Drivers

Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of drivers that I know quite well and like a lot.  There are also a lot of drivers I don't like and some I have no clue who they are.  Some I see once and are gone.  Others it depends on what are of the city I am in. 

For the most part the drivers here in Mississauga are great. They put up with a lot of crap.  Crap from passengers, bosses and the city and maybe even their union. 

In my own opinion, I think drivers should first and foremost be good drivers.  They are afterall, driving a lot of people all over the city.  People of all types. Young, old, sick, disabled, etc.  So being a good driver is the TOP item on my own qualifications for being a safe and good bus driver. Now, with an influx of new drivers I'm not so sure if that is the top qualification for the city any longer.  There are so really bad drivers lately.  Scary bad. I mean, some of them could be on Canada's Worst Driver bad! 

So here are a list of driving habits that I don't think bus drivers should have or do:

Going through red lights- I don't really need to explain that one do I?

Slowing down at green lights- It happens all the time and then if by chance the light turns yellow the driver will SLAM on the breaks.  Green means GO, there aren't shades of green.  Just go!

Driving really fast and when you get to a bus stop you hit the breaks.  When the passengers have things falling on the ground or they are hanging on for dear life, your driving isn't safe.

The impatient red light driver.  The bus is at a red light.  It's not changing yet the bus driver thinks he can get the light to change if he pulls up an inch and hits the brakes.  He moves up an inch again and hits the brakes.  What he fails to realize is that you are making all the passengers jerk forward evertime you do that.  UGH!  Just wait, the light WILL change.  It always does even if you don't move up an inch at a time!

The jerky driver.  This is the driver (and there are a few and I have one of them this week!) who presses on the gas than lifts his foot of when get goes too fast, then pushes on the gas instead of just having a constant foot pressure on the pedal (just 'cause I don't have my license doesn't mean I haven't driven).  Then.....the...whole...bus.....ride....is.....a....bunch.....of.....jerking.....motions....that.....hurt......your.......back.  You get the point

The brake happy driver.  Like the jerky driver but instead of just lifting his food off the gas pedal, he touches the brake.  So.   You.   Get.   More.    Jerkiness.  Than.     The.    Jerky.    Driver.

The road rage driver.  I guess this is the guy, when driving a car, engages in these battles.  However, when you are on a bus and driver is flashes his lights, blaring his horn and riding up someone's butt because he or she may have cut you off it's not fun for the passengers. I don't care that you can blare a horn for 20 seconds straight or can curse and swear at someone that probably thinks your pyscho.

The distracted driver. Whether they are talking to a person, on their cel, or looking for their lunch, opening a coffee, it puts the fear of God into me.  You see the car stopped ahead the driver doesn't notice. Finally he does and hits the breaks.  I just love to fly out of my seat.  Or they can pull out their paper at red lights and not notice when the light turns green. 

Now there may be others so I may add to that list from time to time. 

Second on my list of qualifications is customer service. Now, that can take many forms and for bus drivers I think the most important ones would be to pick up passengers, don't be a jerk, try to be helpful if you can and let people off the bus when they want.  Don't worry, I'm not expecting a lot, I think good driving comes before this but there are few things that I expect.

Pick me up. I'm at the stop waiting.  Your late and zoom, there you go.  You forgot one of the most important parts of your JOB!  Pick up the person waiting for the bus.  Now I do think the company can make this easier for drivers with bus shelters (I will get into what I think the city has to do in another post!) BUT come on!  I was there! How could you miss me?  I'm not hiding!  It's not so bad in the spring or summer but when this happens in the dead of winter.  UGH!  I'm think, "Car, I need a car!"

Let me off.  If I ring the bell please let me off at the next stop.  I see you talking and know you didn't notice and sure enough we go right by my stop.  Then I have to yell, "EXCUSE ME!" and everyone on the bus looks at me.  Then I get the, "oh sorry!" and I have to walk back.  Now what amazes me is how many times I see other people waiting to get off that don't say anything when the driver goes by their stop.  I'm not going to be quiet.  I YELL.  Then he will stop!

Early bus and I'm not quite at the stop. Okay the "policy" is be at your stop 5 minutes before and normally I am.  Sometimes though a bus is super early for some reason and I'll not be at the stop.  Most of my regular drivers know me and will wait or pull up to me.  Some go right by me even though I am waving.  I've had some put their hand up as if to say, "oh well".  Gee, thanks.  You are early and won't wait for me.  Thanks. 

Buses leaving early or late.  Okay, I'm reasonable, traffic, weather and acts of who knows what all play a part in busing.  There is one thing I don't get though, how a schedule can even be followed if the bus doesn't start off at the right time.  Nothing irritates me more than a bus sitting there at the terminal while a driver smokes and talks on his phone, then leaves 5-10 minutes late.  I have places to be and connections to make.  Leave on time please!  On the same note, if I'm on another bus and have to make a connection and that bus leaves early and I miss it I just want to scream.  Leave on time please! 

Not respecting people.  I've seen a lot of rude behaviour from some drivers.  Now don't get me wrong, I've seen a lot of great things and I will post that soon enough.  One time a person who is mentally disabled and has trouble stepping up on the bus wanted the driver to make the bus kneel.  I think all drivers should do this when loading and unloading.  I'm able bodied but I am short and I shouldn't have to make a quiet leap on a bus.  Anyway, this woman pointed down and half lifted her leg but the driver wouldn't lower the bus. I'm not sure why but the woman ended up walking away.  That really bothered me.  Or there used to be an older man who either had a mental disablity or suffered from a brain issue.  He asked every driver what their name was and how they were.   He never remembered their names so I'm guessing he had short term memory loss or something.  Was he annoying? Sometimes.  He asked me the same questions day after day but I was always nice to him.  Well he asked one driver what his name was and the driver told him it was none of his business and to sit down. Then the man became confused as this wasn't the normal route he took and when he asked the driver when we were leaving and where we were going the driver told him to shut up.  Nice.  On may way off the bus I told the driver what I thought about him and his behaviour.  His excuse was that the man always bothered him with his questions. 

Getting bus help.  Now I do think passengers should do their own homework about what bus they need to take before going out the door.  The transit company does have a helpful customer service number if you don't have internet. That said, I do think some drivers should be a bit more helpful.  I've seen people ask what bus they need to take and the drive shrugs.  Hmmm, you work for a company that drives people around the city and you have no clue? 

Now I'm sure I'll remember others or witness some other things I don't like so I'll add!