Vile bus driver

bagger · 20-02-2010, 14:28

Waiting on Arundel Gate this morning for the 95 Dyke Vale Road bus I saw it coming in the distance and picked up my bag to get on the bus.
There was a 42 in the stop so the 95 SHOULD'VE pulled in behind it, he didn't. He stayed in the lane of traffic and let off one passenger so I ran to catch it, he pulled off straightaway and stopped at the lights which were red. I then had to run back to the lights and knocked on the door for him to let me on. I asked him why he hadn't stopped and he started shouting at me that I hadn't been at the stop! I told him I had and that I'd had to run both ways to try and get him to stop, I moved up the bus to sit down and he started screaming that I was a liar and that all women were liars.

I went back down the bus and in a calm voice asked him what would I gain by lying, why on EARTH would I lie about something so stupid but he just called me a liar over and over again.

I am honestly fed up with the sloppy service, disgusting attitude of most, not all, of the drivers and their filthy buses. What is going on with them? Why are they like this. I understand that if members of the public are rude to them then they are likely to give some lip back but this was totally uncalled for.

I was on the 55 TM Travel bus from Crystal Peaks about a month ago when the driver got up out of his seat when the bus pulled into the bus station and started mouthing at a passenger. This time the passenger was the one at fault but it's not the driver's place to leap up out of his cab and start threatening other people, this then resulted in a physical fist fight between the driver and the passenger!!! The world is seriously going mad.

I'm always one to give credit where credit is due and you do get some really nice bus drivers but lately the service from First is appalling.

slimsid2000 · 20-02-2010, 14:38

He should have pulled in. Simply stopping in traffic is not enough. you should report him as he did not do his job properly and also was rude to a customer.

OwlsChick · 20-02-2010, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagger

Waiting on Arundel Gate this morning for the 95 Dyke Vale Road bus I saw it coming in the distance and picked up my bag to get on the bus.
There was a 42 in the stop so the 95 SHOULD'VE pulled in behind it, he didn't. He stayed in the lane of traffic and let off one passenger so I ran to catch it, he pulled off straightaway and stopped at the lights which were red. I then had to run back to the lights and knocked on the door for him to let me on. I asked him why he hadn't stopped and he started shouting at me that I hadn't been at the stop! I told him I had and that I'd had to run both ways to try and get him to stop, I moved up the bus to sit down and he started screaming that I was a liar and that all women were liars.

I went back down the bus and in a calm voice asked him what would I gain by lying, why on EARTH would I lie about something so stupid but he just called me a liar over and over again.

I am honestly fed up with the sloppy service, disgusting attitude of most, not all, of the drivers and their filthy buses. What is going on with them? Why are they like this. I understand that if members of the public are rude to them then they are likely to give some lip back but this was totally uncalled for.

I was on the 55 TM Travel bus from Crystal Peaks about a month ago when the driver got up out of his seat when the bus pulled into the bus station and started mouthing at a passenger. This time the passenger was the one at fault but it's not the driver's place to leap up out of his cab and start threatening other people, this then resulted in a physical fist fight between the driver and the passenger!!! The world is seriously going mad.

I'm always one to give credit where credit is due and you do get some really nice bus drivers but lately the service from First is appalling.

Welcome to the world of trying to get the 95 bus to stop in town...Ive had the same thing happen time and time again on Arundel Gate and Haymarket.Trouble is the amount of 41,42,120s all wrestling for the bus stop.The 95 often goes around them,pauses,then sails off when you havent had time to try and flag it down!!!!

bagger · 20-02-2010, 14:50

I fully intend to report him. Their office is closed until Monday now apparently.

So I've emailed them and asked them to call me regarding the verbal abuse I suffered from one of their drivers.

slimsid2000 · 20-02-2010, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by OwlsChick

Welcome to the world of trying to get the 95 bus to stop in town...Ive had the same thing happen time and time again on Arundel Gate and Haymarket.Trouble is the amount of 41,42,120s all wrestling for the bus stop.The 95 often goes around them,pauses,then sails off when you havent had time to try and flag it down!!!!

Simply wear your Owlettes gear and the driver will be only too glad to stop for you.

danot · 20-02-2010, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimsid2000

He should have pulled in. Simply stopping in traffic is not enough. you should report him as he did not do his job properly and also was rude to a customer.

