Kudos for caring drivers

I was deep in sizzling preparatory reading for a council briefing on the new Unitary Plan when a scuffle broke out at the front of the bus on Wednesday morning. We’d stopped at the Grey Lynn shops, and a clearly disturbed woman had just thrown several punches at the driver, apparently upset at a delay in receiving change for her fare. She then jumped off the bus, lashed out at various other people waiting to board, before hitting the driver again and scarpering.

The driver, John, his hands shaking and blood dripping from around his eye, was mostly concerned about the passengers. The police having been called, John flagged down another bus and made sure everyone could carry on with their days while he waited for the cops to arrive. The driver of the other bus, hearing the story, shook her head knowingly. “Yeah, we get everything out there,” she said.

With luck the assailant will be held accountable, and given whatever help she needs. But to John, and all the bus drivers, thanks a lot. New Zealand isn’t the only place in the world where we thank the drivers as we jump off the bus, but it’s far from commonplace. Keep doing that. Bravo to the bus drivers.