What a difference a few months, and potentially the weather, makes!
Or maybe it was just me…or the drive…in any event:
A few months ago, I recounted a not-so-nice story about how a Translink driver here in Vancouver barked at one of his riders. [Flashback to Feb 2009]
Short post today…not feeling 100%.
And apparently neither was the driver of the Southbound #2 bus (Macdonald/16th Avenue) today around 11:30am from downtown Vancouver!
What irked me was that said driver decided to snap back at a passenger when the man simply asked if he could stop because the back doors weren’t opening.
At first, the driver didn’t hear the man and continued driving, but after about 10 or 20 yards, he finally came to a halt (after the rest of the bus tried getting his attention).
I can’t quote verbatim, but the exchange went something like this:
Passenger at rear doors: Driver…stop…please open the door!
Driver: [Grimacing] Next time why don’t you think about ringing the bell?
Passenger at rear doors: Can’t hear you…
Driver [opens doors]
Passenger at rear doors: Thank you! (leaves)
Driver: [Grimacing] It’s not rocket science!
I do recall the passenger ringing the buzzer/bell/what-have-you. So in the end, the little outburst that the bus driver felt was necessary was not only childish and unprofessional, but left a bad taste in my mouth (and others around me).
Not cool.
But today, when the sun was shining and the birds were singing and murmuring about the Western-most lane of the Burrard bridge closing down to become a bike route was flying around, the driver of the #32 express from downtown Vancouver decided, she was going to make sure all of her passengers were taken care of.
I don’t remember her name, but she was driving the #32 ~5:30pm today…and she exemplified customer service by:
- smiling at everyone who entered
- wishing everyone well when they left
- getting on the mic after the first stop after the Burrard bridge to ensure that everyone knew that the #32 follows a straight shot to Alma (read: West) and if that wasn’t where people were wanting to go, that she’d stop the bus now so they could get off and get on the right track.
How often does that happen? And how cool was that?
Thanks for the ride.
darren
Credit to Stephen Rees for the photo (great Translink related blog as well)
Oh sheesh! My Dad would say this is an all-too-familiar situation–He’s a VP at Translink and they are constantly dealing with issues like this. Why are some people so rude?
As a long-term and frequent transit user, I can also attest to this type of thing happening. Clearly there are some drivers that really need to move on or find another line of work.
However Darren, I would also like to shout out to all the drivers that go over and beyond exceptional service, and who often get forgotten in all the bad press.
Case in point would be the driver who does the 324 Newton exchange route and who routinely goes out of his way to make sure we get to my sons preschool on time. During the snows over December, he urged me to wait at a cleared driveway close by the stop rather than wait in the snowbank, and he has also waited for me when I am running behind with baby and 4 year old in tow.
There is another driver who waits for me to drop my son off so that I can quickly hop back onto his route to get me home in less than 10 minutes. Or the female driver who lets my 17 year old daughter wait on the bus after work at night – during the drivers break – so she doesnt have to wait at the exchange among all the addicts and bums and get harassed. Or the drivers who let you get on when your transfer has just expired….. and on, and on.
Consideration like that is not often rewarded in their line of work, and I certainly appreciate these gestures!! These men and women do deal with a lot of crap from a public who often treats them like servants.
Great perspective, Laila. I agree, there are those out there who deserve a shout out. And you nailed it.