(a)any bulky or cumbersome article;

(b)any article or substance which causes or is likely to cause annoyance to any person on the vehicle; or

(c)any article or substance which would be reasonably expected to constitute–

(i)a risk of injury to any person on the vehicle; or

(ii)a risk of damage to the property of any person on the vehicle or to the vehicle.

Which could easily cover a car battery.  If it is carried in a holdall of some description I doubt there would be a problem.

la531983

I mean, who is to know you have it if it's in a bag? 

Matty246

Thanks all

martindow

I've taken a car battery on a bus before although not in London.  The drivers didn't complain, but I wouldn't want to do it again.  After carrying it to and from the bus my arms were nearly falling off.

MilesT6060842

I would suggest that you shouldn't take any lead-acid battery that isn't either 

• Sealed in packaging to ensure that the liquid contents can't spill (i.e. new from the shops or expertly wrapped)
• or is a "sealed unit" type of battery which is spill proof by design

Battery acid is no joke if it gets on skin.  So taking a old reclaimed lead acid battery of any size (which could spill) is not a good idea, even if its obscured in a bag or box.

From the rules presented above I would say legally you should not, but that would be up to a court to decide if there was an injury incident (interpretation/tort) or the operator has their own conditions of carriage/policy which prohibits (up to the driver to enforce by not allowing you to travel, and probably within rights to deny travel). 

I would suggest similar for trains, coaches.

Bigwheels1111

Am I missing something, how would they know ?.
Did you tell the driver.
Hello drive I have a thermonuclear device in my bag, a severed head and 4 cans of wife beater.
Plus an AK47.
To be serious, the last battery I purchased was from Halfords and as I couldn’t start the car it was taken home on the bus.

nottsphil

If the driver refuses, you could mention the fact that the bus is already carrying a motor vehicle battery....

EnPointe

nottsphil said:

If the driver refuses, you could mention the fact that the bus is already carrying a motor vehicle battery....

but not 

1. Unrestrained
2. in the passenger  areas of the vehicle