94% of Vancouver Bus Drivers are happy considerate people*
It sucks when you run into one of the 6%.
Decided to take the bus into the city this week rather than drive to the skytrain. First day was fine (except damn the east side main street area is soo sad – but that’s for a whole other post). Day two I’m happily waiting for #20 victoria bus in the morning, I see the bus and go to grab my pass… not in my wallet… not in my pocket… not in my bag… arggg it has to be here. Unless after taking the bus yesterday I left it in my other jacket : (
So the bus is here I step on and say I can’t find my pass I must have left my it at home. He rolls his eyes and says there are signs here, here, here and here saying we no longer give free rides. So I’m embarrassed and annoyed… OK, not looking for a free ride. I dig into my pocket to see if I have enough change and tell him I’ve come up with 1.50. As I’m looking down to see if that’s enough he snarkily says ‘well you’re not 14’. Dude was cranky… so I’m like fine can I just get out then so I can walk home and get my pass. And he’s like ya at the next stop (he was driving during this whole exchange so now I have a fair walk to get home). Now I understand they can’t give free rides… and if you really can’t use your discretion that’s fine, but it’s the tone. Just say sorry I can’t do that without the tude. Seriously it’s the 6% with attitude that give a bad rep to the rest of the nice drivers.
*Based on random sample of approx 25 translink drivers in greater Vancouver area
3 comments on “94% of Vancouver Bus Drivers are happy considerate people*”
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sandtoesha 
Hey Tammy, I get where you’re coming from. However since I’m a bus driver, I also know exactly why the driver reacted that way. On certain routes in Vancouver (and yes, the 20 Victoria is one of them) drivers are constantly inundated with requests for free rides. Sometimes these “requests” are disguised as long, rambling excuses as to why they don’t have a pass or change. Sometimes the people just walk past, completely ignoring the bus driver. The REALLY irritating ones are the well dressed people obviously going to work/school/shopping, with a Starbucks coffee in one hand and an Ipod in the other. Mostly they come as, “Hey, can I get a ride to….” hospital/ welfare office/money mart to cash the cheque/court/probation officer/skytrain. 99% of the time they are blatant and obvious lies. Now bus drivers are law abiding, tax paying citizens. We don’t make up the rules, but we do have to live by them. So does every other passenger on the bus. It bothers us that these people are abusing the system that you and I pay for. Yes, there are probably better ways for that driver to have handled the situation, but considering that he’d probably dealt with 30 or 40 similar conversations already that day, can you really blame him if his patience has worn thin?
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Do you have copy writer for so good articles? If so please give me contacts, because this really rocks! 🙂
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