Are'nt bus drivers responsible for passengers getting on and off. I did'nt think they were allowed to open the doors untill they've pulled in. I suppose thats why some of them ignore you when their stuck in heavy traffic.

hopeful62 · 20-02-2010, 14:59

Quite understand you're disgust - I saw exactly the same thing happen to an old man earlier this week .

But in defence of the drivers, the traffic and stress they must go through day in day out is more than any human should have to deal with.

I very rarely use public transport and am thankful that it is rarely - as for actually being a bus driver, it must be by far one of the worst jobs nowadays.

A thought for passengers at bus stops would be good from the drivers but a thought for the drivers from the passenger equally so.

dieselbabe · 20-02-2010, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagger

I fully intend to report him. Their office is closed until Monday now apparently.

So I've emailed them and asked them to call me regarding the verbal abuse I suffered from one of their drivers.

When you email them they will email back asking for the two 5 digit numbers on the ticket so i hope you kept your ticket so they can ID the driver and get told, it is drivers like him that make Fist not a joy to travel with, yes i know most get stick but it is no point taking it out of others. They do email and send a letter to you very fast. I did this but for a driver that was ever so helpful and jolly to every one, and was ever so helpful to every one, even more to the elder people and a joy to be on his bus, very rare i get a First bus and a bus driver is nice so i had to tell them about this driver been a credit to First, wish they was all like him.

bagger · 20-02-2010, 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselbabe

When you email them they will email back asking for the two 5 digit numbers on the ticket so i hope you kept your ticket so they can ID the driver and get told, it is drivers like him that make Fist not a joy to travel with, yes i know most get stick but it is no point taking it out of others. They do email and send a letter to you very fast. I did this but for a driver that was ever so helpful and jolly to every one, and was ever so helpful to every one, even more to the elder people and a joy to be on his bus, very rare i get a First bus and a bus driver is nice so i had to tell them about this driver been a credit to First, wish they was all like him.

I have an orange weekly pass so didn't get a ticket. It shouldn't be too hard for them to work out which driver was on the 11.30 95 from Arundel Gate to Dyke Vale Road though surely?

04jessops · 20-02-2010, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopeful62

But in defence of the drivers, the traffic and stress they must go through day in day out is more than any human should have to deal with.

Many jobs dealing with the public are stressful. But so many other stressed-out workers still manage to be nice to people and remain professional.

bagger · 20-02-2010, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopeful62

Quite understand you're disgust - I saw exactly the same thing happen to an old man earlier this week .

But in defence of the drivers, the traffic and stress they must go through day in day out is more than any human should have to deal with.

I very rarely use public transport and am thankful that it is rarely - as for actually being a bus driver, it must be by far one of the worst jobs nowadays.

A thought for passengers at bus stops would be good from the drivers but a thought for the drivers from the passenger equally so.

We all have a choice about the job we do and where we work though. Yes being a driver must be stressful, especially with some of the passengers you get these days. I work for the NHS, a stressful job sometimes with some very rude patients now and again, but I would lose my job if I spoke to patients the way he spoke to me and rightly so.

Not that I want the driver to lose his job I hasten to add but I'm sick and tired of public services in this country behaving like they're doing us a favour instead of providing a service.

04jessops · 20-02-2010, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagger

We all have a choice about the job we do and where we work though. Yes being a driver must be stressful, especially with some of the passengers you get these days. I work for the NHS, a stressful job sometimes with some very rude patients now and again, but I would lose my job if I spoke to patients the way he spoke to me and rightly so.

Not that I want the driver to lose his job I hasten to add but I'm sick and tired of public services in this country behaving like they're doing us a favour instead of providing a service.

You said it better than I did.

Good post.

PXOWL · 20-02-2010, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagger

Waiting on Arundel Gate this morning for the 95 Dyke Vale Road bus I saw it coming in the distance and picked up my bag to get on the bus.
There was a 42 in the stop so the 95 SHOULD'VE pulled in behind it, he didn't. He stayed in the lane of traffic and let off one passenger so I ran to catch it, he pulled off straightaway and stopped at the lights which were red. I then had to run back to the lights and knocked on the door for him to let me on. I asked him why he hadn't stopped and he started shouting at me that I hadn't been at the stop! I told him I had and that I'd had to run both ways to try and get him to stop, I moved up the bus to sit down and he started screaming that I was a liar and that all women were liars.

