I would like to confirm that this may not be directed to ALL #20 bus driver’s, but to the one who continuously drives off-schedule out on Herring Cove road … I have been an appreciative and patient passenger that is seriously frustrated with the fact that even when I arrive 5-8 min. early at my pick-up spot, I have missed you. This has happened more than 5 times in the last weeks and I know this because once had you cruise past me when I was 5 min. early but was just reaching the stop and you didn’t see me. I have now had to spend close to 45 min. each time, out in the freezing cold because you were for whatever reason in a hurry. It wouldn’t be so bad if it were closer to town or I had other options but it’s pretty far out and I have no choice but to wait for the next one. Seriously, PLEASE follow the bus schedule … it is printed and distributed for a reason and a lot of us rely heavily on you. This is your job. Please do it properly.
—Girl freezing her toes off on herring cove road
This article appears in Feb 5-11, 2009.
It’s because 90% of these asshole bus drivers are smokers. They run 5-10 min early so when they get to Mumford or Scotia Square they can stop and have a fucking smoke! They have designated breaks and can smoke then as far as I’m concerned. HRM should have a no smoking policy for the drivers while they are working (not including their designated breaks). God knows how many times I missed the bus, despite being early, because some fucker had to have his/her fix. Their job is to drive a bus according to a specific schedule set forth by Metro Transit, not to drive according to their nicotine needs. Any drivers who break the schedule so they can have a smoke should be canned. Period.
I’m pretty sure HRM WILL do something about drivers who leave early…unless you get that one bitch at the call centre on the phone who will verbally abuse you for complaining because the fucktard driving the bus took off 5 minutes early and you missed your transfer and have to wait another 30-60 minutes for another. Bitch actually said to me when I called about a bus that was always leaving early “uh it’s five minutes, miss” and went on about how you’re supposed to be at the stop 5-10 minutes before the bus leaves and that it’s written in the rider’s guide (which it’s not, I checked), but even still, if I was there 5 minutes early and the fucker drove off, then I certainly have a right to complain Miss HRM Call Centre Cunt.
Anyway, I’m pretty sure they can track when the drivers leave with the GPS systems in the busses.
What’s even MORE awesome is when the driver leaves LATE because he/she needed their nicotine fix. That’s happened to me a few times and I’ve been late/missed transfers.
I hate it when they leave early or late, especially from a terminal. It’s pointless. Speaking of smoke breaks; I actually saw a driver get off the bus at the Bayer’s Road ghost town/burgeoning Capital Health centre and have not one, but two smokes. Yeah I’m talkin’ about you, you blue goatee-wearing motherfucker. We were 15 minutes late getting downtown, on a night where at the very least it should have been on time or less than 5 minutes late. Not like there was heavy traffic or it was busy bus.