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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be completely shocked by bus drivers behaviour

61 replies

Lucy10 · 16/01/2008 17:13

Was on the bus coming home with DD. Not many people on it and there was one other mum with her son who couldn't be more than 2 at the most. He was crying a lot and she was calmly trying to calm him down. Not bothering anyone at all. The bus driver then told her to get off the bus as her child was being too noisy.

Cue very shocked passangers sticking up for her telling him he couldn't do this. The mother then went up to him while he was driving to speak to him. He then opened the door to his cab, looked like he was going to hit her, and started shouting at her.

She called to make a complaint about him while we were still on the bus with other passengers saying they would be her witness. The driver actually asked if anyone would be his witness.

Can't quite believe he acted in this way....anyone know if bus drivers are allowed to tell the mother of a crying baby to get off the bus?

OP posts:
Chequers · 16/01/2008 17:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

DarrellRivers · 16/01/2008 17:17

Where was this|?
In london i know a lot of bus drivers are pretty stressed and overworked,
but , pretty shoddy behaviour

wannaBe · 16/01/2008 17:19

good god.

Am glad she complained, although if your buss company is anything like ours nothing will probably happen.

Original poster
Lucy10 · 16/01/2008 17:19

Yep, was in North London. I can understand being stressed and overworked but still thought this was unacceptable

OP posts:
Original poster
Lucy10 · 16/01/2008 17:20

When we got to the end of the route a couple of the other passengers followed it up with inspectors but not sure what happened.

OP posts:
DarrellRivers · 16/01/2008 17:21

My DH used to complain about a bus driver in N london
He once stopped the bus and made them all get off as he said the bus was too smelly.
They had to get the next one.
Wonder if it is the same man?
what number?

mrspnut · 16/01/2008 17:21

A family friend is a bus inspector (in a leafy genteel town) and he would be horrified if one of his drivers did that to a mother and child.

London bus drivers though seem to believe that they are somehow different from the rest of us and normal rules of politeness, courtesy and driving don't apply to them.

Original poster
Lucy10 · 16/01/2008 17:22

The bus was too smelly????

17502....I think....

OP posts:
nametaken · 16/01/2008 17:23

Yes, they are allowed to do this because it's classed as a distraction to the driver.

However, I bet if 10 drunken louts got on and started being arses he wouldn't ask them to leave, oh no, he'd be scared of them, but a woman with a baby is an easy target to take it out on.

I simply wouldn't go - if he shouted at me I'd call the police there and then.

Bastard

Pennies · 16/01/2008 17:23

A bus driver once told me to get off his bus because I complained that he started moving off as I was still trying to get on (one foot was still on the pavement as it started to pull away). I was about 35 weeks pregnant at the time.

EffiePerine · 16/01/2008 17:23

London bus drivers are mostly insane. I suppose it makes a change from whizzing past people you don' like th elook of and taking the wing mirrors off parked cars . N London bus drivers are particularly bad - this wasn't in Hackney was it?

JingleyJen · 16/01/2008 17:23

I would call the company to complain and back up the lady's story.

What an unpleasant man.

DarrellRivers · 16/01/2008 17:24

What route is that|?
He used to go from Gospel oak to archway

nametaken · 16/01/2008 17:26

See Pennies, your post has just confirmed what I said. A pregnant woman is an easy target. What a bunch of absolute cowards they are - why don't they tackle the real thugs and leave women alone.

Pennies · 16/01/2008 17:26

EP - my experience was in Hackney.

Original poster
Lucy10 · 16/01/2008 17:28

I almost fell over with DD in the buggy as he moved off so quickly after me getting on. This was Stoke Newington to Finsbury Park. Am gloing to give them a call. Just hope I remembered the bus number correctly!

OP posts:
Pennies · 16/01/2008 17:28

nametaken - that's the point I was trying to make to him but IIRC I was crying to much at the time to make much sense. pregnancy hormones resulting in any anger being expressed by sobbing

OverMyDeadBody · 16/01/2008 17:29

that is shicking behaviour! I'd also call up and report it. That poor mother!

Original poster
Lucy10 · 16/01/2008 17:29

Sorry Darrell that was the actual bus number, it was route 106. Between Finsbury Park and Hackney I think. Goes through Stoke Newington anyway!

OP posts:
mrspnut · 16/01/2008 17:30

Lucy - on the 106? It is the one thing I don't miss about living in Stoke Newington. I used to have to catch the 106 to Finsbury Park every morning to commute to Hertfordshire.

DarrellRivers · 16/01/2008 17:31

Sounds like they are trained in a special manner in North London
poor lady

nametaken · 16/01/2008 17:31

Lucy10 when you call bus company ask them why they keep picking on women with babies and ignoring the real troublemakers.

Pennies · 16/01/2008 20:12

Mine was on one of the ones that go down Stoke Newington high street, but there was another incident I had on the 106 when I was hit by a large bloke (I'm only 5'3") because I told him not to barge me. Again, no assistance forthcoming from driver or other passengers.

You will note I've not recommended anywhere in N. London to that person who was asking earlier. So glad to be away from all that.

edam · 16/01/2008 20:17

I get the impression they pay peanuts and provide minimum training these days. Certainly the number of bus crashes has gone up - when I lived in inner London (SW), we had four or five serious crashes in six months. Including one driver demolishing a house opposite the bus garage...

FatBellyJones · 16/01/2008 20:18

How appalling!!! for future reference the number you want is on the outside of the bus, usually two letters with numbers on a detachable plate near the doors on the side

eg HT147

The HT denotes which garage the bus is from and the numbers are which shift it is

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