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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain about this Bus Driver

37 replies

Poppyandme · 16/12/2011 00:08

i know, I know... Bus threads are done to death but I need to know whether you think IABU to complain about this bus driver....

I met a few colleagues after work for a meal and a few drinks, nothing wild as we all have our formal works Christmas night out tomorrow night. We had all agreed to leave about 10:30 which is great as my last bus home is 10:42.

Got to the bus stop with plenty of time to spare and there were about 7 people waiting, the bus turns up and stops but immediately drives away without letting anyone on. There is a set of traffic lights just after the bus stop which the bus stopped at and we all ran to get the bus thinking that he hadn't realised that we wanted to get on. The driver did open the doors but started shouting ' who kicked the bus?' ' do you know How much these cost?' we all sort of looked at each other in shock as nothing untoward had happened. A few of us did say that no-one had kicked the bus but the driver closed the doors and drove off (after shouting at us).

I had to get a taxi home which cost £35 and am none too pleased.

WIBU to complain and do you think the bus driver was correct. I should say of the people that were waiting all were pretty sober but one guy who was a bit pissed but in a harmless, quiet way. I did not witness anyone kick the bus and surely even if someone did the whole queue shouldn't be penalised?

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 16/12/2011 00:10

It's very, very annoying when this happens but are you certain that it should have stopped??

Original poster
Poppyandme · 16/12/2011 00:11

Definitely Belle - there were 8 of us waiting on that bus as it is the last one home. The bus driver did indicate that he wasn't letting us on because he thought someone had kicked the bus.

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 16/12/2011 00:14

I'd give the company a call tomorrow and complain. Sometimes they drive straight past if they are running late and they are not the right bus IYKWIM. I'm Angry for you also, it's horrid to be stuck somewhere.

SebastionTheCrab · 16/12/2011 00:16

Ooh, usually I side with bus drivers (DH is one) in these kind of situations. They really do have an arse of a job a lot of the time.
But this sounds so unreasonable. Especially being the last bus of the night. I feel like this is something worthy of complaining about but I can never bring myself to complain about somebody if it risks them losing their job, personally.

CreamolaFoamless · 16/12/2011 00:20

Well if the bus driver drove off and when questioned asked who kicked the bus...perhaps one of your friends did?

He was sober and driving a bus ...you lot were by your own admission possibly merry on Cristmas Juice

belledechocchipcookie · 16/12/2011 00:22

Or it could have been a clunk from the mechanics of the bus, or a figment of his imagination, or... Wink Who knows. Whether someone kicked the bus or not, does it justify leaving passengers stranded?

Original poster
Poppyandme · 16/12/2011 00:27

I was on my own creamola, the other people were just waiting on the bus - I didn't know them. I only had one glass of wine as I don't normally drink during the week and have a big night out tomorrow night. My friends saw me to the bus stop and then walked o the train station so that they could catch their train. I think one of the guys waiting on the bus was a bit drunk but he didn't seem aggressive or anything just a bit happy. Not sure if he did kick the bus as I was lady in the queue of 8 but certainly didn't hear or see anything and be other passengers said the same.

OP posts:
Original poster
Poppyandme · 16/12/2011 00:28

Last in the queue - blinking iPad!

OP posts:
CreamolaFoamless · 16/12/2011 00:34

I imagine someone did kick the bus ...the driver wouldn't have got his pants in a bunch otherwise .

However if you were a normal, undrunk person who din't kick the bus ..he should never have left you standing on a pavement

Don't complain or report him ...he might lose his job and no-one wants that week before Christmas

belledechocchipcookie · 16/12/2011 00:36

He won't lose his job for this, they will just tell him off.

SebastionTheCrab · 16/12/2011 00:38

Are you sure, Belle? Where my DH works the management love throwing their weight around and dishing out written warnings and suspensions for the silliest of things.

belledechocchipcookie · 16/12/2011 00:40

I'm not sure, it would be incredibly silly and open them up to a potential employment tribunal though.

Original poster
Poppyandme · 16/12/2011 00:43

I honestly don't see how anyone could have kicked the bus without any of the other people waiting hearing it but concede the one lightly drunk guy could have bumped against the bus but if he did there was absolutely no aggressiveness or anything and it all happened so quickly that it's not as if ther was any escalation.
Of the 8 people waiting 4 were females, me and 3 girls who had just finished a shift at the local call centre none of whom had any cash on them ( or at least not enough for a taxi to our village) - I dropped them off in my taxi as I felt it was the right thing to do but what if I hand been there?
Am stunned that a bus driver could feel that this was appropriate - I will stress again there was no aggression or anything untoward.

OP posts:
KateMiddlet0n · 16/12/2011 00:45

I'd complain and send my taxi receipt for compensation. Disgraceful behaviour.

I can remember waiting over half an hour for a bus, only to have it arrive empty and the driver refuse to let anyone on because he was running late. That too was the last bus and they ran every two hours. Kinda defeats the object of driving a bus the whole route if you don't actually pick up passengers Hmm

CreamolaFoamless · 16/12/2011 01:02

It was a thursday night ......the week before Christmas

You have said ome drunk guy may have bumped the bus

Remember the driver has reponsiliboty to deliver the people alreday on the u safely home.

If he couldn't pick you up you should be angry with your bustop people and not the bus drver

CreamolaFoamless · 16/12/2011 01:03

I hate my phone

some

responsibilty

already

musicmadness · 16/12/2011 01:18

I'd be furious TBH. Even if someone had kicked the bus why should everyone in the queue be penalised. Something similar happened to me when I was a teen, except I didn't have any extra money so ended up walking home alone in the dark through quite dodgy areas. It didn't end well put it that way.

It just isn't safe and especially as the last bus of the night could leave people completely stranded with no way of getting home safely.

I would complain, I doubt someone would lose their job over this (suspension at absolute most, and I'd be very surprised at that) but it might make them think twice about doing it again!

GColdtimer · 16/12/2011 01:26

Cremola, are you for real? Op said nobody kicked the bus. Were you there? How have you turned this into bus driver protecting his passengers from aggressive drunk man".

CreamolaFoamless · 16/12/2011 01:55

no i wsn't there twofalls

from my point of view there was a bus driver ...........who was doing his jo sober...........and some people who may or may not a participated in drinks ?

If no one kicked the bus that would be a result all round

skybluepearl · 16/12/2011 07:19

write and complain

pigletmania · 16/12/2011 07:53

But sebastian if the bus driver is being unprofessional and not doing his job properly, like here he should get a warning, or disciplined. There are good bus drivers and bad ones. That was unacceptable, if the bus was empty and they were waiting at a bus stop or hail and ride and have indicated for the bus to stop, there is no reason to drive by. Its not on, especially if its the last bus of the night.

Angelswings · 16/12/2011 08:01

You should get the money back for the taxi and the driver should have to explain himself to his boss.

mousysantamouse · 16/12/2011 08:02

I'd complain.
I complain about inconsiderate bus drivers, like the one who didn't let someone with crutches sit down before driving off (person felk down) or the one who drove through a puddle leaving me soaking wet from top to bottom on my way to work.

BootyMum · 16/12/2011 08:06

I would write and complain.

Even if someone kicked the bus, which in the circumstances sound unlikely, the whole queue of passengers should not be penalised. Particularly as it was the last bus home!

I imagine that the driver will get a verbal or written warning? But really that's not your responsibility or concern. The bus driver should behave like a professional and it is up to his management how they choose to deal with the incident.

pigletmania · 16/12/2011 08:20

I bet that he used that as an exucse to drive by and not pick up as he could not be arsed.