Bus passengers' indifference peeves driver
Vancouver Province
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
That's it, I no longer care.
You've broken another one of us. For this cold, uncaring bus driver, Friday was the final straw.
I tried to stop a person boarding who is known to me as someone who is dirty, violent and who never pays.
Once again, I was abused by other passengers complaining that I was detaining them. "Let him ride," you said. "Nazi," you called me. Someone paid for him and, sure enough, he was trouble on the bus.
I can't take your indifference to what happens on our transit.
You want your ride to move smoothly and safely, yet you fight the drivers every step of the way.
Your fares aren't ready, and still you board and block the way for those who are prepared.
You exit from the front, creating a log-jam for those boarding.
You have to be told, over and over again, to move to the back to allow people to board. And you are rude.
Do you care that the city is tearing up streets everywhere for repairs?
No, it's the driver's fault.
We know the faces of those who consistently refuse to pay, yet you whine when we take the time to refuse them a ride. Or you cry out, "why should I pay if he doesn't?"
We know the drug users, the purse snatchers, the pickpockets and the hepatitis carriers.
We try to stop those who haven't washed for months, and try to prevent those who are infected from bleeding on the seats or on the stanchions.
We know those who will punch you because you didn't move out of their way or because you looked at them the wrong way.
We know the spitters, the cursers, the ones who pee or do worse in the back seats.
And yet, if we try to exercise some kind of control, we are delaying you.
Well, no more.
Watch out when you ride my bus. I don't care anymore what happens behind the red line. You are on your own.
I'll still follow company rules and call for help by radio in an emergency. But WCB rules require me to to stay in my seat.
Thomas Bendall,
Vancouver
www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/letters/story.html?id=f2c46202-f1cc-4ead-b5fb-752618b836b7
Vancouver Province
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
That's it, I no longer care.
You've broken another one of us. For this cold, uncaring bus driver, Friday was the final straw.
I tried to stop a person boarding who is known to me as someone who is dirty, violent and who never pays.
Once again, I was abused by other passengers complaining that I was detaining them. "Let him ride," you said. "Nazi," you called me. Someone paid for him and, sure enough, he was trouble on the bus.
I can't take your indifference to what happens on our transit.
You want your ride to move smoothly and safely, yet you fight the drivers every step of the way.
Your fares aren't ready, and still you board and block the way for those who are prepared.
You exit from the front, creating a log-jam for those boarding.
You have to be told, over and over again, to move to the back to allow people to board. And you are rude.
Do you care that the city is tearing up streets everywhere for repairs?
No, it's the driver's fault.
We know the faces of those who consistently refuse to pay, yet you whine when we take the time to refuse them a ride. Or you cry out, "why should I pay if he doesn't?"
We know the drug users, the purse snatchers, the pickpockets and the hepatitis carriers.
We try to stop those who haven't washed for months, and try to prevent those who are infected from bleeding on the seats or on the stanchions.
We know those who will punch you because you didn't move out of their way or because you looked at them the wrong way.
We know the spitters, the cursers, the ones who pee or do worse in the back seats.
And yet, if we try to exercise some kind of control, we are delaying you.
Well, no more.
Watch out when you ride my bus. I don't care anymore what happens behind the red line. You are on your own.
I'll still follow company rules and call for help by radio in an emergency. But WCB rules require me to to stay in my seat.
Thomas Bendall,
Vancouver
www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/letters/story.html?id=f2c46202-f1cc-4ead-b5fb-752618b836b7
