The 72-year-old Philomene is already waiting for three hours for the bus at the Noorderpark stop. She was on her way to her volunteer work in Molenwijk, but she doubts whether she will still get it. “I don’t like it. Normally I get on the bus here and I am there that way. Now I don’t know what to do. Walking is not really an option.”
In Amsterdam-Noord, bus transport was flat today, after the police removed 23 GVB buses because the permits of the city buses and the papers of the drivers were not in order. The GVB then temporarily decided to keep all buses inside in Noord.
At Station Noord, the indignation at travelers is great. “I think it’s incredible,” says a woman. “I don’t understand how that is possible. A municipal organization that does not have the permits in order, but that is the citizens behind the rags if there is anything wrong”.
Police had announced control at GVB
The problems came to light during a general control of the police. Although all buses had no technical problems, the paperwork was not in order for many buses. That immediately meant that no bus transport from the GVB in Noord was possible anymore. Partly because the transport company decided to keep all buses inside.
“At the front we have warned the transport companies inside and outside Amsterdam,” said Wander Wagenaar of Police Amsterdam. “We have been talking about that and said: we will do an action soon. So yes, they are aware of it.”