Aggressive & Taunting Bus Captain

EvelynZhangShuMin SG

On 05 December 2008 at 7:11pm (the EZ Link machine stated 8:11:55HRS), I boarded TIBS Bus Number 861P as always. And upon finding a seat, the bus captain immediately stood up, turned around and stared at me accusingly. He then next pointed at me without saying a single word and immediately pointed back to the EZ Link machine repeatedly. And for the entire journey, I was really angry at being embarrassed and humiliated in this manner and the bus captain didn’t offer an apology upon knowing that I had tapped my card and duly paid my fares like everyone else. Although throughout the trip, I had considered asking for his name to lodge a formal complaint, I decided not to do so and decided to ask him directly what was going on.

I understand that bus captains have their duties at hand, whether is it in checking and making sure that passengers paid their fares or if their passengers moved to the back of the bus to allow other boarding passengers to board and things like that. But what happened next really left me feeling disgusted with this bus captain’s attitude and aggressive behavior towards me.

Just before I reached my intended stop, I went up to him and ask what exactly was going on and he simply feigned ignorance. When I questioned him on why did he have to humiliate and embarrass me in front of so many passengers even though I paid my fare, he started to raise his voice at me and claimed that he never humiliate me at all. So I explained to him that he just pointed at me accusingly and at the EZ Link machine and he claimed that he asked me nicely to tap my EZ link card for verification.

And he next taunted me by saying that I can lodged a complaint against him if I feel like it and further said that I was being aggressive and he would report me to the police even though he raised his voice at me first. Of course I was angry and raised my voice back at him. He kept raising his voice, taunting me and still embarrassing and humiliating me by saying that I was aggressive even though he was the one who raised his voice throughout the conversation until I got off the bus.

May I enquire if your bus captains were trained to embarrassed, humiliated, taunt and be aggressive towards passengers who paid their fares duly and without a word of apology?

Rock^Star SG

Relax la......tap card only. Just copy the bus no. down.....note the timing and bus stop, and complain. Explain once to him is enough, no need to quarrel.

BB2001 SG

Ya I agree. No need to question him.

Not all bus drivers are like that.

Also bus drivers tend to talk loudly, especially middle aged ones.

I was complained once for being rude to passengers. But really I was innocent, I was driving a mid-engine bus, and the engine was loud, so got to raise voice to speak to passengers.

Orange-mush SG

Interesting. Well, I must say that the driver is at fault by not telling you nicely that he wanted you to tap the card for verification. Given his pointing, I think it is a bit misunderstanding. Even though the bus driver did embarrass you, he might be having a bad hair day. I suggest you don't file a complain unless it is really serious. Just forget the incident.

Junyang700 SG

Since this is the case. Record his service rego number, time and date you took this bus and email it to HQ and ask SMRT for an explanation. Best is you find out his name.

I Luv Dat Unique Gal SG

Seriously, I don't agree with what you suggested. Be it small or big, even though we mostly stand on the BC side, such mistakes are not to be let off so easily. If we let the BC off that easily, he will repeat his mistakes the next time. So what if the BC is having a bad day, doesn't mean the BC is having a bad day and he can yell at passengers like any way he can. Yes, I understand that BC are actually doing his job to make sure that no passengers cheat fares. Just imagine if you're in that person shoes, do you think that you will act nothing and just let it go??? It's not that I'm trying to flame you or what, but sometimes we need to be fair and not stepping across the line.

sinicker SG

u rather he point at you and you go up to him...

or he stop the bus, walk to you, ask u go infront... which takes more time... of course this is less embarassing.. but this pisses the other commuters even more!

lianamaster SG

Another unfortunate incident.... Haiz....

I suppose middle-aged drivers tend to be short-tempered and more forgetful?

I had an incident when the bus-driver forget to open the exit door and we pressed the door-bell 5 times....he cannot hear or maybe pretend not to hear.... until one old man in his 50s used his hand to bang the exit door until it almost broke then the bus-driver give in with a sulk. Nobody bothered to complain....

jayh272416 SG

no.. stop the bus, walk to you and ask u go infront is more embarassing.

jayh272416 SG

Another unfortunate incident.... Haiz....

I suppose middle-aged drivers tend to be short-tempered and more forgetful?

DIY? Theres the button there to open the door.

sinicker SG

maybe the TS wants cheerleaders to cheer him on to the front of the bus.

lianamaster SG

DIY? Theres the button there to open the door.

ok.... let me show my power next time...

Orange-mush SG

Ok. I catch your drift. I got another story. I took service 985 from Boon Keng MRT to my house. It was a UK Dennis Lance. I had returned from a camp and I was carrying a lot of things. I went up the bus, due to the narrow space, I had to bump a bit to get in. Then, the driver just accused me of spoiling the card reader which I obviously didn't. Then, I explained that I was carrying a lot of things but he didn't listened to me and continued to accuse me. For the whole journey to my house, he was complaining. Obviously, I do not want to hear him complain. Luckily, my destination bus stop was quite near and got off the bus. I would not say the rego of that bus to prevent rising comments.......

lianamaster SG

no.. stop the bus, walk to you and ask u go infront is more embarassing.

I also feel so.... Imagine being looked by everybody else... U feel like burrowing a hole out of your little seat and stick your head inside....

n4l SG

Another unfortunate incident.... Haiz....

I suppose middle-aged drivers tend to be short-tempered and more forgetful?

My experiences with such drivers who skip stops have been relative positive so far...hope I don't see any negative ones.

Once, a driver skipped my stop...the next stop being a distance away from mine. He offered to stop me by the side of the road (:

I Luv Dat Unique Gal SG

haha, SMRT drivers again. SMRT drivers always shout here and there, accuse here and there. No wonder majority of the bus fans prefer SBST than SMRT drivers. SBST drivers are more friendly than SMRT drivers. I experienced one Sv 172 BC driving a DAF who will shout at passengers just because the bell was pressed twice but in fact the bus stopping light was spoilt. Seriosuly, even I prefer SBST drivers than SMRT drivers even though I lived in the SMRT territory in CCK.

Like the saying goes, you always see the bright smile of SBST drivers. But you will always see the dark smile of SMRT drivers.

Rock^Star SG

Interesting! There was once when I was a dumb and broke teen. I boarded the bus and paid 70 cents, then the driver asked where am I going. I replied, "In front." He asked me in front where? I repeated the same thing and took my seat. Then when the 70 cents has been burst, he shouted thru the mirror, "You want to stop where??" Then I shouted back, "I got no money!" Then he lan lan, kept quiet and drove me all the way till interchange.

Keke

lianamaster SG

My experiences with such drivers who skip stops have been relative positive so far...hope I don't see any negative ones.

Once, a driver skipped my stop...the next stop being a distance away from mine. He offered to stop me by the side of the road (:

Erm...for your info...maybe I didn't state clearly...Haha

The bus-driver did stop at the bus-stop that we wanted to alight but opened only the entrance door and NOT the exit door... So we (at least 8 of us) like pressed the bell 5 times and he didn't respond... so most of us got angry.

n4l SG

Erm...for your info...maybe I didn't state clearly...Haha

This one is amusing

^tamago^ SG

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