‘Fashion police’ ban thong bikinis as individuals don’t need ‘naked bums of their face’
Aussie beachgoers are bummed out over a bikini ban after passengers got arsey about riders with ‘thong-style’ bottoms leaving bus seats in a state
Aussies in G-strings are facing a crackdown as the council gets tough on bum-brandishing bus passengers
Beach lovers in Sydney face a tough choice after their local council turned into the fashion police.
In response to a tidal wave of complaints, beachgoers must now choose between a free bus ride or the warm breeze on their bare behinds. Bus stops now tell them: “Please dress appropriately. Clothing must be worn over swimwear”.
The new rule has met a furious response from Aussies who claim it’s their birthright to flash their flesh. “Welcome to 1920s Sydney … oops 2020s,” a commenter raged on social media. Another fumed: “The council should focus on their main responsibilities and avoid acting as fashion police”.
Northern Beaches Council has banned passengers from boarding its Hop, Skip and Jump bus if they’re in a bikini or aren’t wearing a shirt. This free service runs from the Sydney suburbs of Manly, Fairlight, and Balgowlah to the beach.
The ban came after passengers griped about inappropriate attire, including women in ‘thong-style’ bikini bottoms. Wet or sandy clothing could pose hygiene risks and affect comfort, according to some bus users.
“The valid point I see is, people don’t want to sit on a wet seat after a previous passenger due to their wet, sandy swimmers,” said a supporter of the ban.
“These folks will board the bus sopping wet with their eskies and bathing suits and, yes, they get the seats dirty,” wrote another fan of the ban. “Their beach gear will take seats away from the folks who need the bus. It’s not fair to the elderly folks who need to take it.”
Some also admitted that they don’t enjoy getting bare bums in their faces on busy days.
“I’m not old, but I don’t want someone’s bare a**e cheeks in my face when we’re all packed on like sardines,” a passenger griped.
“It has always been a golden rule that you cover swimwear if you walk more than a block across from the beach,” another said.
The council pointed to laws that let its bus drivers block passengers with clothing “likely to dirty or damage the vehicle, or cause inconvenience or damage to other passengers or the driver”, reported local media.
A spokesperson said the ban could include when “a passenger is wearing wet or sandy clothing that could impact the cleanliness and comfort of the shared transport environment.”
Deputy mayor of the Northern Beaches Council, Candy Bingham, told Australia’s The Daily Telegraph that some swimwear is “confronting” for elderly passengers, particularly trendy “thong-style bikinis”.
“The girls get on and all they have on is their bikinis,” she said. “People are worried about the hygiene aspect when they sit on the seats … swimmers, wet from the beach and covered in sand, make a mess and leave the seats damp.”
Another council sparked outrage last year by branding G-string “inappropriate” swimwear for its pools. Blue Mountains Leisure Centres (BMLC) announced its ban on skimpy swim kit in a since-deleted Facebook post.
“Thongs and G-string swimwear is not acceptable for males or females when visiting our leisure centres.” The ban enraged Australians, who blasted the “old-fashioned” and “ridiculous” rules.
“Such a ban implies that the human body – specifically the bum, (which we all have!!) – is inherently inappropriate or sexualised, reinforcing shame rather than promoting acceptance,” model Jess King raged.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