I went back down the bus and in a calm voice asked him what would I gain by lying, why on EARTH would I lie about something so stupid but he just called me a liar over and over again.

I am honestly fed up with the sloppy service, disgusting attitude of most, not all, of the drivers and their filthy buses. What is going on with them? Why are they like this. I understand that if members of the public are rude to them then they are likely to give some lip back but this was totally uncalled for.

I was on the 55 TM Travel bus from Crystal Peaks about a month ago when the driver got up out of his seat when the bus pulled into the bus station and started mouthing at a passenger. This time the passenger was the one at fault but it's not the driver's place to leap up out of his cab and start threatening other people, this then resulted in a physical fist fight between the driver and the passenger!!! The world is seriously going mad.

I'm always one to give credit where credit is due and you do get some really nice bus drivers but lately the service from First is appalling.

The buses are filthy because of the way the travelling public leave them,the driver is not responsible for the state of them.

jazzamatazz · 20-02-2010, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopeful62

But in defence of the drivers, the traffic and stress they must go through day in day out is more than any human should have to deal with.

EH!! it's a job

if they cant hack it and so on.....

CorkerSWFC · 20-02-2010, 18:00

You should have turned his engine off at the back if he was stopped, he wouldnt have ****** off then lol.

bagger · 20-02-2010, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by PXOWL

The buses are filthy because of the way the travelling public leave them,the driver is not responsible for the state of them.

I blame the Company for the state of the buses, not individual drivers for heaven's sake. The buses are in a disgusting state because of the winter weather, mud on the floor, even more mud on the outside of the windows, these are buses that haven't been cleaned in weeks.

rubydazzler · 20-02-2010, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzamatazz

EH!! it's a job

if they cant hack it and so on.....

Getting a job isn't that easy, though, is it? So because of the stress of the job, they should pack it in and go on benefits? Why don't some of the travelling public just trying being more amenable to the drivers and one another? And take their rubbish with them when they get off the bus. And keep their little darlings quiet. And not have music and ring tones so loud that the whole bus can hear them. Etc, etc.

I personally can't stand being on the bus even for a short journey, solely due to the behaviour of some of the other passengers. Let alone having to do it as a job, day in and day out. No wonder some of the drivers are nasty tempered. I'd be taking a machine gun to work with me. But that's just me!

bagger · 20-02-2010, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubydazzler

Getting a job isn't that easy, though, is it? So because of the stress of the job, they should pack it in and go on benefits? Why don't some of the travelling public just trying being more amenable to the drivers and one another? And take their rubbish with them when they get off the bus. And keep their little darlings quiet. And not have music and ring tones so loud that the whole bus can hear them. Etc, etc.

I personally can't stand being on the bus even for a short journey, solely due to the behaviour of some of the other passengers. Let alone having to do it as a job, day in and day out. No wonder some of the drivers are nasty tempered. I'd be taking a machine gun to work with me. But that's just me!

Well, I am a considerate human being, on a bus or otherwise, and I expect to be treated with the same respect that I show others. But then I'm odd like that.

rubydazzler · 20-02-2010, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagger

Well, I am a considerate human being, on a bus or otherwise, and I expect to be treated with the same respect that I show others. But then I'm odd like that.

I'm sure you are, and that why I used the qualifier of 'some'.

You say you work in a hospital? Well, I'd say the same about your job. I don't know how you do it, day in and day out. People in certain circumstances can be total arses and make life miserable for everyone. Sure, the driver was being one to you but maybe he was totally on the edge due to things that had happened previously in the journey and you happened to be so unfortunate as to cop for the fall-out.

I agree totally that you need to complain, just to get his card marked about stopping for passengers and insulting them, but we all have bad days. I was verbally and physically attacked by a customer last week, but she was obviously totally stressed out or mentally ill. Not pleasant but you can sort of accept it provided they don't actually hurt you.

Hope you have better journeys next week.

bagger · 20-02-2010, 19:48

I think it was the fact that he was so aggressive in manner that shocked me. A grumpy driver is a grumpy driver but this guy just lost the plot and to be honest I was quite upset by his behaviour. It's hard not to take that kind of thing personally, I was totally and utterly bewildered by it.
Obviously this guy might have been having a bad week and me challenging him on not stopping was the straw that broke the camels back, so to speak.

It's just kind of depressing that my story isn't unusual these days really, not just with bus drivers but wherever human beings interact with each other there seems to be less and less tolerance for each other.