Nothing in the job description
I was driving a 94 line, starting at 4th & Mn. A man rode his bike to a bus laying over, I was across the street. He see’s me, asks what bus it is, I tell him 94 & it will pick up at shelter in 10 minutes. He then gets mad and starts arguing with me. I didn’t want any trouble so I told him to put his bike on, get on bus, whatever he wanted to do. That still did not help. He then comes across the street towards me saying he’s going to kick my ass (he was 6ft. 190 lbs, I am 5ft. 100lbs).
Why on earth do I have to endure this shit I will never know. He scared the hell out of me. If it wasn’t for another driver there, I don’t know how far this event would of gone. I was going to wait for a green light and leave him, but he was a step ahead of me. He must be used to this because he rode bike up to 6th st. I had no choice but to stop there, lot’s of people.
I called for cops and he got on and started in on me. I said don’t bother me anymore you’re on the bus. Everybody else just watched! Shit! I was on my own, I continued to drive with ice scraper in hand, upset, shaking, could not concentrate on my driving.
I sure hope that man knows he accomplished what he set out to do. By this time, I’m in tears, not calling streets, running hot, leaving before any connections, just to finish that trip. By this time I hate everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do I have to come to work every day and worry about being a victim????? There was not anything about this in the job description when I applied!
May 15th, 2007 at 9:44 am
What a jerk! Sorry you had to deal with that. Too bad the cops weren’t able to come quickly!
May 15th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
See, that’s fucked up. This makes me angry, I’m sorry you had to go through that. It’s such a baptism by fire after you turn in. You shouldn’t even let him ride if he’s not going to respect you. When I did the 16, I started out putting up with pretty much everything, but by the time I was done, I wouldn’t move the bus if people were fare-dodging, etc. That’s a situation where you tell him to get off your bus or get his ride in a cop car, and don’t move the bus until he gets off or the cops show up. Don’t be intimidated: I’ve been driving for a year now and definitely would have done the same thing right after I started, but you learn how to be firm and make people back down.
Also, remember that 99% of people are friendly and respectful, you’re just bound to have an asshole go off on you every once in a while when you’re carrying several hundred people every day. Don’t let it turn you off of bus riders in general. This Sunday, I had a woman screaming FUCK YOU! in my face because I was trying to make her pay her fare, but it’s definitely not the norm.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
The moment he made a threat the ride should have been over. Call control, report the threat and don’t move the bus. The idiot threatening you would know that he was waiting to be arrested if he stayed on the bus. I’m pretty easy with what passengers say but the moment it becomes a threat the ride is over.
Jun 1st, 2007 at 3:11 pm
At least it’s the same penelty for assaulting a transit operator as it is for assaulting a police officer. Hopefully that deters people from lashing out at drivers just doing their jobs.