A bus driver's lot is not a happy lot.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:03 pm

If you want to see how vile we are becoming, take a bus ride

By Tom Utley

(Filed: 10/02/2006)

I have seen my fellow men and women in a new perspective since my wife became a bus driver 18 months ago. From her viewpoint, behind the wheel of a London double-decker, they are often an ugly sight.

She counts herself lucky if she manages to get through a whole day without being called a bitch, or something much worse, by one or more of her passengers - usually for no better reason than that she has been held up in the traffic.

I am still shocked by her reports of the unspeakable rudeness that she has to endure as she drives her bus through the centre of town, from West Norwood in the south to Baker Street in the north, and back. All human life is on that route, from the crack houses of Brixton to the five-star hotels of Park Lane. It seems to occur to very few people, rich or poor, that the driver behind the wheel may be a human being, with ordinary human feelings.

But she is a tough cookie, my wife - hardened, no doubt, by two-and-a-half decades spent looking after selfish Utley men and boys - and generally she has no difficulty in abiding by her employers' policy of letting all the abuse wash over her. Just occasionally, however, she succumbs to the temptation to give as good as she gets.

The other day, for example, a peroxide blonde in a fancy new BMW opened her window and subjected my wife to a torrent of four-letter words, unrepeatable in print. My Lucinda's offence, apparently, had been to stop at a bus stop, thereby impeding the BMW's progress.

As it happened, she had with her a copy of Lynne Truss's latest book about the state of modern manners, which she had brought to work to read in her break. She picked it up and, with a beatific smile, showed the front cover to the foul-mouthed woman in the BMW - Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of Everyday Life. Game, set and match, I reckon, to Mrs U.

It is a wonder to me that people pick on London bus drivers in this way, and feel that it doesn't really matter what they say to them. Perhaps it has something to do with the Englishman's instinctive (and sometimes healthy) hostility to people in uniform. But I suspect that it has more to do with that human urge to kick the cat when things are going badly.

No doubt a lot of the people who call my wife a "f------ c---" have had a bad day at work, and would really prefer to address their insults to their bosses. They vent their anger instead on the bus driver, because that is so much safer. It is always comforting to feel that there are people even lower down the food chain than we are.

But, whatever the reason or the excuse might be, it is horrible that there are so many Britons around who think so little about showering abuse on strangers. According to my wife, schoolchildren are among the worst offenders, which does not bode well for the future. I just wish I knew what could be done about it.

One answer, I suppose, is to write books like Truss's - or columns like this one - lamenting the decline in standards of manners. But the sort of people who read these books or columns would never dream of addressing the C-word to a bus driver (or, if we dreamt of it, we would certainly keep our dreams to ourselves).

Nor can I believe that pressure groups such as the Polite Society or its offshoot, the Campaign for Courtesy, do any good. I cannot so much as read the names of these organisations without hearing the prissy, irritating voice of a nanny saying: "Now, what do you say? There! That wasn't so difficult, was it?"

Every time a spokesman for the Polite Society (the "Polate Socaity", as I cannot help thinking of it) issues a statement about the evils of swearing, I feel a guilty twinge of schoolboy sympathy with the wag who writes to the weblog, instructing him to "f--- off". But I do not believe that the cause of courtesy is entirely lost. For one thing, good manners are quite as infectious as bad. A colleague who lives in Brighton tells me that it is standard practice

there for passengers to thank the bus driver at the end of their journey. If only a few dozen people in London were to start behaving like that, the idea might catch on that "thank you" is quite as conventional a thing to say to a bus driver as "you f------ bitch".

I am encouraged, too, by a development at my local Sainsbury's. Not so long ago, the checkout girls would never address a word to their customers, except to demand payment and ask if we wanted "cashback". But lately they have started greeting every customer with a "good afternoon, sir", or a "how are you today, madam?"

Now, I am not stupid enough to believe that the checkout girls at Sainsbury's have suddenly developed an interest in their customers' wellbeing, or care whether we have a good afternoon or not. An edict has clearly gone out, instructing them that they must put on a show of civility, in the way

that Americans are instructed to tell their customers to "have a nice day".

But the funny thing is that the pretence works. It really does make the miseries of the supermarket more endurable when the staff are polite - even when we all know perfectly well that they are acting under orders. The manager of my local Sainsbury's has clocked on to the fact that there is money in good manners - and where money leads, trends follow.

It might have sounded at the beginning as if a London bus driver's working life was one long torment of abuse. But of course there are some lovely people around, as well as swine. The other day, my wife was treated to a more than usually virulent verbal attack from a young woman, who stood beside her for several stops, screaming F-words at her.

She took it all with her usual stoicism. But when at last her tormentor got off, an elderly woman who had overheard it all came up to my wife and said: "You poor thing. Are you all right, dear?" Only then did my wife have to fight back the tears. It is just so bloody nice to feel that there is somebody on your side.

Ã‚© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2006.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:28 pm

Wow, what an article. People can be so rude and tacky.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:46 pm

And this is our capital, the example for the rest of the country.

