Geoanna – Huffy drivers – huh!

I haven’t posted for a while because I’ve been ill and my pc has been dead. Both those states still pertain but at least I’ve got another pc now.

Before being struck down with the lurgy though I spent a happy weekend bussing around with a friend from London who was very impressed with the buses, which were on their best behaviour that weekend.

Then bussed to work as usual (whilst still feeling ill, grumble whinge) and nothing of any interest whatsoever happened.

Except last Friday on the way home there was a little exchange between a young woman who missed her stop and the driver. Said young woman stood up just as the bus arrived next to her stop, and pushed the bell just as it drew level. The driver had not been planning to stop as there was no one on the pavement and no one had yet rung the bell. I was getting off at the next stop so was standing behind her when she asked him, reasonably politely, why he hadn’t stopped at the previous stop.

Now, she had definately pressed the bell too late, as anyone who has travelled by bus more than about twice would agree. However his response was not the best. He could have – perhaps should – have smiled sweetly and said he was terribly sorry and perhaps she would try to push the bell at least 100 metres before the stop next time. Instead of which he got a bit Huffy.

Now no one likes a huffy driver, it creates an uncomfortable atmosphere on a bus and makes us all feel like naughtly schoolchildren and wonder who is to be scolded next (or maybe that’s just me and I need more therapy – could be). But he didn’t have to do the deep sighing thing and wearily point out that he was not a mind-reader and so hadn’t known because she hadn’t pushed the bell in time. He needen’t have then got into an argument about whether or not she pushed the bell in time – after all, “in time” is a matter of perception, and she thought she had, he thought she hadn’t. No point arguing it though, not with a bus load of people who just want to get home, eh?