AIBU? Bus driver refused to let me on the bus

[tulipkisses]

Where I live buses can be infrequent and often delayed due to awful traffic. We also don’t have tap on/off, we have to show the driver our tickets or purchase one as we get on.

I work about a five minute walk from the bus stop. As I got to the bus stop this evening the bus was just pulling away, I checked the app and there was another one coming three minutes later.

It turned up and I put my arm out to hail it. It pulled in, someone got off and I stepped on. The driver refused to let me on because I “should have been on the earlier one”. He said if I walked onto the bus he wouldn’t pull away and would wait for me to get off, and he didn’t care about sitting there for hours to see if I’d stay on. He said he knew I was “only getting on this one for a faster journey” because it was empty compared to the one in front.

I have never experienced this in my life, I have no idea what to do? I have the number plate and I’m considering reporting it but this is just totally bizarre, should I have waited for the one after this one?

How strange! Makes no sense
Yes report him

Outrageous! How did you know his bus was empty!? It could have been absolutely packed! I’d certainly be reporting him, cheeky arsehole

Yes, I find that posting on Twitter/X gets a speedy response.

Definitely report him.

I had an annoying experience just before Christmas. I needed to pick my car up from a mechanic in the arsehole of nowhere and wanted to get a bus before dark. They are very few and far between at the best of times. Anyway the bus arrived bang on time and I was just about to get on when he asked me where I was going. I told him and he said he wasn’t going that far, closed his doors and drove off. There was only one stop between mine and the one I wanted to get off at. Rural area, so a mile or two between bus stops. There were people on the bus and there was no way they were all getting off at the next stop as it is very isolated and the bus rarely even stops there. So he was definitely going to my preferred stop. And beyond because the bus station is in the next small town. I can only assume the rest of the passengers were all getting off in the small town and he couldn’t be bothered stopping to let me off before that. And yes, I did complain. Absolute dickhead.

Absolutely report him! He sounds unhinged

Totally wild. So what if you did chose to get on an emptier bus? I do that all the time

What??? You missed a bus and as a punishment the driver of the next bus made you wait for the 3rd bus - that is totally insane! Please put in a complaint to the bus company and let us know the outcome that is a horrible thing to do.

Report and put on social media. What if it was late at night. Presumably he'd have left a lone woman stranded. I wonder if he'd have done the same to a big burly bloke. Unhinged prick.

Eh? Why on earth did you get off? It’s a bus. He drives it. Passengers get in and off. I’d have sat there and phoned the bus company while sitting there. He sounds like bus driving is not the job for him…!

I wonder if he was hoping to speed through to take a break further on.

But the purpose of a public bus is to get passengers to their destinations, not the vehicle! I mean you could probably get through the whole route really quickly without any passengers at all, but that would be a bit pointless, wouldn't it?!

What a strange chap.

Definitely report - immediately if possible.

Good thought.

I got kicked off the bus once when I was younger because I accidentally dug out yesterdays day saver out of the bottom of my bag instead of that days… said I was trying to pull one over on him and get off, even though I then produced the right ticket to him 🤣

The only time I will even think about complaining about anyone is to bus companies for the horrendous way they have treated me. I mean I have seen some terrible customer service in my 50+ years but I generally don't take it to heart, and just go on with my day.

Bus drivers are an entirely different breed and I'm not about to listen to ♉💩 excuses about how uniquely stressful their jobs are - I don't want to hear it.

I'm friendly, polite, laid back and empathetic but these arseholes don't differentiate - because I live in a poor , high crime area, we are all scum to them , regardless.

Even if you were just 'getting on that bus for a faster journey', so what? You're allowed to pick whichever bus you get on for any reason! (Though maybe next time avoid any bus that driver is driving!)

What an arsehole - yea report him to his bosses

Confused that you detailed the need to buy a ticket when you have a bus pass. What is the relevance of the ticket purchase method?

He sounds like some kind of fruitloop.I too would have got on the bus and sat there and called his bluff. But then I can be a bitch.

I imagine the other passengers would soon have got angry and pressured him to move. So long as there is room the driver doesnt get to say who gets on or which bus they should have got.

I know most of our drivers so I'd be inclined that make conversation.

Thank god you let me on, the last driver said I wasn't allowed in his bus because it was too empty!!
. And def report

Bonkers!

He does, he sounds unstable!!

Yanbu sorry girl x

This is when you need to start live streaming, or at least video.

Im seriously wondering about the 2 % who think OP is unreasonable?!

Bizarre behavior. This man should not be driving members of the public around in multi-tonne death machine. Report.