Monday, January 5, 2009

the ruthlessness of the bus staff

every day we hear of the ruthless attitude of bus drivers and conductors.reckless driving, unwillingness to allow students with student concession to travel, lack of decency in the bus etc are some of the complaints against them.
today i saw in front of my eyes the laidback attitude of these people. by gods grace, i was sitting. we were travelling through the city. the bus driver was very fast and it seemed like he wouldn't apply the brakes until the last moment. like usual this man saw a bus entering into our track but he dint bother to slow down. and when he was sure that there would be a collition, he slamed the brakes. all of us went forward. but an unfortunate lady who was about to get down at the next stop was standing. this jerk made her loose her grip and she fell backwards onto the engine.

the severity of the pain was very clearly seen on her face.one grace she had was that her husband was also there with her. she told him that she couldnt get down and so they sat in the bus itself. and when the bus reached the next stop, the conductor went upto them and said "ok now,please get down".

then all the other passengers shouted at the conductor.they said"it happened in your bus and so you have some accountability.you go with them to the hospital". when they said this i could see a very obvious anger rising on his face. probably because he feared the mob, he went along with them, but grumbling.
and when they were out, the driver and the new conductor were talking to each other as if it was the lady's fault that she fell.
such an attitude must change. i appreciate the service that they are giving us. but the element of human touch is very much necessary.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

This same thing I have thought many times.. why this competition...why are they so harsh to the people who are commuting using there transportation...???
No answers...

I seriously think its mostly because of the trade unions that exist in Kerala ..they know if they do wrong also..there will be people who will stand and do strike with them.. but still there is something called humanity..i think that should be thought to all drivers and conductors..

a good post and well written one..

Destiny's child... said...

my dear remu...there are few things i would like to say:
1) you neednt give them so much respect as to addressing them as the 'bus staff'! somethign as light as 'morons' can do(considering the attitude some of them possess)
2) one can write a series of novels on the mishaps we ahve in the buses these days or shud i say from time immemorial...
3) how i wish those morons came and read your post....
keep posting such write ups that can shame these wrong doers..after all thats the least we can do....

angel in disguise.... said...

these conductors n drivers behave as if the road is their property...its a real pity that no action is taken against such rash drivers!

ഡാർവിനിസം said...

keeping silence at that moment ang blogging at night won't change the society m,adm, you should hav done somthin in the bus at that time for them ...!!!

angel in disguise.... said...

Its a sight v get to c everyday,and we have to bear with those reckless drivers jus coz they r d only means of travel available with ease.

remu said...

@darvin,
well, i did help the lady to the seat.but you cant go and slap the conductor for not having the right attitude,can you?

My life is my lesson! said...

Hi

You are spot on in this issue,i know the plight of the commuters and the reckless acts of these bus conductors. They never let the school students sit and i have even seen the conductors forcibly throwing the students out of the bus during my school days. It so seems that even now this indiscrimation against the students is very much there and added to that is the misery of other passengers because of over speeding and regular accidents. These private bus owners are just exploiting the helplessness of the people using their service. The government will have to take a tough stand against them. Try addressing such issues in a larger forum so that you can bring in a lot more public participation against such incidents.

All the best!

Unknown said...

While rude and irresponsible behavior canNOT be excused, it is still the...well, responsibility of passengers to ensure they are standing such that heavy braking will not send them flying off -- its a given with buses that they drive fast and rash!

However, having seen that the lady was hurt, the conductor could've been a little more sensitive. I'm opening a can of worms here, but --the driver and conductor WERE right in thinking the lady herself could've been more careful!

A New Beginning said...

Each one of us go through the painful routine of travelling in buses. Be it Kerela or anywhere else in India, the situation is quite the same. A thought provoking post!
All the best

Lijo- journey called life........ said...

hey remya....
i have travelled for some time in these buses which are very aptly termed by the people as ' red killers' on the street. They truly live up to the reputation and not only makes travelling by bus for a normal commuter a harrwoing experience but also a life -threatning one.

I feel its high time something is done about them. I was thinking about this problem and the only solution I could come up as an individual is by making the grievance and complaint cell totally public-oriented. What I mean tyo say is that the Kochi police cell should specificaly set up a helpline number for erran and rash buses... n people from any place should be given the freedom to call n report these buses via their numbers..... after that the police should keep an eye on these buses and if found regularly indulging in rashness, without further thought cancel their permits,
I think this can work but again these are only words and for this to be formulated into a plan lot of factors are involved, for now, let us all just trust in God and travel on these killers until alternate modes of transportation ex: Metro, are made available.

a really well written and sensitive post... really touched a spark somewhere.... good job..

scarlet pimpernel said...

I always fought with the bus guys
While i was in +1 i had to visit the polic station briefly becoz of a fit with them for my students consession. My pricipal didnt take any action against me bcoz other passengers had actually written a letter to my princi explaining everything.
My biggest unfulfilled wish is to drag a k.s.r.t.c conductor through the road and beat him to pulp for not dimming the lights , for overtaking with out warning etc