AIBU to complain after a bus driver shouted at me and my children?

I wouldn’t complain as he was probably just having a bad day. Your children now know they need to acknowledge the driver and get their free tickets. It’s not a big deal.

Of course he was rude. It's the driver who needs to unclench

He should have been more tolerant but he’s probably had a fucking nightmare few weeks with teens on the buses. And it’s really rude to just float past him and not acknowledge him.

I would suggest to the bus company that they put up a sign explaining that every passenger needs a ticket, even if it's a free one. Like PP, I get very cross when staff think everyone should know their system, even if it is far from self-explanatory. Cafes seem to get the worst.

He was rude.

If that's all he said, it's fine. Excuse me, and they wouldn't have known he was talking to them. Unclench. It's not like he was rude or swore at them.

He was very rude. I use buses a lot and you get the odd one like that. I wouldn't have been as apologetic as you though. I wouldn't have caused a scene or anything (like he was) but would have been a bit firmer in my replies

When are people going to realise it's much nicer to be nice to your fellow human.beings. Life is so much easier.
Yes complain about him.

Next time check the terms and conditions of an offer- I do see his point about your 14 yo- free kids travel is never older than 12.
The bus driver may have been rude, but bus drivers get a lot of stress so you may just have been unlucky

This.
let it go
Don’t lose him his job

I say thanks when I get off unless the driver has been a dick to someone. But no one says hello to the bus driver.

He does sound like a knob but like a pp said, your kids should have boarded in front of you with you last to speak to the driver and explain what you were doing.

It's a bit odd to walk ahead and leave your kids to sort themselves out on the bus.

It sounds like he shouted back at them because they just got on the bus and strolled past before he realised what was happening.

Eh, what are you on about? The only one kicking up a fuss and delaying people in this scenario was the aggressive arsehole of a driver.
All he had to do is say “excuse me, you need free tickets before you sit down” then simply hand the tickets over and drive on once passengers are seated. Its really wasn’t difficult, it was a choice he made. Or maybe he’s just a bitter man who is lacking in all self control. But either way, it was still his decision to cause a problem.

You sound like you have a massive chip on your shoulder and I have no idea why - how dare people use buses occasionally? 😂 What??

I've got busses for years and had literally no idea that you were supposed to say hello to the driver. I've been taught to say thanks when getting off but never hello when getting on.

Even if it is rude then so what? It's not like they were being aggressive or threatening and you'll still get paid without a greeting. Bus drivers are there to do a job and should just get on with that.

He sounds like a knob end.

I actually think you handled it really well. Also I think your children were a credit to you.

You stayed calm, you made your case. Right you didn’t convince him, you didn’t need to, you are not in control of his behaviour but you did stay true to yourself which is always a good thing.

I’d let it go for your own sake because he sounds like he will learn his lessons in life else where, if indeed he does learn them, but again that is not your problem. Your job is to learn your lessons and today’s lesson is that sometimes people behave like complete arseholes for reasons that have nothing to do with you.

Did your kids not acknowledge the driver? It is polite to say hi when you get on the bus rather than just stroll on like you own the place.

Edited to say he shouldn't have shouted even if you were rude and failed to acknowledge him.

I have worked with people before in various settings who believe that if they know something, so should everyone else, even though they spend eight hours a day doing what they are doing and the customer or client is there for the first time. I think its because they are a bit thick. It was often rolling their eyes at people who didn't know where the toilets were.

I have also found a small subset of bus drivers (not all, most are lovely) who are incredibly argumentative. One got in a strop because apparently my return ticket wasn't valid from X when I tried to get the bus back, even though I had asked for a return to X and it had got me there fine. She was incredibly pompous and argumentative and confusing, and I was going to report her but the internet failed when I tried to send the complaint and I could not be arsed to type it all in again. There have been other incidents.

Whilst unnerving for you I'd let it go.

Besides Bus Driving generally being quite stressful for low pay given their responsibility for safely transporting people on unforgiving roads amongst a plethora of selfish and unsafe drivers; the 'free novelty' bus passengers now abound to add to the mix.

Whilst not a great user of buses myself, when I do, I at least acknowledge the driver when I board and thank them when I alight. Basic bus etiquette.

Some bus drivers are arseholes. You did nothing wrong OP.