My Face Book Comment Response To Angry CommutersTo Bus Drive - Mount Druitt Standard

 This is my face book response to the angry commuters bus drivers may have to face:Jean-Francois Svoboda The simple laws on proper mannerisms and behaviors are long gone. When I am on a bus I always greet drivers they have long hours, trips and short breaks between journeys. Commuters I have seen normally complain about fares (Not having the right change). Now with more commuters having access to Opal Cards - this will resolve the situation in time. I think if bus drivers said, 'Hello and Goodbye' nicely to everyone, people will be happy and respond. Drivers use to do this 30-40 years ago? from http://whyilovemountdruitt.blogspot.com.au/

 

Below is the story from the Mount Druitt Standard:

West

Campaign aims to end assault on bus drivers from angry commuters

• Philip Ly
• Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard
• October 15, 2014 9:50AM

St Marys’ Barry Hupton says he has copped a string of abuse during his time as a bus driver. Picture: Carmela Roche

■ 32 per cent of drivers have been assaulted

■ 33 per cent of drivers have seen a passenger assaulted on their bus
■ 78 per cent of drivers have been abused by passengers because of unrealistic
service timetables
■ 31 per cent of drivers have been racially abused
BARRY Hupton knows all too well the dangers of being a public bus driver.
The 61-year-old mostly drives routes from Penrith to Mt Druitt and has been assaulted “at least 20 times”.
“I’ve been spat at, verbally abused, physically abused and received death threats,” Mr Hupton said.

Barry says it’s not bus drivers’ fault they often run late, due to “unrealistic” timetables. Picture: Carmela Roche

His comments come as the Transport Workers’ Union of NSW launches a campaign this month, which urges frustrated passengers not to blame drivers for late buses but authorities who set impossible timetables.
The Don’t Blame the Bus Driver campaign is an anti-assault campaign.
“We’re working people like everybody else and only want to do our job,” he said.
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“You never know what’s going to happen from day to day and who’s going to turn on you from time to time … there will always be someone disgruntled and the bus driver cops the abuse.”
Mr Hupton said he and other bus drivers “do our best”, but it was not their fault they might not keep to the times given on “unrealistic and unachievable” timetables.
A spokesman for Busways said the company believed timetables were realistic.
He said the company had not received any reports in relation to drivers being assaulted, abused or exposed to anti-social behaviour due to poor running times.