| Author |
Message |
Elizabeth25
Joined 04-03-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, 05 June, 2005 - 04:44 pm: | |
My husband has just returned from a Sunday afternoon trip with our 6 month old son to visit friends in East Dulwich. After a 20 minute wait a 185 bus pulled in but the driver waved his finger at my husband who, on trying to board, was shouted at: "One buggy per bus!" The woman whose mini stroller it was called out that she was getting off at the next stop. The driver turned and shouted the same mantra. My husband turned to get off but was called back in unison by the passengers on the lower deck, one of whom stood up and approached the driver telling him it was a public service. The driver's response was to laugh back in his face: "Public service!" My husband at this point asked for his number so he could complain. The driver shouted "Six!" at him. It seemed highly unlikely and he was not providing any documentation to support it, so he attempted to push the buggy on to the bus. The driver turned off the engine and turned and shouted to the passengers who were all pointing at the large space still there for a second buggy: "This bus terminates here!" The woman with the buggy then said she was getting off there and then, and the rear doors were opneed to allow her off. The bus then started again and departed. The passenger who had tried to take issue before over it being a public service then tried to make another point. The driver slammed on the brakes and asked if he had a ticket. "I bought it off you," he replied. "No you didn't!" shouted the driver, whereupon the passenger produced said document and they were on their way again.
As they pulled out the driver got on his radio and loudly complained to someone at (presumably) the garage that his passengers were "trying to tell me how to do my job".
If my husband had got off and waited for another bus that would have been another half hour and our baby was in need of food and a change. If there hadn't been room then that would have been tolerable but there was ample space.
The law (such as it is) states that a maximum of two prams can be on the bus at any time, the second allowed "at the driver's discretion".
Oh, and when my husband stood to get off, the driver deliberately parked wide of the kerb. |
Doc
Joined 23-02-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, 05 June, 2005 - 06:11 pm: | |
Too late now maybe, but in lieu of the driver's number, you can note the bus registration, time and location to identify the driver exactly to his garage manager.
Drivers are ordered to be courteous to passengers and to give their correct driver number when requested. Those found not doing so will be reprimanded by the manager. Moreover, coupled with the events you mention there is a very good case for disciplinary action.
If I were in your position I would put the events in writing to the manager at Catford bus garage, together with the time and location. All written complaints are thoroughly investigated and replied to. |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 09 June, 2005 - 12:06 pm: | |
Sorry to hear about your experience – not surprisingly baggydave has come into conflict with London buses, and particularly hates bendy ones (replacing the number 12), was nearly mown down by a single decker in East Street and was not allowed on a Routemaster in central London by an officious conductor who sounds rather like the driver that you met. But to put that into context most staff are helpful and friendly. The disparate set-up of private operators is not user friendly with respect to complaints – go TFL Customer Services (Buses) - customerservices@tfl-buses.co.uk, or phone them (number is given on their website. They don’t turn things round very quickly and you will get some splurge about how disappointed they are and how well they train their drivers but do persevere.
If you don't I will! Good luck |
Ab3
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 09 June, 2005 - 02:03 pm: | |
Haven't actually read it yet, but todays Evening Standard has a feature on rude London bus drivers. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 04 July, 2005 - 02:59 pm: | |
Keep complaining people. Eventually, the mesage might start to filter through that this sort of behaviour is not acceptable. Who knows, the realisation may even dawn one day that their job is to convey people from A to B, people who are *THEIR CUSTOMERS*, without whom they would have to find some other similarly unskilled job and will regret that petty exercising of power that felt good to their deeply inadequate selves at the time, but which has landed them out of a job. Suddenly, it all becomes clear...oh...the job wasn't about doing it in the way most convenient or pleasurable to yourself...
.
Favourite incidents recently:
-Wouldn't let me on the nightbus, as had just closed the doors - believe he was departing early - cue half hour wait for next one
-P4 at Lewisham, went straight through the terminus at speed without stopping
-185 failed to stop on London Road, despite having space and despite my signalling clearly - although as a general rule people don't and it isn't necessary
.
TfL Buses cusotmer services: 0845 300 7000 |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 05 July, 2005 - 01:58 pm: | |
And P4 (I believe) doing 50mph down Honor Oak Park yesterday evening. I saw some programme about moany people in the countryside monitoring speed with a radar gun in support of a speed camara. You'll all know I am obsessed by traffic around Honor Oak Road. Is this a good idea or will I alienate myself further and have to move to another site and join he who should not be mentioned? |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 05 July, 2005 - 04:39 pm: | |
No, I think you should leave the odd railway sleeper in the road. The point is valid as there is always some plonker doing 50, thrilled at the unusual-for-London 200m stretch of empty tarmac ahead of him. |
Johnnyb7
Joined 29-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 05 July, 2005 - 07:50 pm: | |
Don't worry about the P4 bus route. When the South Circular is rerouted to where is belongs (Wood Vale), all the buses will go there instead |
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