Spitting B.C. bus driver gets calls of support - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 08:36 AM

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...509?hub=Canada

The driver has 28 years of experience and the company said he is embarrassed by the incident. On Friday, he was allegedly spat on and lost his temper.
....

The panhandler said he had a valid fare, and that none of his spit hit the driver so he should not be accused of assault.

"I spat, and the spit landed on the floor and the change box," he said.

A video camera caught the driver chasing after the panhandler as he tried to board another bus and spitting back at him.

"Hey! F----head here doesn't ride. He f---ing spit on me," the driver can be heard saying. "You're not f----ing riding buddy, get off."

Footage then shows the driver walking back to his own bus, and telling others waiting at the station: "Anybody else want to f---ing spit on a bus driver?"

FireFly · 05-09-2007, 08:54 AM

IMO, there is no insult greater than being spat upon. It's like you're not even good enough to touch.

HelloHockeyFans · 05-09-2007, 09:11 AM

nm

ken0042 · 05-09-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Now, is it only me (I highly doubt this, since I have friends who feel the same way), but don't public transit employees seem to be generally miserable to deal with more often than not?

[snip]

Anyone else feel the same way I do? Why is this??

I find my bus drivers to be friendly. But I also start the process with a friendly "hello" when I get on, and a "thank-you" or "good night" when I get off.

Maybe I'm also getting the good drivers too.

Incinerator · 05-09-2007, 09:18 AM

Can't say I can agree with you HHF, in my limited experience with Calgary Transit the operators were mostly pleasant. I always say hi & thank you and they usually smile & wish me a good day. It's a high stress occupation, be nice to people and they will usually be nice to you, bus drivers or not.

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 09:20 AM

It does seem to be becoming a bigger/national story...not completely sure why. I thought I had included it in the initial part, but I think (in "retailation") the bus drive spat at the passanger as well (i.e. after the fact)? Not completely sure.

And hockeyfans, I hear you. I will qualify that by saying, however, that there is also a polar opposite group - a number of utterly fantastic/great transit drivers. I guess the thing is that I have noticed there seems to be really no "in between"...there either seems to be a "really grumpy" driver or a "really pleasant/good" driver.

(* - this is my experience in 3 major centres across canada)

tripin_billie · 05-09-2007, 09:34 AM

I usually find that most drivers are fiarly nice as long as people are being nice to them. THere are, however, a few sour apples that can really spoil one's impression. These are the ones that clearly see people running to make it and pull off just as the person gets there, the ones that scowl at everyone getting on the bus, and the ones who just have a general air of malcontentness. I've run into my share of foul bus drivers. And, I like many others on here, say hello, thank you, etc whenever I am on the bus.

I understand where the bad additudes can come from though. Transit riders are not always, how shall I put this, the most sane/ clean/ not stinky/ not arsemonkeys people out there. Of course you get the regular people who use the bus for school and work, but you also have to deal with a lot of crazies. Not my idea of fun.

Funny true story from my girlfriend. She was at a bus terminal point, sitting on the bus waiting for it to leave. Well, there is this blind guy on there too, and he asks the bus driver (who was not facing him) if the driver could let him know when the arrived at such and such stop. The driver replied, "you'll just have to watch and see for yourself." The blind guy replied, "I can't, I'm blind." The driver then tried to make a joke out of it, but it certainly is quite a funny situtation. Not saying the driver is bad or anything, but it wouldn't kill him to help people find stops if they ask, blind or not.

ken0042 · 05-09-2007, 10:22 AM

I'm not sure I should answer. I have a feeling I'm being set up.

Dion · 05-09-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incinerator

Can't say I can agree with you HHF, in my limited experience with Calgary Transit the operators were mostly pleasant. I always say hi & thank you and they usually smile & wish me a good day. It's a high stress occupation, be nice to people and they will usually be nice to you, bus drivers or not.

I have had much the same experience as you. Sometimes saying thanks or have a nice day can make a difference in that drivers day. More often than not said drivers are the on the brunt end of rider complaints. Not a career i'd want.

Dion · 05-09-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'm not sure I should answer. I have a feeling I'm being set up.

I could be a bus driver posting here