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:58 pm

OpenMind wrote: And this is our capital, the example for the rest of the country.

Thanks for the post. LOL

It's just not that way over there, it's the same over here OM....

You can learn a lot taking a bus.......Not that I would know anything about Mass trasint.........LOL

...............................................:p

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:02 pm

I absolutely depend on my car because my work takes me all over the place and I often have to carry my tools with me. Public transport just doesn't meet my requirements if I want to get a good night's sleep and get to work on time.

I started my apprenticeship in London (1971). I don't recall anything like this in those times.

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:08 pm

OpenMind wrote: I absolutely depend on my car because my work takes me all over the place and I often have to carry my tools with me. Public transport just doesn't meet my requirements if I want to get a good night's sleep and get to work on time.

I started my apprenticeship in London (1971). I don't recall anything like this in those times.

I window dispatch (trying it out) right now, but I am a Transit Driver with a fleet of over 1,200 drivers....I will be there 27years come this summer.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:17 pm

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: I window dispatch (trying it out) right now, but I am a Transit Driver with a fleet of over 1,200 drivers....I will be there 27years come this summer.

Could you perhaps elucidate as to what a window dispatcher is?

Also, I just get this picture of you with 1,200 transits behind you on the freeway........awesome.

:driving: :driving: :driving: :driving:

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:53 pm

OpenMind wrote: Could you perhaps elucidate as to what a window dispatcher is?

Also, I just get this picture of you with 1,200 transits behind you on the freeway........awesome.

:driving: :driving: :driving: :driving:
We don't have 1,200 buses but we have at least 600 (some moth balled) We have 40 foot and I think 65 foot articulated (bend in middle) buses.

A window dispatcher is an entry management position that checks drivers in, assigns buses, fills open runs, road break downs, etc. The problem with this is they can put you anywhere....work location, days off, even change you to something like a road Supervisor. (spy on drivers lol)

I have until next month to decide.

Being a driver is becoming more challenging these days as they screw with the schedules so much that you have no time to use a bathroom and there are more splits....

Yes a big long line of buses can look rather impressive (If you are not driving behind them) LoL!

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:35 pm

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: We don't have 1,200 buses but we have at least 600 (some moth balled) We have 40 foot and I think 65 foot articulated (bend in middle) buses.

A window dispatcher is an entry management position that checks drivers in, assigns buses, fills open runs, road break downs, etc. The problem with this is they can put you anywhere....work location, days off, even change you to something like a road Supervisor. (spy on drivers lol)

I have until next month to decide.

Being a driver is becoming more challenging these days as they screw with the schedules so much that you have no time to use a bathroom and there are more splits....

Yes a big long line of buses can look rather impressive (If you are not driving behind them) LoL!

Hehehe. In England, we have the Ford Transit, and that was what I was imaginging. They come in all shapes and sizes. I just wasn't thinking of buses. Hehehe. Our bus depots have bus drivers, too. Apparently well paid. If it weren't for my need for the physical, I might consider a career change. But I'd have to drive like crazy to create a sweat, otherwise, I might die.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:43 pm

Most of these nasty people would not last one day working with the public. It should be something everyone has to do for one month once they have hit their 21st birthday. It would give them a whole new outlook on how to treat others.

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:43 pm

OpenMind wrote: Hehehe. In England, we have the Ford Transit, and that was what I was imaginging. They come in all shapes and sizes. I just wasn't thinking of buses. Hehehe. Our bus depots have bus drivers, too. Apparently well paid. If it weren't for my need for the physical, I might consider a career change. But I'd have to drive like crazy to create a sweat, otherwise, I might die.

what is the difference with the depot drivers and the transit ?

we also have another few hundread buses that are contracted out....to laidlaw (canadian company) they are the smaller bus, but that isn't what operations I'm with....We would be equivlent to London drivers.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:19 pm

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: what is the difference with the depot drivers and the transit ?

we also have another few hundread buses that are contracted out....to laidlaw (canadian company) they are the smaller bus, but that isn't what operations I'm with....We would be equivlent to London drivers.
I

think that the difference is that your transit is a bus where our transit is a goods van.

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:30 am

Riding a bus in New York is taking your life in your hands every day. Not only is the driver at risk for abuse, passengers are as well. We New York commuters become expert at never looking anyone directly in the eye... ignoring any altercation that might take place around us.... and never ever make a fuss over not getting a seat. Even if a passenger gives a seat to their packages. Just one of the many reasons I left city living.

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:46 am

weeder wrote: Riding a bus in New York is taking your life in your hands every day. Not only is the driver at risk for abuse, passengers are as well. We New York commuters become expert at never looking anyone directly in the eye... ignoring any altercation that might take place around us.... and never ever make a fuss over not getting a seat. Even if a passenger gives a seat to their packages. Just one of the many reasons I left city living.

:D was the driver was still hasseled about schedules. LOL!

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:07 pm

Think about schoolbus drivers..........................what a job!

