Bus drivers attitudes.

[WYBS]

Before I start this thread I want to say that there are some fantastically friendly, cheerful bus drivers out there on the roads, however:

In the past week I have had 3 separate incidents of drivers being rude, obnoxious and arsey with 3 different companies. I always board the bus with a smile and a 'hello', 'good morning', 'good evening' etc... even if I've just finished a 30 hour shift rigging and de-rigging 4 different events! I've become a-custom to the usual slightly miserable attitude you often get, but these occurrences really riled me up.

CT Plus - A driver interrogated me about where the bus went after I dared to board. Having answered his line of questioning correctly he just turned his head and set off moving. (No working destination and ticket machine not logged into and covered by his hat). When I alighted I of course said thank you and got absolutely no response whatsoever.

First Leeds - Driver in a festive jumper (not so merry after all) asked me where my mask was, so I showed her my medically exempt badge and apologised for not being able to wear one. She shook her head and muttered something under her breath. Gets off the bus with three other people and each one she has a comment for. Of course I say 'thank you' in an overly friendly way, so again she mutters something like "no mask!" quite audibly, and off she goes.

Transdev Flyer - Having done some shopping at Guiseley Westside; I began to walk towards the train station when an A3 came up in traffic behind me. With the next Leeds bound train in just 7 minutes I jumped on it to save myself a half hour wait for the next one. No response from the driver to a friendly 'hello'. I get off 3 stops down near the train station and the driver mutters 'lazy b#$tard' to himself. Now I may or may not have been a lazy so and so, but who on earth is he to judge me?

Would you get this attitude (as often as on the buses anyway) from staff in any other sector and why is it somehow acceptable on the buses? I think if I went into a clothes shop and was so obviously insulted by the staff; they certainly would not be getting my money in future. But of course often myself and other people have no choice to use the buses.

[joseph]

I have to say myself I've noticed both drivers and passengers getting more and more aggressive since all this Covid has kicked off. The type of passenger who really irritates me however is the type who spend an age loading a ticket onto their mobile before scanning it, what these pillocks don't realise is people like me don't just travel on one bus, we have connecting journeys to make to destinations well beyond the city centre. What irritates me further is when you get that disapproving look from other passengers when you shout out for them to get a move on, and these same idiots wonder why buses run late!

[WYBS]

Dec 12, 2021 12:16:38 GMT 1 joseph said:

I have to say myself I've noticed both drivers and passengers getting more and more aggressive since all this Covid has kicked off. The type of passenger who really irritates me however is the type who spend an age loading a ticket onto their mobile before scanning it, what these pillocks don't realise is people like me don't just travel on one bus, we have connecting journeys to make to destinations well beyond the city centre. What irritates me further is when you get that disapproving look from other passengers when you shout out for them to get a move on, and these same idiots wonder why buses run late!

People who can see the bus coming a mile off then get on (usually without even putting their hand out) and start to rummage around in their bag for their ticket or load up the app up (their phone is always slow). I had one woman the other week get on and then proceed to buy a single ticket on her phone on the app! What was that all about? We were sat at the stop for ages.

[deerfold]

I don't know if it's down to new drivers or drivers changing routes, but 4 times in the last couple of months, drivers have gone past the stop I've wanted (I've pressed the stop button in good time, each time and have been much of the way down the bus by the time we passed it - if we'd slowed down I'd have arrived at the stop at about the time the bus stopped). Each time I've asked the driver to stop and they've been argumentative "I thought you wanted the next one" "There's no stop there" or just ignored my talking until we've reached the next stop. When it's happened rarely in the past, the driver has usually been very apologetic, stopped as soon as they can and I've said "don't worry about it".

[deerfold]

Dec 12, 2021 14:54:56 GMT 1 @busfan said:

Like I said, drivers should never ever be rude to passengers, that's not on of course. But we need to look at the flipside of that and see some of the passengers they have to deal with.

I've only complained about a bus driver twice - once in 1993 when the last bus sailed past me at a stop where I was clearly signalling and a couple of years ago when a driver swore at me when he couldn't find the ticket I wanted on his machine (especially annoying as the company were heavily promoting it at the time).

[guyarab]

There might be drivers who do not acknowledge a greeting and some others who dislike passengers completely, but spare a thought for those working for Metroline who have to daily take verbal abuse and threats from people purporting to be passengers, especially when callers don’t get the hoped for answer.

[Father Dougal McGuire]

I acknowledge everyone who gets on my bus. Then the same getting off unless they don't say anything. Just a simple "thank you" "morning" "oreyt" "bye now" will suffice and you're generally met with the same politeness back.
Personally I'd find it difficult to ignore a passenger getting on my bus, I wouldn't like it if it was the other way.

[driver6540]

Dec 17, 2021 13:40:28 GMT 1 Father Dougal McGuire said:

I acknowledge everyone who gets on my bus. Then the same getting off unless they don't say anything. Just a simple "thank you" "morning" "oreyt" "bye now" will suffice and you're generally met with the same politeness back.
Personally I'd find it difficult to ignore a passenger getting on my bus, I wouldn't like it if it was the other way.

You've got the "old school" drivers attitude. Sadly that does seem to be dying out now. I've always said "morning" or "thankyou" when boarding or alighting a bus, but very rare i get a response. I don't take it personally though, just glad there's a bus for me to use in my hour of need.