I have a great suggestion in order to make transit better. Fire at least 50% of the bus drivers who have to work either the weekend shifts or the holiday shifts. I normally only take transit on Saturday’s and have not had a friendly driver in over a month. I was brought up to say “good morning” and “thank you” and the drivers I have had on the #18 have either ignored me or maybe let out a grunt now and again. I am starting to wonder whether they realized that they would have to deal with the public when driving a public mode of transportation, hmmmm. Metro Transit has got to start implementing a program for their drivers on how to deal with the public. Now I get why I hear so many complaints about bus drivers !!! —justsaying
This article appears in May 21-27, 2015.
Yea, I bet metro transit management’s gonna gather everyone together and be all like “Okay everyone i know you see thousands of people today but if they say good morning to you, you HAVE to smile!!! Also we are now adopting a no grunting policy. Everyone will now be required to take Happyness Training so the dumb naieve college kids will stop bitching about you.
A FAILLURE OF LOGIC?
As you “normally only take transit on Saturday’s” (sic), how would “firing at least 50% of the bus drivers who have to work either the weekend shifts or the holiday shift” make transit better? Is there a failure of logic here?
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
While waiting for validation from a transit driver OP let me fill you in on a common narrative. This will happen to most drivers, earlier rather than later: Driver: “Good morning.” Rider: “Why don’t you just f#@k off and drive the bus!” Or “What is so f@#king good about it?”. Alternatively, some slagheap will step on and without provocation, verbally/physically abuse a driver because…they can…and get away with it. The higher ups don’t want the administrative burden of a prosecution. After all, the driver is expendable. Many drivers limit interaction because it is the only surefire way to avoid conflict…seeing as they’re dealing with complete strangers and no protection save for cameras. It sounds harsh but, I think you and many others have a cursory knowledge of what a transit driver’s daily life is like.
I hate to offend your Kumbaya Haligonian sensibilities OP but, this city is not what you may think it is. Despite it’s small town delusions, this city is a regional center with all the accompanying social ills. I don’t ever recall security screening at the front door of a bus. I’m for more civility in all aspects of life and strive to be polite, as well as efficient and safe. Sorry OP if that isn’t good enough…the Julie the Cruise Director bit is going to have to be someone else’s dog and pony show. It’s $2.50 right?
Been taking the 17 lately and have nad nothing but good experiences with the drivers. Barb Winebox and Terry Sixpack day in day out would grind me down, so that there are any nice drivers left is a miracle in my opinion.
As long as they’re not crashing into other cars, smoking in bus shelters at stops, and flogging fake seals then just leave em be to their job of dealing with idiotic motorists, cyclists, and peds.
Abandon all hope past these double doors of demonic dementia.