Jives · Post by **Jives** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:51 pm

I wish there were more consequences for bad and rude behavior.

You insult the bus driver....you get off the bus!;)

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:38 pm

Jives wrote: I wish there were more consequences for bad and rude behavior.

You insult the bus driver....you get off the bus!;)

As I recall, in the past, when our English bus system was under public ownership, the drivers had this option and could refuse an abusive, violent or offensive passenger a ride, or even throw them off even if they had bought a ticket.

I guess that now they are under private ownership, the policies have changed. 'The customer is always right.' Yeah, right!

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:44 pm

OpenMind wrote: As I recall, in the past, when our English bus system was under public ownership, the drivers had this option and could refuse an abusive, violent or offensive passenger a ride, or even throw them off even if they had bought a ticket.

I guess that now they are under private ownership, the policies have changed. 'The customer is always right.' Yeah, right!

We use to be able to. Things have changed, there are all kinds of laws.

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:48 pm

chonsigirl wrote: Think about schoolbus drivers..........................what a job!

They have the luxury of revoking their riding privileges, we don't....and the parents of these young offenders are often worse then their kids. As I'm sure you know their child is an "angel".......lol

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:52 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: Sort of off topic, but I've been told I'm incredibly polite and pleasant to obnoxious people at work. Hard to believe, isn't it?:)

I have got commendations :-3 - little pins and crtificates with my name spelled wrong.........'cos they care and value me......lmfao!

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:55 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: Sort of off topic, but I've been told I'm incredibly polite and pleasant to obnoxious people at work. Hard to believe, isn't it?:)

My nephew, Steven, moved out to Bahrain with his family when he was about 10. when he rreturned to England as an adult, he told me that he was shocked at how people at work spoke to and treated each other. I agreed that it was an unusual culture. I had to explain to him (at least with regard to predominantly male workforces) that being slagged off was like a sign of acceptance.

I must admit that I had become so used to it, I never even thought about it until he raised the subject.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:33 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: I sit next to a very loud, middle aged guy that has absolutely no compunction about speaking his mind. I made a Cheney joke which caused him to get incredibly loud and annoying and yell about how all the news channels were turning an accident into a political situation, blah, blah, blah ... I said "if you're so offended, then I suggest you change the channel" and then turned my back on him.

We had people coming over to our little area after that to see if he had gone home since it was so quiet. :wah:

:yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl

erasamus snoggle · Post by **erasamus snoggle** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:47 am

I worked with the San Antonio, Texas transit system for 10 years. There are some truly thankless jobs out there, and driving city transit bus, dealing with the bus riding public and the accompanying traffic delights certainly one of them. Other thankless jobs might be trash hauler or school bus driver. Very little support is provided for the stress they work in constantly. Don't forget ... here in the U.S. the availablity of weaponry is considerably different than in England or Europe. Simple arguments over a short fare can become deadly pretty quick.

123cat · Post by **123cat** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:00 pm

OpenMind wrote: As I recall, in the past, when our English bus system was under public ownership, the drivers had this option and could refuse an abusive, violent or offensive passenger a ride, or even throw them off even if they had bought a ticket.

I guess that now they are under private ownership, the policies have changed. 'The customer is always right.' Yeah, right!

they still have this right

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:09 pm

123cat wrote: they still have this right

I'm glad to hear this. But why don't they exercise the right?

123cat · Post by **123cat** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:11 pm

What route does yor wife drive? I agree that conditions that bus drivers have to suffer are often intolerable, the public cannot or will never understand that their particular journey is effected by situations outside the drivers control or that a problem in one part of the city has knock on effects on others. Until bus users become as politically active as rolls royce drivers then the people who work in the industry are fighting an uphill battle. If your wife calls Code Red for these situations (particularly on Bus) then that call enters a database and provides an intelligence resourse for the TOCU (Transport Operational Command Unit) a new division of the MET set up with money from the Mayor. Resources are limited within the biggest bus network in Europe, but reporting is key.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:24 pm

What route does yor wife drive?

I'm not married, 123. The bus driver in question is the wife of Tom Utley who frequently writes for The Telegraph. This information is given at the top of the article.

I personally do not use buses. My work takes me to different towns and I need to be able to carry a heavy toolbox.

I do not live in London, which is where Mrs. Utley operates. I do use the buses locally from and to my village when convenient and I have not experienced problems like the ones shown in the article.

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:28 pm

The London Bus Drivers prayer

Our Father,

Who art in Hendon

Harrow Road be Thy name

Thy Kingston come

Thy Wimbledon

In Erith as it is in Hendon.

Give us this day our Berkhampstead

And forgive us our Westminsters

As we forgive those who Westminster against us.

Lead us not into Temple Station

And deliver us from Ealing,

For thine is the Kingston

The Purley and the Crawley,

For Iver and Iver

Crouch End

(The late lamented genius - Ian Dury)

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:17 am

Nice reminder OM.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:54 am

Like your sig, Nomad. Be just like being kids again.