Angry man on bus

[sayyouwill]

More of a WWYD.

I get the same bus into work each morning. There is someone new getting on said bus and he's starting to worry me.
He gradually gets more and more angry every time the bus hits a red light, stops, clips a curb or basically does anything to interrupt his journey. By the time he comes to disembark, he storms down the aisle and knocks into people, pushes them aside and if he clips you'd bag he swears at you and shoves the bag. This morning he punched the seat in front as the bus had to stop to let another bus pass along a narrow corner. It wasn't a full 'everything-you've-got' punch but clearly done out of frustration.
I thought about getting an earlier bus but I already get up at half 5 most mornings and only just get everything sorted and out the house in time for this bus. The earlier bus is half an hour earlier and will have me in work 45 mins before I'm due to start.
Just wondering what you would do in this situation?

My experience is that most people with mh issues can function within acceptable social parameters most of the time and are happier doing so.

Why ate women always told to change their behaviour instead of the aggressive man?

MH is no excuse.

Complain to the bus company OP. You and others have a right to use public transport without being intimidated.

I think I would bring it up with the bus company. It may not make a difference, but if the driver raises it (because it's not easy for him either) then they're more likely to take him seriously.

They may already have had complaints but sheer number of them helps.

I also assumed someone who had lost their driving license and is pissed off about it. If that is the case, I wonder if he lost it because of road rage! Sorry, not really helpful to the OP. I'd sit closer to the driver too

Could you concerns raise with the driver if you are on the bus before he gets on or after he gets off? How do the rest of the passengers deal with it?

This would worry me.

Velvetspoon - I live in London and no way is this level of aggression normal. I've seen a couple of rows but no this isn't normal and I get buses most days.

I'm with CosmicPineapple 100% it's not on, you shouldn't have to change your routine or feel intimidated jut going about your business quietly.

You know when someone has just been on a course - my immediate thought was learning disability or any one of a gamut of MH problems. For those reasons alone I wouldnt engage, but I would phone the bus company.

I live in London and no way is this level of aggression normal. I've seen a couple of rows but no this isn't normal and I get buses most days.

+1 - this is NOT normal.

He may have mental health issues.

So? MH doesn't give you a free pass to behave like a cunt.

Do not change your routine! Contact the bus company with details of his behaviour and timings and let them review their CCTV and deal with it.

For god's sake VelvetSpoon ! If you think it is normal and acceptable for someone to be shoving other passengers, swearing at them, and punching the furniture, I have to wonder what your life is like! To clarify, it is NOT normal, it is NOT acceptable, we ALL have to get to work, and YES I live in London, and NO people do not routinely behave like that.

THIS, THIS, THIS ^^

Velvetspoon - really??

OP, speak to the driver. Email/ring the bus company.

If the mad bloke is on there every day, then they should be able to put a ticket collector/inspector on the bus to handle him.

His behaviour sounds stressful and scary. if I was on a bus with him I'd hate it and feel threatened, and what about older people, younger people? He sounds awful.

Don't change your behaviour - report him.

He sounds like a normal commuter. In the 80s an old woman used to get on my bus and she would take ages to get onto it and then to walk to her seat and she'd be screaming in pain all the while.
People tried to help but she'd become abusive.
Then for the WHOLE journey to town, she'd moan and groan.
Did this every day! I always got off before she did. Not sure where she was going as the bus didn't go to any hospitals or clinics.

I would report him without a doubt

Punching a seat out of frustration is one thing. What happens when next time someone speaks up?

Will he punch them too?

Sounds very scary and like someone else said he's a ticking bomb, I definitely think it sounds like he has some type of mh problem, but even so I would report this behaviour asap.

He sounds like a normal commuter

NO.

No he is not a normal communter.
I travel on public daily and normal communters sit/stand quietly. They do not intimidate other passengers.
The most is an eyeroll not swearing and punching seats.

Stop excusing aggression as normal Smurf

This is not normal even in London. I would report him.

He doesn't sound like a normal commuter at all. He sounds like an aggressive man on a bus. Whether he has mental health issues, or has lost his driving licence or is on a tight schedule is irrelevant.

OP, I would report him to the bus company. You have every right to travel to work without being intimidated. There are signs all over the local buses here saying that threatening or intimidating behaviour won't be tolerated. I imagine it would be the same countrywide?

I spend several hours a day on the bus and, while there are plenty of serial grumblers (usually the ones traveling for free!) this level of agitation is unusual in an adult. Probably is best to take it up with the bus company if you don't feel safe.

Email the bus company but also have a quiet word with the driver if you can. This is not usual behavior in commuting and he sounds like a ticking time bomb.

@VelvetSpoon how it punching a seat because a bus had to stop abnormal reaction? How is shoving people out of his way a normal reaction. Tutting and huffing every time the bus stops is ridiculous. You got on the bus. It stopped for you. That's how buses work. I get being frustrated about being late but that is your responsibility to ensure you aren't, not the buses. If he is getting into work by the skin of his teeth then he needs to get the earlier bus and take ownership of his lateness rather than punching inanimate objects.

I often sit near the front of the bus anyway as I'm only on for half an hour so he passes me when he gets off the bus. I'm sorry if this is insensitive, but I don't care if he has MH problems! If he punches me in the face is it okay because he is MH problems? If he punched the driver or caused an accident, it's all okay because he has MH problems? I suffer from anxiety at the best of times and it's making me worry about getting on the bus incase he is there.

The overall consensus seems to be to contact the bus company so that is what I shall do. It's just awkward because we both have every right to use the bus, but he's making me nervous

I’m in London and have seen v scary mentally unstable individuals on the tube ... screaming incoherently, talking to demons or bugs, punching themselves hard and repeatedly. It terrifies me ... but it’s not regular and if it were I would report it. People are already a little more on edge on public transport atm and I suffer from anxiety on the tube and this would make it much worse.

He might have mental health issues but then again he might not. He might just be an aggressive person and it must make people feel tense if they are anticipating that kind of behaviour every day. In fact, it potentially causes other people stress.

Agree with velvet actually. Normal
IMO.
I've been abused (verbally) on the bus more times than I can count. The bus company won't do anything. I was verbally abused throughout an entire bus journey once and the driver refused to do anything (I'm talking swearing at me calling me names shouting at me) I called tfl after and was told the driver isn't meant to intervene and I should have called the police.. Phone was off as battery had ran out so couldn't.