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?

* life line*

Dont put yourself down!
I cant drive so buses are a really brilliant and helpful way for me to get out and about.
You can drive and not just that you can drive a bus which is a significant achievement (being bigger and much more unwieldy than cars!) Plus all that stopping and parking successfully at bus stops, dealing with the many and varied ways humans are weird.

If you'd rather be doing something else definitely look at retraining for something else but if you are happy driving buses - dont be thinking its not a worthy job cos it is. Plus I reckon you get paid quite a lot more than I do (with my degree........in my very boring low level office job!)

There’s nothing wrong with being a bus driver. Nobody should feel embarrassed about working hard and making a living for themselves.

I have never looked down on anyone for their job. Anyone who is earning an honest living deserves respect. But regardless of that, I've always admired bus drivers. It's a very important and skillful job.

It would never occur to me to look down on a bus driver! I’ve quite often remarked to my husband that I’d never be able to do it. I admire the ability to manoeuvre such a big vehicle.

Everybody who works for their living is to be respected.

OP there is a large percentage of people who have gone to Uni and don’t earn that. I have real respect for bus drivers. Not an easy job.

Well the country would grind to a halt if we didn’t have people like you driving our buses!

You should be proud of your job. You have learnt a specific skill that not just anyone can do.
Your job is important because of you don’t do it well you are putting people at risk.
You have to deal with the public, not everyone can deal with that.

I hope you get lots of ‘cheers drive’ as passengers get off, if not come to work in Wales instead!

Please don’t think badly of yourself!
I rely on public transport and would live a very small life without it.
One of the nicest people I know is a bus driver. She lit up the day with her positive attitude and sunny disposition. Everyone locally knows her, she’s a celebrity.
She travels around the UK now, training new drivers and I miss her.

if you want to get a qualification please do, I did a serving degree at 40 and loved it.
However, be proud of yourself, you make a real contribution to society.

I totally understand where you’re coming from. I’m a cleaner and I do feel embarrassed when I tell people what I do.

I’ve recently signed up with a local further education college to get a qualification to teach English to foreigners. Could you explore options at your local college?

All the best to you.

Must say I've never thought of being a bus driver as a lowly thing. It's just a job. Doesn't say anything about the person at all.

I’m glad you’re a bus driver and grateful for all the other bus drivers around. When I lived in London I used buses everyday. Now I live more rurally, I wish there were more buses that I could catch.

Please don’t be embarrassed. You’re doing a vital job often in horrible conditions.

Having said all that, if you want to do something else, go for it!

Don't be embarrassed op, personally I think anyone that can work and chooses to get up and go to a job, any job, even if they don't like it is made of strong stuff.

I have the upmost admiration for bus drivers. I also think how you must have a very hard to come by certain set of skills, nerves of steel, amazing sense of direction and an insane spacial awareness (which I massively lack) to be able to be a bus driver. I struggle parking my completely normal size car some days, and I often think, "christ imagine if I was in charge of a bus!" you're doing an extremely valuable core job, that may not require a specific set of university acquired qualifications, but a job that not many people could actually do. It's a stable, good earning career, and you have everything to be proud of.

Honestly don’t be embarrassed.
My husband drives a bus and it’s in no way a menial job. Quite the opposite, it’s a highly skilled, professional occupation to be proud of.
I wish I could do it.

Students are smirking at the bus driver for being a bus driver (presumably while being on the bus they need to get them to college/uni?). Are you sure you're not being just a bit paranoid? I’ve never once got on a bus and looked down on the person who is getting me to where I need to go. In fact our culture is very much of the thanking the bus driver when you get off.

I would love to be able to drive a bus! I’m not a good judge of narrow gaps and could never drive a large vehicle along busy roads.

You should be proud of yourself @Benny91

There was a thread on here a few days ago about jobs and everyone said a bus driver was a skilled job.
I absolutely could not do it, I do not have the driving ability. Please don’t put yourself down op.
If you want do get more qualifications absolutely do so, you are still young enough to change your career if you wish though

It's a terrific job, you should be proud. I would be.

That’s not bad money at all

Is there anything else in particular that you would like to do……ideally what type of career would you like

Train drivers don’t interact with the public.

they have to if there is an emergency

I know you didn’t mean this comment to be patronising, and you mean well. Basically though, you’re saying nobody with education would be a bus driver. I imagine you feel the same about other professions too. I wanted to point out that people make job choices based on a myriad of reasons - and educated doesn’t necessarily equal CEO. My dad was a cleaner most of his life despite having a first class degree, because his mental health was poor and he struggled to cope with stressful situations. Don’t assume things!

Hi..
As a bus driver, it is an important job. We need people like you. You are supporting the community by providing an affordable means of travel for all people, whether from A to B or to other destinations. You have the skills to navigate various routes and adapt to changing traffic conditions, which can be challenging. Not many people can drive a large vehicle and carry so many passengers. We are proud of you. It is a valuable role in society.
Additionally, as drivers, you have to be brave because you face different passengers all the time and encounter a range of passenger behaviours, including those who may be rude or disruptive.

I don't drive, and neither do a few of my friends, so public transport, such as buses or trains, is an essential service for us.

My husband's friend has a degree but works as a minibus driver. He feels more comfortable and enjoys doing what he is doing.

It’s a great job and female bus driver rock!

It’s a skill that not many people could cope with, I admire anyone that can drive a large vehicle