Hello,
I take the public transport quite often now and always thank the bus driver before leaving, but the question is, do YOU thank the bus driver? It will be nice to hear your insights and opinions on the matter.
Do You Thank The Bus Driver?
Comments
I catch the bus every day, I say hello when I get on and thank you when I get off
If they drive well. Not all do
As Ariana Grande would say…Everyday, everyday, everyday.
As Ariana Grande would sing…Everyday, everyday, everyday.
you mean Future
I love the Australian nature of humility. I hate the lack of humility in some other nationalities.
No offense, but you're being sarcastic, right?
Maybe humility is the wrong word. But I like it that we are humble, and not up ourselves!
I thank my Maybach chauffeur every time as I'm on $180k+.
I didn't buy my first Maybach until I was earning that amount per week.
Politeness costs nothing & would probably make him/her feel good - brighten their day. After all they're not robots, just normal working people like the rest of us - with a home & family to return to at the end of the working day. Keep it up.
It depends if they seemed nice, if I'm near the front, if they paused for me to get on… a grumpy driver who swears a lot, drives like crap and abuses passengers does NOT get anything from me.
I'm definitely saying thank you today…as the buses are free.
I expect a "thanks for riding with sydney buses" from the bus driver…a similar concept to a Qantas steward/stewardess thanking you for flying Qantas when disembarking.
Why not thank the flight crew as well? They are the ones walking back and forth during your whole flight.
Maybe just thank everyone that does something for you.No thanks
I rarely took the bus, but I tried to thank the tram driver my first year in melb (1999) and was told told to "just hurry up mate".
Never interact with tram drivers ever again after that
I bet you posted this whilst you were getting off a tram.
Hurry up mate!
You might have been the first person to thank him, and so he thought that you were taking the mick!
This is why I don't stop just to say thanks since I don't want to hold anyone up.
You're supposed to say thank you on your way out, you're not suppose to stop just to say it, haha.
You stopped and thank him?
I thought the idea was to thank as you walk out
I sometimes like to touch him.
Where?
Always.
I just give a wave from the back. Thanks if I exit from the front.
Same, I find it a little too much to shout from the back. When I see he/she is looking in the mirror I wave and leave.
Yes, I do.
Depends on how busy the bus is. If its pretty busy, i generally don't bother. But if virtually or close to empty, yeah.
I would if he arrived on time, drove well and greeted me.
On the subject of buses:
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bus-passenger-risked-harbour-bridg…
I thank the pilot.
I catch public transport everyday, bus & train
When the bus driver isn't a dick, slamming on the brake or yelling at people, then I thank him
My area though I suppose I don't blame him
Ones I thank: bus driver, uber driver, pizza delivery person. Ones I don't : train driver, tram driver, pilot. I tried to thank the pilot but they wouldn't let me in.
Errr why can't you thank the tram drivers?
I never said I couldn't I said I don't.
Re pilots: You have to talk to them in a familiar lingo to get their attention, it takes a long time to become a commercial pilot and as such your vernacular may be different than they are used to, having been locked in simulators for most of their life. Try saying 'radical' or 'the bomb' in your next discourse to lighten up the mood and grab their attention.
Well apparently I shouldn't be clapping on a plane but I like to do so. Im told its patronizing :)
yeh, had an arsehole bus driver that gave me attitude just coz i asked if the machine was working (it had plastic on it and for some reason i thought it was to stop some water damage coz it was near the door)didnt say out of order written on it) anyway, the guy was a dick about it but i still said thank you when i got off.
A thank you costs nothing so it's in the ozbargain spirit to spread them around.
If you are a decent human being you will thank anybody who has worked a service job
That will include your bus driver, your banker, your waitress, your teacher and your cleaners.
I always say "Thanks" when I'm out at restaurants when the waiter/waitress gives me my meal or drink or takes away my plate or cup. Sometimes they are a bit stunned. I guess lots of people are rude these days? They are taken back by it, but then they smile or smile and say "No worries". It shouldn't be a shock to hear someone say "Thanks" which is kind of sad what this world has come to. My parents raised me well, I guess.
If you are a decent human being you will thank anybody who has worked a service job
What if they perform their job poorly and you receive poor service?
You mean like how I should tip bad service?
Of course. Either if I get off at the front or at the middle of the bus. I acknowledge the driver by just saying "Thanks" or by putting my hand up and saying "Thanks" to him or her. I haven't taken a bus in a while though, but when I do…of course!!!
A simple "thanks mate" never goes astray.
I usually thank the bus. Just a quick rub and a whispered thankyou, nothing strange.
