To think this bus driver was mad?

[Eastie77]

I got on the bus this morning, it was virtually employ with a middle aged couple sitting at the front and a boy of about 16 at the back. After arriving at the next stop the driver announced that the bus would be stopping for a few minutes. I didn't think anything of it as this frequently happens on routes where I live when the bus is running ahead of the timetable.

However the driver then got out of his seat and started walking around the bus saying he had lost his mobile phone. He explained that he had got on the bus several stops before (when it was being driven by another driver) and then got into the drivers seat when his shift started. He said he had 2 mobile phones when he got on the bus but after he started driving he realised he only had 1 so he must have dropped the other phone in the bus somewhere. He then said "no-one has got off this bus since I got on so the phone must be here somewhere". He then told everyone to please help him look for it.

So we (4 passengers) all started looking under the seats etc. The driver pointed to the young boy and said "I sat near you. Are you sure you didn't see it?". The poor boy looked very worried and said he hadn't seen it. I suggested the driver call the lost phone with his other phone and he said lost phone was on silent so that wouldn't help.

After some time the driver said angrily that there is CCTV on the bus and he would be checking it later to "see who on this bus took the phone". He went back to this his drivers seat, slammed the door and shouted that this is why he didn't want to take a job in East London as this area is full of thieves We sat in silence for a few more minutes and one of the Middle Aged couple timidly asked if he was going to continue driving. He shouted that the lost phone had pictures of his baby on it. Everyone was silent again and finally he started up the bus and drove on.

I think this was the most bizarre experience I've had on a bus!!

I was all set to go downstairs and point out that the kids might be explaining it to their school, but he'd be explaining it to both his boss and mine! He was very rude, although not sweary at least.

Or you could have just told him the bell is faulty

Why are British people so tight lipped?!

I'd report him. He wants to tread very very cautiously before he goes accusing people of theft.

So he basically held you all on the bus while accusing you all of stealing his phone. Feel sorry for the young boy. I would report him.

and shouted that this is why he didn't want to take a job in East London as this area is full of thieves

I would have said "the reason I didn't want to take a job in East London is because area is full of fucking bonkers bus drivers".

@hickerydickerydockmouse I feel your pain. DS was in a buggy up until a few months ago and I hated getting on buses with him. The buses I get start in parts of E London that are not served by the tube network so they are always busy by the time they arrive at my stop. Drivers often stop in awkward positions making it difficult for people with buggies to get on. I ended up taking my car a lot of the time although I would have preferred not to.

I also find many drivers bizarrely lack basic knowledge about the route they drive. I've heard passengers ask "do you go to [well known landmark the bus goes to" only to be met with a shrug or blank stare.

I'm not anti bus drivers btw, my brother was one!

I would report it. I reported a bus driver recently for not letting a child in a wheelchair on despite there being space, I reported it to tfl.