Still traumatised by this incident, I just
wanted to get this off my chest and inform everyone about it. Not
knowing where to post my letter or would it be rejected by
publications, I've decided to post here...
Having read articles on bus cheats’ impact
on bus company with great interest. But I would like to bring
to everyone's attention on another viewpoint on this; while it
is important to instil compliance of correct fare payment, it is
also important for bus drivers to do their job with courtesy and
professionalism.
Mid April, after alighting a bus at night (a
few metres away from the bus stop), I spotted a figure stepped out
of the entrance of the bus, yelling and waving at me,
enraged.
It was the bus driver.
From his loudly accented expression, I could
make out that he was commanding me to go back to him as he alleged
I did not scan my ezlink card. I distinctively knew I had scanned
my card both at times of boarding and only when alighting, hence
there is no reason for me to be treated like that. He was not in
the right mindset for a civilised discourse. I would be glad to
clarify if he had make the effort to come up to me and enquire
politely, since he was already out of the bus.
The next day, I checked with a polite MRT
personnel and re-affirmed that my card is in working condition and
the bus transaction yesterday night was well-recorded (and paid
with the correct fare of $1.39).
Understand that being a bus driver is
stressful, there is no reason to displace the anger on passengers.
This might be another isolated incident, bus drivers certainly need
to improve on their way of following up with passengers.
Bus driver's harsh way of handling the
situation may be the reason why so many passengers are enraged
to land a punch on their faces. However, I urge all of you to just
walk away and ignore - would be the best method and then follow up
later the next day with the authority. This may just prevent alot
of abuses which land innocent people into imprisonment.
What I suggest is, document down the incident, and sent to the
right channels if you are interested to get things done. When I
mean right channel is...
SBS Transit top management skipping the chain of Corporate
communications. And also to the press and of course the
internet.