I give it a slap on the arse to send it on its way
Yes, why not? Bus drivers take you to your destination safe and sound. Please always say thanks to them and anyone that gives you a service, your local barista, restaurant waitstaff, checkout assistants… The one and the only person I could not say thanks to is the plane pilot!
A nice "thank you" will lift your mood and the other person's up, it's good for everyone.
True. I think that Pilots and Medical Surgeons are our unsung heros.
When disembarking from the aircraft, I tell the air hostesses at the exit to pass my thanks to the pilot and captain, specially if they did a smooth landing.
And I'm sure they pass it on to the pilot.
Of course lol
Usually say thanks after purchasing the ticket, might say it occasionally when getting off.
I'm paying for the service so it's not like he is doing me a favour.
As a bus driver I'd be happier if people just boarded and left in silence. Saying hello to hordes of passengers every day gets quite boring. Just pay your fare and stfu.
if the front exit i say cheers but if its the back exit i just raise my hand as a gesture of saying thanks as they usually look in the back mirror to see when all the passengers have exited
I normally don't use bus for travel but in past few years I used it may be 4 times and I thanked the driver every time after seeing others do the same. However my last travel in a bus was not pleasant (a month back) when the car was in dealership for service.
The driver was very aggressive on road and cutting over other drivers. Drove very fast and was breaking suddenly too. When I was getting down I was thinking few times about thanking him or not. But I still thanked him at the end thinking that he may be having a bad day or something and only way to spread the good behavior is by good actions from every person. When you are rude to some one the receiving party become much more rude to others.
So I would say no matter what just keep thanking them. Mostly the drivers are good people.I was brought up to say "Hello" and "Thanks" to the driver every single time. It has to be a really bad driver (either ability or attitude) for me not to.
With that said, I became a bus driver a few years back…
It was a great job, good pay, although the hours were bad (split shifts), and even though I was a Sydney driver dealing with traffic, it taught me how to relax on the roads. Most people said G'day and Thanks until Opal became the norm. Some people continued, but there was far less interaction with the driver.
I then moved to a private company in the suburbs (which I didn't enjoy), pay was down in the 5 digit range due to lack of O/T, and schedules were priority (rather than safety). The only thing I enjoyed about this was the higher interaction with customers.
Bus driving was one of the best jobs I've ever had. But still, a quick hello and thanks isn't too much to ask, is it?
FWIW: I didn't realise until I read this thread, that I say thanks to most people doing services for me (paid or unpaid - even flight attendants).
This high and mighty attitude some of you have is really pathetic, and you're likely the only one that will suffer because of it.Then why aren't you saying thanks to everyone doing services for you, not just "most"?
It probably is all… I can't think of any I don't say thanks to.
All the shelf stackers in Coles?
@OzJD: So, to answer the question, no? Presumably because you're merely conforming to society not expressing a genuine desire to thank everyone who serves you, making your judgement of those who don't rather meaningless.
Were you actually earning 6 figures driving buses in Sydney?
Yes - for Sydney Buses (government).
Many people do that simply because other people do. Do they really want to say that? Maybe not. Translink in Brisbane is actually one of the most expensive public transportation system in the world. It's quite ironic that people thank the bus driver involuntarily everyday, meanwhile, they are cursing the government at home.
It's not really ironic, unless you're suggesting the bus drivers are the ones deciding what the fare will be?
I am not suggesting that. The situation is ironic not the bus driver.
Only when his Opal machine is not working.
Man even the older trams unlike the newer ones where it feels like the driver is locked in a small room and drive.
Haven't caught PT in nearly 4years but yeah used to say thanks driver/mate :)
Always say " Thank you!" while editing from rear door.
They are humans too, and love to be appreciated. Think someone in your office, or your customer thanking you, although all you were doing is your job.Works wonders for both- because you made someone happy- and the driver because someone appreciated their work.
I once tried giving the peace amongst worlds signal. Bus driver wasn't too happy.
Probably will only work when public transport on Mars becomes a thing.
While I thank them out of habit (and social convention), it makes very little sense. Why single them out for thanks? Do you thank every staff member you walk past in Coles? They're working to help you out just as much as the bus driver did.
I'm not too fuzzed when other people get off without thanking the driver (I do) but what I don't understand is how you can get on the bus without saying 'good morning' or 'g'day'. There are so many people, young and old, who seem to completely ignore the fact that there's a person behind the wheel, who opens the door for you to get in, drives you from A to B etc.
I've recently moved house and now get a bus to and from the station. I always thank the driver, just seems the right thing to do. Also, thanks to the Opal transfer discount, the bus only costs me $0.10 each way.
