*This was also posted on one of my other blogs: TheStatisticalAssassin.com.

Criticism about a professional’s performance shouldn’t be restricted only to athletes. Recently, a drunken passenger challenged the driver on the #16 bus to drink something out of his bottle, but the driver declined and said he loved his job. They started talking and the driver said he made $31 an hour driving the bus.

Now, if that’s accurate, we will refer to bus drivers as professionals too, given the hourly wage they make.

I’m going to criticize a certain bald brown bus driver in Surrey, BC, Canada. A driver of the #320 bus, he’s rude and inconsiderate, and this is based on the two occasions I’ve witnessed him. Now, if it was just once, then maybe it’s nothing. But twice is more than enough to suggest this is his normal behaviour.

Personally, December weather in Vancouver or Surrey, BC, is nothing for me. It doesn’t bother me. I’ve lived in Fort McMurray before where the temperatures could routinely get down to the minus-40’s. So, Vancouver weather is nothing. But of course, others disagree. They complain when it rains and when it’s 5 degrees. Many Vancouverites think it’s cold.

This is at Surrey Central bus loop, where it’s the last stop for people getting off/first stop for people getting on. There are senior citizens waiting to get on at this stop.

This brown driver would pull into the stop, let the passengers get off, and then he himself would get off – and close front door shut so nobody could get on. Then, without saying a word, he would wander off (presumably to go to the drivers’ washroom/break room). Meanwhile, the people who were lining up would stand there – again, many of them would act like they were cold, ie. shivering, etc. For me, it’s not cold because it isn’t. But again, for others, it’s a different story.

Anyway, the driver wouldn’t show up again until a couple minutes late (ie. after the bus was to depart). Then he would slowly get on the bus, close the door again, get into his seat, buckle up, and THEN let people on.

Selfish and unnecessary. For one thing, as mentioned, those waiting in line are cold. Second, he’s late.

Other drivers would let people get on, which is the common sense/decent thing to do, even if those drivers aren’t physically on the bus for the duration of the waiting time before the bus was supposed to depart.

Both times, Mister Jerk Bald Brown Driver proved to be inconsiderate. What can I say? He’s a jerk, a jackass… Gutless. Fortunately for the folks who rely on public transit on a regular basis, not every driver out there is the same as this gutless idiot.