This one isn’t really that long since much didn’t go down but earlier today, I got on the bus. I got on and since the bus was relatively packed, I wasn’t able to move to the back and stayed where in the front. After I got in, the driver closed the door and started to wait for the red light to turn green. During this brief wait I noticed some people trying to get on but the driver didn’t open the door. I look at him and he had his head turned away to the other side, practically ignoring them. I motioned at one of the people trying to get on, asking if they wanted to get on and she replied with a nod. I turned back to the driver and tapped the glass to catch his attention. I told him "Those people want to get on." He almost instantly replied with a tap of his own on the glass (in retrospect I think he was mocking my knocks lmao) and asked "Do you want to get off in exchange for one of them to get on?" I raised my eyebrow at his reaction, not expecting my sentence to elicit that response. "They can wait for the next bus this one’s full." He continued. I offered no response and the bus started moving after the light turned green. The next stop, he opened the door and let other people on. I found this incredibly stupid and I let out an audible sigh of "you can not be serious" followed by a small chuckle to myself. He then stared at me through the mirror for the rest of the ride whenever he could lmao. So am I the asshole for this?
NTA. The driver was not doing his job and was clearly playing power games. Hopefully you noted the route, time, Bus # and if you could get it the drivers name and badge # so that you can report the driver. That kind of thing can, and should, get a driver disciplined up to and including the loss of their job.
The guy gave me some code that was his “badge number”. I don’t remember what it was exactly but it was a combination of numbers and letters. Apparently, a driver’s real badge number does not have letters, only numbers. So the guy just gave me a fake badge. What a guy lmao.
NTA he just didn’t want to be called out and was abusing his power
Actually I’m pretty sure that there are rules about picking people up strictly at the bus stop – NOT the lights. I’ve noticed my bus driver might have to wait a bit to get to the actual stop part, as any accident they will be liable for. This is Australia only – **Designated Stops Only:** Public bus drivers are generally **not permitted to pick up passengers at non-designated stops**, including traffic lights. This is to maintain safety, traffic flow, and compliance with route schedules.
Didn’t clarify it well in my story, but the bus stop is stationed right before the light, so the people were waiting at a bus stop, the guy just decided to not let them on.
YTA. Let the man do his job and be glad he didn’t boot you from the bus.
Info: if you were at the front of the bus and couldn’t move, where were the additional folk supposed to squeeze in?
Usually people consider it common courtesy to take off your bag and move as much back as you can so more people can get on, so yes.