(07 Sep 2020, 2:22 pm)Bazza wrote Totally agree with the point that mask wearing is to protect others not the mask wearer. 

To compare the enforcement of mask wearing and fare paying is like comparing apple and pears though. 

if you are on the bus you must have some form of ticket or pass.  There are no real exceptions to this (Not leaving vulnerable people at bus stops is the exception that proves the rule!)

As soon as exemptions were made for mask wearing though, with no need to provide any proof except the passengers word, enforcement became impossible.  Yes, drivers can challenge, but people will either lie, or rely on the fact that if they get on the bus, and the driver contacts the police, it is highly unlikely they will attend in a timely manner.  

if none mask wearers had to provide some sort of official ‘pass’ - properly issued by some authority,  I think you could more or less guarantee that the wearing of face masks would be enforced.  

Don’t blame the operators or their drivers for not enforcing flawed guidelines

I totally disagree. both are conditions of travel. If you want to travel, you have to pay, and wear a face covering. 
People 'exempt' from paying are those with a concessionary pass, so something similar should be in place for those exempt from wearing a face covering.

I do agree that it's impossible to enforce, but not even having the illusion of enforcement is where the issue lies. If they don't challenge anyone, people are going to continue to avoid wearing them. If they ask you every time you board without wearing one, then soon enough you're going to get sick (hopefully not literally) and just start wearing one.