NEVER AGAIN... Or At Least, Not For A Long Time...

So I had a terrible experience with the bus today.

I don't have much experience with taking the bus, and last week I was told by a bus driver on the 27 that the fare was only $1. Well, today, there was a different bus driver...

And HE. WAS. RUDE!!!

I step on the bus, put my shit down, and go up, sticking a dollar in the slot. I go to sit back down, when I hear, "Hey, it costs to dollars." The dude was acting like I did it on purpose. Being polite (and quite confused), I replied with, "Oh. Really? The other driver of this bus told me it was only one dollar. Last time, I only paid one dollar."

He must've not have heard me right, because right after (in fact almost cutting me off) he said with an attitude, "Yeah other guy could've told you it was 50 cents but its two dollars."

"No, the other bus driver told me it was only one dollar." I said sternly (I have anxiety, so... it wasn't THAT stern... I was kind of freaking out).

"Yeah I don't care I it's two dollars if you want to ride on the bus!" He said, quite agitated and forward.

Shocked, I didn't know what else to do rather than ask the following question: "Then... can I have my dollar back?"

"Are you kidding me?" the driver said.

"No, I'm not." I have a problem with anger, but I also have MAJOR depression. I was on the verge of angry and annoyed tears... I could feel all eyes on us...

"Hey, do you need a dollar?" One of the kind bus occupants asked me defensively. I looked back back, and the man looked calmly outraged. I saw the faces of everyone in that damn bus, and they way they looked at me...

They were absolutely shocked at the bus driver's poor attitude and unacceptable behavior. I'm only 14, so for this 30 something year old man to practically stand me up... It was absolutely unacceptable.

Absolutely shocked and now on the verge of angry tears, I replied quickly with, "Yeah."

The wonderful man who pretty much stood up for me quickly took out his wallet and gave me the dollar. "Here." I grabbed it. As I turned I could hear him mutter under his breath, "Don't need to be so rude."

And I agreed. And the whole way to my stop, I resisted the urge to cry. I was shocked to the core... I had never had someone treat me like their fucking problem, other than this one kid that stays away from me as much as possible and is a stick-thin douche bag. He even knows I could tear him to shreds (some of my friends and I were captains of the wrestling team before our last middle school season ended; we're in 8th grade), but that's a different story.

Bottom line, this bus driver's outrageous behavior and poor attitude was absolutely shocking. I really damaged how I view bus drivers and transit as a whole, and I will NEVER AGAIN be taking the bus... Or at least, not for a long time...

So yeah... that's my story... And to the guardian angel of a man who gave me that extra dollar (gosh, I don't even know his name), Thank You. This blog's image is dedicated to you!

Comments

[Christopher Whatley]

I'm sorry you had that experience. It sounds like this was really hard for you, but I'm glad it's over now. Maybe the driver just felt unwell at the time. Often people in such positions are abused by customers or other people they serve, so that could be part of what lead him to act that way. I hope there can be harmony and reconciliation between everyone involved.

[Shine]

That must have sucked. And his was really rude, especially to a young person like you. That was just plain mean. Good it's over now.