This really doesn’t belong in the bitch category, mostly because it’s more about education than bitching…but, alas here we are.
Folks, if you’re not at a bus stop when the bus passes, I cannot and will not stop for you. It’s not because I don’t want to stop, it’s because stopping outside of a designated bus stop is extremely risky and if something bad was to happen, the driver is liable.
So, please do not approach the bus at an intersection or chase after it down the street. It’s incredibly dangerous. If you were to slip and fall, I can almost guarantee you that the driver would not see you and even if they did, the bus is a multi-tonne vehicle that won’t stop on a dime and no one needs that kind of memory permanently etched in their mind.
While I cannot speak for every driver, I can tell you that if you’re running for the bus or if you give us some indication that you want the bus, MOST drivers will wait for you…some won’t, but remember too, the bus is either 40 or 60 feet long, we don’t always see everyone either. —Concerned Driver
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2012.
i’m glad someone finally responded to this. Passengers are pissed about this kind of thing a lot and i’m glad you gave us your side of things.
Thank you.
True story
Yes remember that all you Dagwoods.
you are right o.p., it don’t belong here, but what the hell, go for it anyway.
Great post and good for you to step up.
I’ve been walking towards my stop and seen my bus leave 4, 5, 7 minutes early and not stop when I ran for it. I agree with this bitch when people are actually late for the bus, but come on. I’ve seen half empty busses drive past people at stops who are in plain view and the driver not give a shit.
Yesterday I was at the bus stop at the bridge and the #1 bus just drove by me…. maybe it was because he was too busy talking to the companion that was beside him which shoulnt be allowed in the first but complaints about these female companions with the driver go unheard.
i agree in these situations but either side its not all cut and dry. I’ve seen passengers get pissed when they were chasing a bus in traffic cause they didnt show up on time, then i took the 89 got on at cobequid and the driver flipped his sign to out of service cause “he didnt wanna pick anyone else up” and just drove us to lacewood terminal. Nothing is cut and dry
For those people offering their opinion of MT, re-read what the OP said: “While I cannot speak for every driver”…meaning they are telling you how they choose to do their job on a day-to-day basis.
As I’ve experienced first-hand, how other drivers choose to conduct the same job may be the polar opposite to this person’s approach.
Just be thankful that at least one driver seems to actually give a damn about their job and appears to be trying their best.
You sound like a good bus driver.
But I’ve come across some real asshole/moronic drivers. Last year, on a freezing cold night, I got off work and waited for the 87 in Sackville. It was the last one going to Dartmouth for the night. At around the same time the 87 was supposed to come to my bus stop, an out of service bus came around. I waited and waited. Half hour went by and I had long realized my bus wasn’t coming. I think this was the same type of scenario Brandon just described! It was actually the 87 in disguise! Fucking driver switched the sign to out of service either because he was stupid or didn’t want to pick anyone else up! Anyways, he/she fucked me over big time that night. Had to get an 80 to cobequid and join up with a 66, which went all over the place before finally bringing me to penhorn mall. Then had to cab home from there cause I still wasn’t home yet. Took 2-3 hours…
I wish all drivers were like you, OB.
Sadly, there are ones who fuck off early and generally don’t care. I was five minutes early to get to my morning stop, and the time the bus was supposed to leave its time point is when it showed up (the time point before my stop is the terminal and it takes at least 5 minutes for it to show up, but it’s usually like 8 or 9) — I had to cross the road when the bus got there and the driver looked over and saw me — I saw him look over and look right at me crossing the street. He was early and then when I finally got across the street and was AT THE DOOR (the last person had just stepped on) he closed it and started to fuck off. That’s when I banged on the door. He stopped, and let me on and then gave me a snotty “YOUR WELCOME!” when I didn’t say ‘thank you.’
Thank you for what? Being an asshole? Thank you for the privilege of you letting me on the bus when a) it’s your job and b) you weren’t doing your job properly by leaving your time point early.
Many more people were running for that bus that morning. And not because they were late, either.
All you people that think you can do a better job can sign up! They are looking for fresh meat.
I’d probably think about it as a future second career if I didn’t have to join your fucking union. I’ve got too much self respect to be associated with that side show.