 The ban on smoking in public places coming into effect on July 1 will be good news for bus passengers. More than 700 of Tyne and Wear’s 6,500 bus shelters will become non-smoking under the new law which bans lighting up in enclosed public spaces. All major bus stations are also designated non-smoking under the change, which covers public buildings, pubs, restaurants and other locations. Local councils will be responsible for enforcing the new restrictions, including those that apply to bus shelters, with those who do smoke facing fines Smoking is already banned on the Tyne and Wear Metro’s stations and trains by a local byelaw. Bus companies in Tyne and Wear also ban smoking on all their vehicles. Cathy Massarella, Head of Network Development for Nexus, said: “July 1 marks a huge cultural change in Britain with smoking banned in enclosed public places including bus shelters and stations. This is good news for passengers. “We have identified more than 700 on-street shelters which are enclosed by glass side-walls and roofs and so are rightly non-smoking from July 1. These shelters are all now clearly marked with no smoking signs. “People have a right to wait for their bus in a smoke-free environment and we are confident the vast majority of smokers will respect the new legislation and their fellow passengers. “The law also means bus shelters cannot be used by people from neighbouring workplaces, pubs or other facilities to smoke in. “Our major bus stations are already non-smoking but the change in the law will be a significant tool for local authorities as they seek to enforce the ban.”
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