Dear #52 Bus driver on North and Windsor stop today at around 3:15. Thanks for letting me on the bus even though I was waving my arms and the bus was stopped. You even made eye contact with me. Fuck you douchebag, I was late for a job interview. Thanks.

—Seeking employment.

This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2009.

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14 Comments

  1. Sarcasm doesn’t translate well into text. I will say this to anyone who inquires about running for the bus: It’s ALWAYS a crapshoot as to whether the driver will let you on. If this indeed occurred as you said, then yes, I can see why you’re upset.

    I also provide the advice drivers usually follow for their own bus rides, especially if you have a job interview or other time-sensitive place to be. Take the bus BEFORE the one that will get you there on time in case something like this happens (within reason, if your bus shows up every hour, showing up early to the stop is the better option).

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  2. I’m sorry but I think showing up 2 hours ahead of time is the better option if something is time critical. Metro Transit just isn’t reliable for getting someone on time.

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  4. or power walk like richard simmons on meth.

    to be honest, you should probably be taking a cab, where you don’t have a car, and then just take the bus home.

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  5. Oh, for Christ’s sake stop whining about bus drivers. It was your own responsibility to ensure you were at that interview on time not the bus drivers. Stop placing blame on others for your own faults. Bottom line is that your ass should have been at that bus stop five minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time. If you were running for the bus you were already late.

    In defense of the driver: drivers have to adhere to P.U.B safety rules that prohibit them from picking up or dropping off passengers at intersections, stop signals or areas not designated a bus stop or they face a stiff fine. That fine comes out of their own pocket(not transits) and I’m sure your ass on their bus is not worth the fine he /she could have faced.

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  6. This happened to me–at that same bus stop, getting on the #52. The bus driver did let us on, but then he reemed us out in front of a full bus. I’d almost rather go broke on taxis then deal with that again.

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  7. like you care what a buss full of people think.
    Or maybe you do…. but you probably shouldn’t.
    were they all your friends? or people you’re going to hang with and talk to even once in a while?
    Ever see again?
    unless you’re one purple-fucking-dinosaur, I think not.

    ooooo, I’ve been absconded by a person who drives around town for a living…

    I know metro transit is essential and all but if you didn’t defend yourself during the public display of humiliation then you are just as much at fault. You basically said to everyone… “yes, I deserve everything he just said and will cower in the corner until I can get off this ride-from-hell”.

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  8. That’s why I get to my bus stop on Chebucto 10 mins early. The #52 is always running a little early, or a little late by the time it hits me – depending on how many stops they made on North after the Sportsplex Terminal. Even so, if I have to be at work to open at 9:30, I get the bus at 8:30. The bus at 9 would get me there in time – but I don’t take chances.

    Bus drivers can’t let you on even if they’ve moved an inch away from the stop. They’re liabel for any damage to you, or the bus, in the event that they let you on.

    Learn from this.

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  9. Sounds more like you were late for the BUS. As a previous comment said, LEARN FROM THIS. Metro Transit is not reliable transportation in this city. If a job interview is that important, catch the earlier bus next time.

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  11. Actually, we did defend ourselves–but if there was a problem all he needed to do was tell us calmly there was a problem and explain why, or not let us on at all, rather than yell at us once we were on the bus.

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  12. Sometimes even when you’re AT the stop they drive by. Perhaps a lot has to do with body language of the passenger. I’ve had a bus just fuck off from the lacewood terminal without letting anyone (he just let people off, closed the door and started along his way)…it was a Sunday and I had waited 50 minutes already for that fucking bus so I wasn’t about to wait another hour. Anyway I waved and yelled and he stopped and let people on. Judging from his reaction it was an honest mistake and he apologized.

    My mom was waiting for the 31 last week at scotia square and the bus didn’t even stop. it just kept going. It wasn’t full either, and about 7 or 8 other people were waiting for it. I dunno what was up with that.

    And yesterday I pushed the cord and the driver didn’t stop at my stop. When I told him he let me off right then, which was actually closer to my destination than the stop 😛 A few summers ago that happened to me too. I was on the 66 and the driver was driving like a bat out of hell and as a result I had to walk a fair distance back to the stop he should’ve stopped at.

    All probably innocent mistakes, although the driver of the 31 was a douche for just not stopping at a fucking terminal at rush hour where there are tons of people. Not like he could exactly TELL who was going to get on his bus. FFS.

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  14. This city has the worst transit system ever, I’m sure, but the reason they don’t stop is b/c if they decide to stop and let you on, and you trip and fall, you end up suing their asses and it’s their fault b/c they were letting you on somewhere they weren’t supposed to.

    If I had a job interview, I’d be cabbing it, man. Never ever depend on Metro Transit.

    And @ Andy:

    You’re the only loser here, my friend. We’ve got enough cars in this shitty little city, you selfish prick.

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