Commuter speaks up for bus drivers after recent complaints: 'They saved me loads'
Welcome to Stomping Ground - a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight.
A woman has spoken up for bus drivers and shared her positive experiences with them.
Stomper A wrote in to Stomp after reading earlier articles calling out bus captains for their lack of empathy, especially towards children.
The 18-year-old said: "I would like to share my story with the influx of bad rep among bus captains for not showing compassion to fellow students.
"The first incident happened last year, when I was in my first year of junior college. I had forgotten to bring my wallet (so no card) and was on my way home. I only had some spare change, like maybe $0.30 or something, and the bus trip I had to take was 20 minutes.
"I gave the bus driver the $0.30 and told him I was just trying to go home. He said it was ok and just took my $0.30 as the fare, and I got home because of him. It's pretty commendable.
"There were also countless times when I ran for the bus, especially since the bus bay was at the end of the interchange, but the uncle let me board even though he was closing the door and about to leave (the most recently was two days ago)."
Another encounter left such an impression on Stomper A that she remembers them to this day, even after over 10 years.
"When I was in kindergarten about a decade ago, I took bus service 273 every day," she recounted.
"Sometimes I missed the bus, but the kind auntie driver I befriended during my commute would stop on the side of the road (in between two bus stops) to let me board if she saw me hurrying to the stop. She always smiled at me and I remember her giving me sweets when I was on her bus."
A's feedback comes after separate Stomping Ground articles by two parents. One alleged his 11-year-old son was told to get off the bus as he did not have enough for his fare, while another claimed her 12-year-old daughter was told to 'get out' over an EZ-Link card error.
A told Stomp: "I do notice that many of them are actually understanding, so not all bus drivers are uncompassionate, or maybe the parents are painting only one side of the story.
"Personally, I feel like bus drivers have save me loads."
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