Out of the wheelchair
Have you ever seen those folks on the bus whom, no matter how many people are standing up, still decide to take up another seat with their bag, newspaper or themself? Well, as bad as that can be- this sighting was even worse and much more baffling to me.
Riding back from the Science Museum with my mother, a man in a wheelchair got on the bus and then once he had the chair locked in position, he got up out of his chair and walked over to the seat up front that faces the driver. He also decided to put his legs up onto the other bench seats.
After him, on the same stop, the bus fills up and most people are forced to stand. If you have ever riden a bus that travels the freeway, you know it’s really not fun to ride standing up on those routes. But still, this man did not move back to his wheel chair or take his feet down for anyone. Most people stared at the empty chair curious how it got there.
Because of this, 3 seats were taken up by the chair and 3 more by his legs on the bench. Lo and behold, 5 or 6 people were standing up! Seemed rather odd and unnecessary to me.
Jul 30th, 2007 at 10:56 am
I’m surprised the driver allowed that.
Jul 30th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Why didn’t anyone speak to the driver. Much of the time the driver doesn’t know, or much care, about what is going on behind him. Their concentration is on driving safely. If the problem is brought to his attention there is no way he can avoid taking action and he certainly won’t tell some one to continue taking three seats.
Jul 30th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
You try life in a wheelchiasr for a week, and see how it feels, Not everyone in a WC is an absolute invalid. It;s nice to “unbend” the legs for a while, before getting back into the chair.
Jul 31st, 2007 at 10:34 am
Well, maybe so, melody, but it seems awfully discourteous especially when the wheelchair is also taking up room aboard the bus. You, of course, would be of the same affirmative opinion had the transgressor NOT been handicapped? I mean, why should only the handicapped enjoy “unbending” while riding the bus?
Aug 1st, 2007 at 4:58 am
This is what happens when you give certain people “protected class” status; they think that they get to use it to ride roughshod over everyone else.
This man could have “unstretched” his legs at any other time during the day. Why it had to be at that moment he was on the bus is beyond me.
Aug 1st, 2007 at 11:17 am
Matt, you need to lay down in a dark room with a cold compress on your forehead. This is a single person acting rudely, not a class. There are plenty of examples of bad behavior on the bus by persons not in protected class. To what do you ascribe their behavior?
Aug 4th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Lindemann, I see this sort of thing several times on a daily basis. For you to say that this is a single person acting rudely is to give a free pass because it isn’t just one person.
I ascribe this behavior to the knowledge that certain folks have received the wink and the nod from our various societal masters, societal masters who tell them that they can do anything and be untouchable. “If anyone tries to stop you,” say they, “we’ll go after then instead.”
Why do you think it is that everyone is so scared to stand up to bad behavior such as this…and worse? It’s not this “Minnesota Nice” B.S., but fear. Fear of ending up on the short end of the stick in one way or another. Open your eyes and see things for what they are, please!
Aug 4th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
As for the drivers not caring, these petty little incidents can be handled by yourselves, we take this behavior 8-10 a day every day and the same people, We are not baby sitters, referees , the job is not worth getting shot or stabbed over, we can go out of our way to accommadate people every day and we get the sneers of hatred anyways, try treating a bus driver with a little respect and you will see the differance in thier mood, this crap, gets old every day, all day with thye same people, and thier rude insults and behaviors, And I still greet the next one in line, even though I wo,nt get anything back,
Aug 4th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Well said.
Aug 11th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Matt, since this thread started as a discussion of rude behavior by a wheelchair passenger and you say that you see this behavior several times a day, I conclude that you see people in wheel chairs acting rudely several times a day. On what line does this bad behavior occur several times a day? I drive a bus and don’t see it as much as once a month. Wheelchair passengers in my experience are polite and repeatedly say thank for the ride. There are a couple of characters who are known to be ornery but they are rare. This makes me wonder if you could provide some particulars on the behavior you have witnessed.
And you missed the point to my previous question. I said there were plenty of able-bodied passengers who acted rudely. My question is still, to what do you ascribe their behavior?
Aug 13th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
The 5, 14, 19, 22. 16, 21, 94, Help me out did I miss any? 15 years of )(&^%$%@!%&, does,nt matter whaere you are, you get it from EVERY charector that gets on, does not matter color, race, gender, etc. Their is one in every trip, I love my job! The entertainment is free of charge, just bring your own popcorn, and enjoy the show, I always tell my self,( I,m not going home with them! ) Also ……………..try bringing a camara, it,s stress free and it,s fun scap book material, Good Luck!
Aug 13th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
9204, focus please. The thread started with wheel chair passengers. Are you saying that on every trip you get abused by a wheel chair passenger. Now, the lines you listed, except for the 94, are prone to attract a good number of scruffients, but the issue is wheel chair passengers. Have you anything to share concernint these passengers. Also, I’ve got 29 years and did my share on the 21 and the old St. Paul 8. I do believe you are exagerating or over reacting. Sorry that the job is taking such a toll on you.