To be embarrassed to be a Bus Driver… 😔

[Benny91]

Hi all,

I’ve been a bus driver for 3 years now working out of the Surrey area and I’m finding it to be a menial job and I feel like a loser for doing it at age 33!

I feel like I should of made a better life for myself and should of gone to university, but being in Special Needs classes at school and in general having a minor learning disability has made me not fulfilling my life and seeing people around my age doing so well for themselves! 😩

Also people I’ve come across even smirk or mock me for being a bus driver!

What are your views on bus driving? Should I suck it up and is it in your opinion an embarrassing job?

I love bus drivers!
I'm serious too.
Dd lives on a bus route, I take my grandson out to wave at the buses, the drivers toot, flash their lights and wave at him, I'm not sure who loves it more, me or DGSon!
I actually emailed the bus company to thank the drivers.
Also, when I see a bus trying to squeeze through a gap I say to myself "you could get a bus through there, mate" then I have a little chuckle to myself 😁
Nothing to be ashamed of, being a bus driver, it's a skill, a responsibility and a public service.

It’s not embarrassing at all. I would never think of it as embarrassing, it’s a much needed valuable job. Don’t put yourself down x

My DS is a bus driver, qualified at 18. He loves it, he’s got ADHD and ASD, loves the shifts and meeting different people all the time, but the structure of time tables and routes.

He says he might want to do coaches eventually but definitely not something to be ashamed of! The theory tests are hard work to pass! 100 questions! (Not to say the practical isnt hard, I’ve no idea how people actually drive buses!).

I am not sure if this is helpful or not, but I think that some people have a knack of making any job special.

I once got on a London bus (I think it was a single decker that went from Islington around the back of King’s Cross) and the way the driver greeted everyone was just magical. Somehow he made the atmosphere on that bus so calm and positive. It was like the happiest bus in London.

Perhaps things are what we make them? But if you want to change, then work towards a change.

My youngest just started uni on Saturday. One of the things that’s made her feel safest travelling around the city she’s in, even in the early hours of the morning (and put my frantic mind at rest), is the kindness and care of the bus drivers, many of whom drive the night routes and know the students.

Regular, familiar bus drivers were a true part of the community where I grew up.

I understand you may not feel that the job you’re doing is fulfilling your potential, but don’t underestimate the value and importance of it to all the people you serve. If you want to make a change, of course you should, but don’t let a few arseholes make you feel crap about doing a job you should feel proud of.

And you have a job and they have a raising debt.
When they enter a competitive job market, you will have your job.
When they have debt and cant find a job in the field they want, you will have a job.
If you choose to retrain in an evening to do something else, you will still have a job.
Seriously, nothing stops you for looking at retraining now you are older, you can still make a change if you fancy one.

As someone with a disability who can't drive
YOU ARE DOING A VERY IMPORTANT JOB
THANK YOU

You do a job that is needed and valuable in society. Many people (including me) don’t drive and rely on public transport. I couldn’t get around without people like you!

I have ASD too and would love the structure that a bus driver job would bring too. But I am not allowed to drive. And I hate people.

I would love to be a bus driver and have regularly considered switching from nursing to do it. It is a total responsible job and ticks so many boxes for what I want in a job. You need have excellent communication skills and also in terms of safety you have a huge responsibility. I wouldn’t be giving these people who smirk a second of head space as one day they will be sitting in their shitty graduate jobs miserable with no work life balance and huge student debts to repay!

do you enjoy it? If you do then that’s all that matters if you don’t you will have gained a huge amount of transferable skills for moving on.

I'd love to be a bus driver!!

Also to add, I find motorists don’t respect us bus drivers on the road… They don’t take notice of Highway Code 223 ‘Give way to buses’. Also before now I’m pulling away from a bus stop when it’s clear on the road and last minute I’ve had motorists go parallel with the bus on the opposite side down the road, because they have to be in front! 🙄

The people part was our biggest concern when he decided to apply but he’s actually pretty good at it. Very black and white. Get on or get off 🤣

Ignore rhem. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a bus driver. Nothing at all. You're working in a vital role.
I remember being a cocky student, thinking i was going to graduate and earn a shed load, they will probably find the real world quite different.

Hubby became a bus driver two years ago.

honestly he’s on the most money we have ever had in 20 years…. Easily brings in and extra thousand then working at Aldi/ coop manager

he has loads of overtime , and it’s steady days . He loves it. Added bonus of the kids having a free bus pass - saving us another wack to travel to college ect.

It is an essential service that you provide and I suspect it’s quite difficult too, particularly marrying up the technical skills with the customer service side. Thank you for doing it!

Honestly, you need to look in the mirror at yourself and be proud! Driving a bus is a very highly skilled job and provides an essential service to whole communities. Hold your head high, pat yourself on the back and be proud of what you've made of yourself!

Well I can't think of a Russell Group uni in Surrey, so the students need a kick up the backside for their attitude. If you are getting snide from Surrey students I'm guessing you are in Epsom (Uni of the Creative Arts) or Guildford.

I think you do a a skilled and meaningful job and if you had difficulty at school you've achieved far more than many graduates who haven't achieved much at work at all.

Nothing embarrassing about being a bus driver.My wife and I rely on public transport it gets us where we need to be.
I don't know why anyone would look down on someone facilitating a service.👍😀

I think it’s such a skill to be able to manoeuvre such a large vehicle successfully. I think the same about lorries and I know I wouldn’t be able to drive either.

You'd like us though, because we always let buses go in front when they’re leaving a bus stop.

nothing wrong with being a bus driver. no way I could manage to drive one of those huge things.

It's a good job and you should be proud of it. I know someone with a PhD who is a happy bus driver - it doesn't say anything about you as a person other than you're a good driver, good at handling people, trusted with handling money, and providing a vital service to society.

I don't think it's embarrassing! I would never have the nerve to drive such a big vehicle with so many people on it, so I'm impressed.

I think being a bus driver is a really tough job. Don’t put yourself down.

I've recently discovered I have a heart condition and I'm not allowed to drive at the moment until i get a treatment plan in place, I am very thankful for the bus and train drivers who get me around! I'm also pretty sure I couldn't park a bus.

FWIW I work in a more office based profession in criminal justice, people smirk at me too, and treat me like I'm stupid, (and threaten me, throw things at me and swear at me but that's another story) some people are just horrible. That's on them, not what you do for a living.