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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU? Bus driver refused to let me on the bus

260 replies

tulipkisses · 20/03/2026 17:12

Where I live buses can be infrequent and often delayed due to awful traffic. We also don’t have tap on/off, we have to show the driver our tickets or purchase one as we get on.

I work about a five minute walk from the bus stop. As I got to the bus stop this evening the bus was just pulling away, I checked the app and there was another one coming three minutes later.

It turned up and I put my arm out to hail it. It pulled in, someone got off and I stepped on. The driver refused to let me on because I “should have been on the earlier one”. He said if I walked onto the bus he wouldn’t pull away and would wait for me to get off, and he didn’t care about sitting there for hours to see if I’d stay on. He said he knew I was “only getting on this one for a faster journey” because it was empty compared to the one in front.

I have never experienced this in my life, I have no idea what to do? I have the number plate and I’m considering reporting it but this is just totally bizarre, should I have waited for the one after this one?

OP posts:
WonderfulSmith · 20/03/2026 17:36

If you could have got on the previous one then surely you would have done. He doesn’t get to decide. Like previously said I bet he wouldn’t say that to some big hairy bloke.

TheEighthDwarf · 20/03/2026 17:35

Unbelievable. How could he know when you arrived at the bus stop?

Alcoholtakingherlife · 20/03/2026 17:34

Why didn't you just sit down and refuse to move?

igelkott2026 · 20/03/2026 17:34

Yes definitely report. I know it's difficult to recruit bus drivers but they must be able to do better than this!

MushMonster · 20/03/2026 17:34

What?
This person is crazy.
Please report it.
I had issues with a particular bus driver too. It is like they feel they have some type of control or power. I felt really weird when it first happened, but then I saw him doing the same to other woman and I did report it. I was so angry.

stichguru · 20/03/2026 17:33

Report - that's really strange. Like even if we look past it being unfair, it doesn't even benefit the bus driver.

PuppyMonkey · 20/03/2026 17:32

What if you’d just turned up at the stop that very moment? How does he know you deliberately chose not to get on the earlier one? What if the second bus catches up and overtakes the earlier packed bus and thus becomes the first bus? Are people supposed to not get on and wait for the other packed bus? Grin

So many questions.

Dollymylove · 20/03/2026 17:31

Yes you should have sat down on the bus. If he chose to sit there on a stationary bus all night Im pretty sure the other passengers would have something to say. Get him reported and let us know the outcome

Tings · 20/03/2026 17:31

Atatwalker · 20/03/2026 17:28

How does he know you missed the earlier bus though?

Yes, if he pulled up 3 minutes later then he doesn't.

All very confusing 😳

istolethetalisker · 20/03/2026 17:28

Report. I'd feel quite unsafe to be alone on a bus with someone this power-trippy late at night!

Atatwalker · 20/03/2026 17:28

How does he know you missed the earlier bus though?

WaltzingWaters · 20/03/2026 17:27

100% report

RodeoClown · 20/03/2026 17:27

I think you have a duty to report it really as he doesn’t sound fit to be driving passengers. He sounds unstable.

Cheepcheepcheep · 20/03/2026 17:26

I’m slightly confused but is it that you have a return for a different service? E.g to get to my house from the station, you can get the number 3 bus (which goes one route, and is operated by company A) or the number 5 bus (different route and operated by company ah B). If I tried to get on a number 3 with a return bought on an outward 5 (or vice versa) then they’d refuse to let me travel, as it’s a different ticket.

tulipkisses · 20/03/2026 17:25

mazedasamarchhare · 20/03/2026 17:24

Is your ticket only valid for the ‘slow’ bus? If it’s for any bus / bus route that seems utterly bizarre, as other posters have said, how did he know you missed the earlier one? So odd.

No, I have a bus pass.

I think he’s grumpy because he has a relatively empty bus and could probably get through most of his route quite quietly.

OP posts:
mazedasamarchhare · 20/03/2026 17:24

Is your ticket only valid for the ‘slow’ bus? If it’s for any bus / bus route that seems utterly bizarre, as other posters have said, how did he know you missed the earlier one? So odd.

MK19590 · 20/03/2026 17:22

What on earth?! I am a bus driver and this is ridiculous

Where I live there is a "city controller" who works for the bus company and helps passengers with queries and complaints and stuff. Maybe if where you are has something similar you could speak to them?

Tryagain26 · 20/03/2026 17:20

Unless the bus was no longer in service and returning to the bus garage he is being very unreasonable and you should complain to the bus company. First and Stagecoach have complaints forms you can fill in online and I'm sure other bus services do too

Firefly100 · 20/03/2026 17:19

How did he know if you had been at the bus stop when the earlier bus went past or not? Obviously you have been treated very badly - I am just a bit confused and trying to follow the logic.

Tonissister · 20/03/2026 17:19

I'd have got on the bus and sat down and let him wait. I'd also have called his bus company while we were waiting.

Can't prove this but I bet he wouldn't have done this to a man built like a heavyweight boxer.

IsItSnowing · 20/03/2026 17:19

Report him. Very bizarre behaviour from him.

Cherrysoup · 20/03/2026 17:17

How extremely bizarre! I’d report.

crazeekat · 20/03/2026 17:17

amber763 · 20/03/2026 17:15

Get this reported! Im stubborn and I think id have got on and let him sit there while I called the bus company

Absolutely!!

crazeekat · 20/03/2026 17:17

When u get on ask for the name or details of whoever is on shift. The batshit crazy one. Ask for the name of who to complain to directly.

amber763 · 20/03/2026 17:16

In fact, get onto the bus companies social media while you wait!