Riding the bus in NYC can be frustrating
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52208)
Staten Island, New York
January 3, 2018 2:14pm CST
I was on a bus last week and it got pretty crowded. There was really not much room for people to move to the back or to get on at all, yet many were still trying to get on the bus. They pushed and shoved to try to get on, not caring about other people on the bus. The driver said nothing and just let them shove others to get on the bus, when there was clearly no room. And he said nothing about them blocking his side mirrors either. I was not comfortable riding on a bus where the driver's view was blocked and contemplated exiting the bus and waiting for a less crowded one. But I had to be somewhere and didn't want to be late, so stuck it out.
At stops where some people got off, many others would get on the bus through the back doors, when they couldn't get on through the front. And they did that without paying their fare first. The bus driver said nothing about that and just let them get on and ride for free.
I get that it was really cold that day and people didn't want to stand there and wait for another bus, but they should have had some decency and respect for others. If there is no room on the bus, wait for the next one. Don't push and shove to try to get on. And don't get on through the back without paying the fare first.
If I can pay $2.75 to ride the bus so can everyone else. There should be no excuses and no exceptions, unless the machine that accepts the fare stops working. Why are they any different than me that these people are allowed to ride for free and I have to pay? And the nerve of them to get on through the back without paying the fare first.
I've seen all this happen plenty of times when riding the bus. There are drivers that don't allow this. If someone gets on through the back the drivers tell them to get off the bus. And if someone doesn't pay the fare they tell them get off as well. And they don't allow people on the bus if they cannot go behind the white line and are close to the front doors. But there are some drivers that just don't care and let this happen. They let people ride for free, get on through the back, get on the bus even though there is no room and they are blocking the view. And I wonder why these drivers are not reported. They very well should be. Free rides shouldn't be allowed (though those that work for the MTA ride for free from what I heard) and safety should come first.
4 people like this
5 responses
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Jan 18
I hope I don't end up in this experience any time soon.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
4 Jan 18
I visited Canada a few times but I never rode their buses.
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
3 Jan 18
Reporting a driver would require knowing the number of the bus and the driver probably has his own number he is identified by. Can't just report someone without knowing this info.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jan 18
Buses and subways in NYC are a free for all of pushing and shoving and rudeness so symbolic of that city.
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
3 Jan 18
I know! Not sure what's worse - buses or subways? Probably subways. People can hit you or touch you in places you shouldn't be touched just to get on the subway, and they won't even tell you I'm sorry.
1 person likes this
@aureliah (24687)
• Kenya
3 Jan 18
I have seen lots of people crowding the buses which first I find is a ealth hazard and also risky as the vehicle gets overloaded.
@lovebuglena (52208)
• Staten Island, New York
3 Jan 18
Yes. But passengers don't care. All they care about is getting on and going to where they need to go. They don't care about others. Now that is not to say everyone is like that, but many are.
1 person likes this
@aureliah (24687)
• Kenya
8 Jan 18
@lovebuglena Yeah that is very true. Many care only about themselves
1 person likes this






