Fort Worth has struck a blow for fashion decency by banning anyone wearing their trousers at half-mast from boarding its buses.

The city's Transportation Authority, aka 'The T', has decided its passengers should be spared the sight of hipsters' arse cleavage or underwear as they stagger about with their kecks heading towards their knees.

The T's communications big cheese, Joan Hunter, told Reuters: "Riders don't want to see a person dressed like that on a public bus. Our customers think it's disrespectful."

She insisted that the "Pull 'em up or find another ride" campaign is nothing more than an extension of existing rules, which already require passengers to wear shirts and shoes.

She rejected complaints that The T is exercising fashion police powers, noting: "Following this rule is actually easier than following any other clothing policy we have. All you need to do is pull your pants up before you get onto the bus. You don't have to go home and get a shirt or get a pair of shoes. Then, after you get off the bus, you can dress however you want."

Bus drivers have the final say on just how low passengers can go. On the first day of anti-sagging operations, 50 people were given their marching orders, according to Hunter. ®