A PASSENGER onboard a Renfrew ferry service threatened to “beat up” the boat driver after being told they couldn’t travel until they paid their fare.

The incident happened on the Renfrew to Yoker ferry on Saturday, June 17, where the passenger said they would “haul the driver” off the boat to beat him up.

Following the incident, the transport service took to social media to share their frustration.

Bosses claimed that there is an increasing problem with the levels of aggression towards the boat drivers when passengers are asked to show their concession cards. 

They revealed there's also an increasing number of passengers that are using the service with no means of paying.

Raising the issue of concession cards, the ferry operator said all cardholders must show their cards every time they use the boat and if they can’t, they must pay a full fare.

Meanwhile, they said those who enter the boat with no means of paying because they “forgot” or “couldn’t be bothered” will now have to leave something of value until they pay the fare.

In a statement on social media, Renfrew-Yoker Ferry said: “We’re having some problems with an increasing level of aggression towards the boat drivers, basically over two things.

“One is asking passengers to show their concession cards and the second is the increasing number of passengers with no means to pay their fare is breathtaking.

“Regarding concession cards, to stop the stress, all concession card holders must show their card each and every time they cross.

“It doesn’t matter how many times a day they cross, the card must be shown.

“It doesn’t matter if they are on first-name terms with the driver, the pass must be shown.

“Many passengers use the ferry twice a day and have no issues showing the pass.

“We are very grateful to you for that! It’s just a few. Unfortunately, if anyone is unable to show their concession pass the full fare must be paid.”

They continued: “Regarding no means to pay, it’s becoming a bit of a pandemic for us.

“Not because the person is in need but because the person forgot or simply ‘couldn’t be bothered’. For paying passengers to witness someone get a free trip because they couldn’t be bothered getting the fare is frustrating.

“Most of the time it’s ‘I will pay you tomorrow’ and guess what? We never see them again.

“Effective immediately, if someone does not have their fare, they will be required to leave something of value, the driver will give them a receipt for it and on receipt of their fare, it will be returned.

“However, times are hard and if anyone genuinely is stuck and can’t pay, please text or WhatsApp 07545903626.

“The vast majority of our passengers are kind and amazing people but tonight when a passenger at 1835 threatens to haul the driver out of the wheelhouse to beat up because the driver said he couldn’t take the passenger across until the fare was paid… well it’s time to stop that.”