I haven't caught a bus/train in years but 0.10c for a bus trip is epic.
I catch the bus everyday to and from work. Make an effort to say good morning/afternoon, its disappointing how many drivers will just flat out ignore me.
If I am leaving via the front ill say "thank you" if leaving the back door I give the driver a wave. If the diver ignored me on entry ill return the favour.
I haven't caught a bus in years but yes, every time.
It takes 0 effort and just saying as you get off the bus, no problemo.
Giving thanks is like giving bonus to the driver. It's not compulsory but it's good for them to hear. You already give your money and that can be considered a "thank" too for supporting his work that can contribute to his income through his company. Don't feel bad whether you give or not. Just do what you like and don't force yourself because everyone else is doing it. The bus driver won't hate you since you already pay.
I don't understand this analogy. So if you order a take away coffee, it's OK not to thank the barista because you already paid? If if you do say 'thanks', that's considered a for the barista?
Does it have to be verbal? As I exit from the back, I do a wave, and he nods.
Also, why don't we thank tram and train drivers?
You can dance if you like.
Can I leave my friends behind?
I've done this bit before… I know it feels old, but I can't get enough of it.
I only say thanks to the good drivers who do not break hard, have considerations when you get on allow time to seat down rather than stepping hard moving forward,and those who are polite when you get on.
Else I just go silent with my headphones plugged in. Swipe opal pretend I no English or a typical FOB student who don't a stuff
I'm in Sydney, which is feral.
Not only do i thank the bus driver, i help them out.
I clear the way when a pram, or grannie, or anyone slightly cactus gets on.
At times that means being quite forceful, like yesterday, when i dealt with all three scenarios on the one trip.It makes me feel good - both by helping a few folk out, but also the pleasure i derive from harassing a few prats.
The End.
Always thank the people who serve you, even if they're paid for it. It's only manners. How would you want your mother treated if she was providing the service? (Cue jokes about mother being a bus driver).
Some drivers will just ignore you when you get on, say hi or good morning or even thank you they don't give a stuff. That's just the way it is. To them its just a job.
You wonder when Google cars will replace them with non-human attitudes
I used to say good morning, and thanks all the time. Times have changed. If the driver treats you like dirt, why would you care? Only those who act professional deserves a credit
Not really.
Only if I am asking for directions or if you go to a particular destination (overseas mainly), then I say thanks.
Always in Brisbane.
Some times in Sydney and Melbourne, depending on if i can make eye contact with the driver in the mirror before i alight. Its abit weird just shouting "THANKS" over the heads of people buried in their phones or what not, and also because it seems like it is not the norm in the CBD areas. In the suburbs, always.
depending on the job quality, if he/she made silly mistakes - why would I , otherwise I do thank the driver for doing the job well.
Yes, I do!
Yep!
It's not the most glamorous job and a little appreciation goes a long way! :)
Especially if the stop is your stop and not just the end of the line, as the bus driver has to pull over and stop just for you, the least you can do is say thanks! (and pay, lol)
Yes, but I don't expect a response; i.e. I wouldn't want to say "no worries/you're welcome" hundreds of times a day if I was a bus driver…
Everytime.
Yes. Good manners. But alot harder now when getting off the back and with Opal. Removes the interaction.
I always do it! Taught the missus to do the same too!
I thank when exiting through the front door. I see some people throw a wave when leaving through the back door (or even yelling a thank you), but I think the driver is usually too preoccupied to catch it most the time.
But just like any other service job, I also might not thank if the service is genuinely terrible. Had a ride a few months ago where the driver just flat out didn't acknowledge me as I was boarding, then managed to run a red light.
I thank them out of courtesy and helpnthem keep their sanity. They have a relatively boring job sitting on a bus talking to no one, so if they cheer up from a simple Thank You that could make transport safer.
Today sitting at front seat, I was in a conversation with a nice bus driver and I asked him if he expected the passenger to say thank you and he said "you don't have to thank me as long as you pay. Thank you means almost nothing if i don't get paid". Of course this one bus driver doesn't represent all but good to know his thought.
once I failed to say thankyou, and then I heard the bus driver say - 'Oh no thanks, your welcomed' then again it is a strange female hoon of a bus driver.. make the bus trip feel more like a rally car race..
@abb: Yep, ditto me. Always scares the bejesus out of me.
I would hate to be the driver sitting right near his mirror.
I spoke to a driver and he said "It happens all of the time".
But when I get off the now unroadworthy bus, I always thank the driver :)
I don't really believe that Sydney 3 lane roads are wide enough for 1 bus, 1 truck, plus 1 other vehicle.