The invention relates to a drive device (20) for entrance/exit devices for public transit vehicles, comprising a drive unit (22) disposed in and driving a column (24) that rotates about an axis of rotation Z-Z during opening and closing operations, said column opening and closing an entrance/exit device. The drive unit (22) is supported in the vehicle by way of a support component (40) and the support component (40) acts as a counterbearing for a torque of the drive unit (22). A coupling device (72) is disposed between the drive unit (22) and the support component (40), said coupling device facilitating a rotation of the drive unit (22) about the axis of rotation Z-Z when a limit of the torque acting on the drive unit is exceeded.