Rude bus driver

Beetlemama

In defense of bus drivers though - not your bus driver OP, he was rude and shouldn't have been - but our crew here are real salt of the Earth, thank goodness. I've seen them stop 30ft from the stop to let a straggler get on and say don't worry if someone didn't have the right money. Last week I caught the bus from the bus station and the fare was £2.05 - I had £10 and change, I handed him £10.05 thinking I was being helpful and he told me he couldn't change it did I have anything else? I had a quick count and I had £1.93, he said yeah go on, that'll do. He didn't have to but he did. It was about 12pm, so I never thought that he wouldn't have change.

soothyerboots

mttylad wrote: »

Or people who have to run to the bus that is already running late because they too are late and they do not even have the correct change ready.

It is the OP that is the cause of the problem here not the driver, he was only 5 minutes late - you were six.

That still doesn't excuse the rudeness though, does it? I work in customer service, and just because a customer may sometimes inconvenience me, it does not mean that I can go ahead and be rude to that customer. Not only is it bad manners, it is unprofessional.

Voyager2002

nzmegs wrote: »

Just a little thing but really got me annoyed.

Had to run for the bus today and got to the doors just as the person in front of be had boarded. Of course, because I had been running i hadn't had the chance to get my money ready. I would estimate that it took me about 1 minute to get my purse out and fish about for the right change.

I was smiley and chatting to the bus driver and apologising for being such a slowcoach.

then he turns round and said "I was supposed to be around the corner by now you know..."

I was taken aback and immediately apologised. Wish i hadn't as my extra one minute was not responsible for him running five minutes late. he had clearly lost time elsewhere on the route and decided to take it out on me.

things like that can really spoil your day.

I don't think that the driver was rude: he simply reminded you of the pressures he was under.

The impact on other passengers could also be significant. I once had to catch a flight to the Philippines, and needed to take a local bus to where I could catch a coach to the airport. One woman took an absolute age to get her fare out of her purse; the delay meant that we almost missed our coach, and the need to run from bus stop to coach stop caused considerable pain to my pregnant wife.

OP: would it really have hurt you to wait for the next bus, so that you could have had your money ready by then?

Timalay

It's horses for corses I suppose. When I use work in a Neighbouring town, the bus I from the town I lived in to the town I worked at, the bus drivers where always nice.
But local bus services weren't really a happy bunch (but not as bad a some on this thread), but it was the customer service desk where you got your change were miserable beggars. If so much as asked a question, you made to feel stupid for not knowing the answer. I once witnessed a small boy with his dad who had lost something on the bus a while back before, and the person behind the desk was very abrupt to the young lad. If I was that lads dad I would have hit the roof.

trukdiver

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I don't think that the driver was rude: he simply reminded you of the pressures he was under.

The impact on other passengers could also be significant. I once had to catch a flight to the Philippines, and needed to take a local bus to where I could catch a coach to the airport. One woman took an absolute age to get her fare out of her purse; the delay meant that we almost missed our coach, and the need to run from bus stop to coach stop caused considerable pain to my pregnant wife.

OP: would it really have hurt you to wait for the next bus, so that you could have had your money ready by then?

I was on a bus where a woman got on and started complaining to the driver about it being 5 minutes late. I looked to my watch and it was on time but by the time she'd finished moaning, it really was 5 minutes late!

trukdiver

Proc wrote: »

Why do buses have such big windows?

So that we can look in on all the poor people.

You'd be poor after paying 2000 quid for an oyster card!

LisaB85

I had a bus driver call me a 'fat old cow' once, I was having a panic attack after ex got on the bus and I needed to get off the bus. Ironically he was about 55 and about 20 stone.

There is one driver who's face would crack if he attempted to smile, he barely even bothers to look at a ticket. He was 20min late a few months ago and didn't say sorry when I got on the bus, he really gets my back up.
I have complained about him but not sure the extra training they gave him did any good.

On a better note when I used to catch a late bus it ran every 2 hours but there was a bus in between that went to a neighbouring village, 1 bus driver would let you on and do the alternative route that served both (not missing stops)

When I was working I used a monthly ticket which you just showed the driver but then I swapped to a 10 trip ticket which needs to be stamped, I got on the bus flashed him my 10 trip and sat down (forgot it wasn't a monthly) I quickly realised and went to get it stamped he just laughed and let me on the bus without stamping it.

So I guess it is 50/50 chance you get a grumpy git or a nice guy.

Some do need to retake their driving test too, last week had a driver who kept breaking hard making the bus throw you about, he did this for the 50min journey I got off with a headache and feeling sick.

Abbafan1972

Well I live in the West Midlands and the buses are run by National Express. Generally the drivers are ok and courteous, luckily I don't have to fumble around with change as I have a pass.

It's mainly the passengers that get my back up. Taking up 2 seats with their shopping/handbag, putting feet on the opposite seat stopping people from sitting there and getting the seat dirty. People sitting the buggy zone and not moving when a buggy gets on, despite there being seats elsewhere on the bus (I have been on the receiving end of this and it's not pleasant).

zaksmum

On the buses round here there's so much cannabis smoke, maybe it affects the usual sweet demeanor of our bus drivers?

z1985m

I don't know why people think bus drivers get paid badly, lothian buses up here pay just under 30k which is good money. (might not be up to your london wages, 30k up here in edinburgh is pretty good!) lothian buses are the better company here though, i don't know how much first group pay their staff. i'd rather use lothian as i've never had a problem with any of the drivers and its usually a nicer, cleaner bus. first bus feel more shabby and quite a number of their drivers don't even speak english and fail to understand 'does this bus go past xxx'