TPG: is luggage acceptable?
TPG: is luggage acceptable?
"I was stunned by the recent outcry from a Tribune reader about the behaviour of a bus driver who refused to carry a passenger returning from the airport with an ordinary suitcase on the grounds that she was carrying luggage! Is there any legal basis for this refusal?
Alain, Geneva.
The transport of people, luggage and animals in the Canton of Geneva is governed by the federal law on passenger transport, which allows the Confederation to grant companies licences for the professional and regular transport of passengers.
Under this law, the concessionary company is obliged to carry all passengers who comply with the legal and tariff provisions.
The passenger transport contract obliges the concessionaire to transport a person from one station to another in return for payment of the fare. This contract between the carrier and the passenger gives the latter the right not only to use the transport services advertised according to a timetable, but also to benefit from all the additional services available to the public.
For example, where conditions permit, passengers may take items that are easy to carry, such as hand luggage, with them in the vehicle free of charge.
Transports publics genevois (hereinafter "TPG"), a company governed by the public law of Geneva, has entered into a service contract with the State of Geneva to transport passengers and, where applicable, their luggage and animals from one stop to another on the Geneva network, in return for a fare.
According to the regulations issued by the TPG Board of Directors, "hand luggage, parcels or other bulky objects of small volume that can be carried by one person are admitted and transported free of charge under the full responsibility of their owner or possessor". By "small", this provision refers to objects whose volume does not occupy more space than that of a standing person and whose weight does not exceed 30 kg.
It is clear from the above that the reader's dissatisfaction appears to be perfectly legitimate, since the passenger in possession of a valid ticket was entitled to take her baggage with her, which was apparently of a weight and volume usual for someone returning from a plane journey. It should be noted that the passenger has the right to make a complaint directly against the establishment or to claim compensation for any damage within 30 days.
