Sydney's Northern Beaches Council has implemented a controversial dress code for its Hop, Skip and Jump bus service, banning passengers from boarding while shirtless or wearing bikinis. The policy follows complaints from commuters who found such attire "off-putting" on the small, contained vehicles that serve coastal suburbs like Manly and Fairlight.

The public transport dress code leaves enforcement to driver discretion, reflecting Australia's ongoing debate over public decency. Council members cited passenger discomfort, particularly among older riders, though critics question where to draw the line with activewear and other casual clothing commonly worn on buses.

This reignites Australia's decades-long "bikini wars" that began in the 1960s when authorities arrested women at Bondi Beach for improper swimwear. The council has yet to formalize the new rule in its code of conduct, which already prohibits eating, drinking, and bringing large objects onto crowded buses.