A Bristol newspaper reports that the city council’s transport supremo has dubbed Bristol’s bus drivers as “miserable”. They are apparently impatient and sombre. Whether this statement’s true or not, this is probably how the majority of urban Britain perceive many of their bus drivers. May be that’s because drivers have to put up with miserable passengers. Or miserable motorists. Or miserable traffic congestion. Or may be it’s because the time passenger have to interact with their driver is so small you simply cannot strike up a meaningful relationship. If there is any truth in the “miserable” statement then that means the cheerful ones are a real bonus.“I was looking for a job and then I found a job. And heaven knows I’m miserable now”—The Smiths (1984)
“Reasons to be Cheerful, Part Three”—Ian Dury & the Blockheads (1979)But rather than be miserable, Bristol drivers at least now know their jobs aren’t at risk. Neither are fitters. Expect no public sympathy for the “up to 100” staff who might expect to be made redundant at First Bristol, Bath & the West’s operation—they’re all back office. This is a huge number and is symptomatic of the industry and the country. Not that staff redundancies at Bristol are new. There was a huge head office clear out in 1983, for example, upon the splitting of the former leviathan Bristol Omnibus Company, more just after privatisation & deregulation and successive managements have chipped away ever since. The good news for passengers is that drivers are not threatened. Early indications were that they might be.
The most recent time I travelled with First Bristol, Bath & the West I have to report a satisfactory driver plus one very affable & helpful one. The latter was from eastern Europe.
2 comments:
I must say, that I am finding that many drivers in my local area are, not so much miserable, as just lacking in basic manners and it is that I find so annoying. Are a simple please and thankyou to much to ask for at times? Mind you, as most of the passengers don't bother, why should the driver either?
I think it's more to do with the lack of basic manners in society as a whole, which is just reflected in the service industries.
No doubt a comment will appear blaming young people. As a young person, I'd love to have a go at many of the OAPs who board buses with their concessionary passes and behave as if the driver simply isn't there - just marching past and sitting down, then having the nerve to complain about delays etc (despite the face they're not paying). Is it any wonder drivers are miserable?
Agree it takes nothing to be pleasant, and I am speaking as one of senior years. Most times (we're not perfect), me and missus say thanks and give a smile getting on.
Whether the driver says anything is not a worry as he may have enough on his plate
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