WOLLONGONG WOMAN REFUSED SERVICE ON PUBLIC BUS DUE TO OUTFIT

22 year-old Selin Gulez says she was refused service today on Wollongong’s free ‘Gong’ Shuttle Bus because of what she was wearing.

Gulez tried to board the bus at Cliff Road in North Wollongong after spending some time at the beach.

She was wearing a skirt, a bikini top and had a towel draped over her shoulders.

As Gulez was stepping onto the bus, the driver of the free shuttle said she couldn’t ride the bus without covering up.

“He asked if I had a shirt to cover myself up with, and I said no, I don’t have a shirt. He said I can’t let you on without covering up,” she said.

The 22 year-old said she’s seen other shirtless passengers ride the bus with no issues.

“I’ve been catching these buses since I was young… plenty of [male passengers] get on without shirts.”

After being refused service, Gulez stepped off the bus and took photos of the bus and driver.

“He was uncomfortable that I was taking photos,” she said.

Other passengers were allowed on the bus without a problem.

Gulez boarded the next free bus approximately 10 minutes later wearing the exact same thing, saying “the other driver was fine with it.”

She believes incidents like this are part of an ongoing issue where men believe they can govern women’s bodies.

After contacting Transport NSW regarding a dress code, Gulez was advised that there was no specific clothing policy which would have warranted a refusal of service.

The Gong Shuttle Bus is a free service run by Transport New South Wales.

It travels in both directions from Wollongong University to Wollongong Station, via Wollongong Harbour, several high schools and Wollongong Hospital.

Transport NSW has been contacted for comment.