'That sounds like a YOU rule': Bus driver tries throwing rulebook at patron to exert power, rider gets satisfying justice when supervisor steps in

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Sep 23, 2023 7:00 AM EDT

Public transit is interesting in the U.S. The employees and patrons are both colorful and it's either peaceful and quite or something crazy going down. No in-between. It's like the scene in Superbad when they get on the bus and the houseless guy is there and he calls out "McMuffin" and things go down and the driver has to stop and kick them off. That's a pretty accurate portrayal of most public transit rides in the U.S. 

One public transit patron in Rhode Island shared a story that was short, yet satisfying. She has her own personal electric hand scooter, so like those Razor scooters from when we were kids, but it has a small motor on it. So it still folds and is easy to carry around. This seems to be a new thing for this patron's small town in RI, so when she brought her's on the bus, the driver called her out. 

She had already brought her scooter many times on the bus and knows the rules, so she relayed it to the bus driver, with a little sass. The driver got all huffy and puffy and tried to kick her off. She was able to backtrack and get her ride. However, at the end, the bus driver called their supervisor over to shove the rulebook in the patron's face. 

However, to the driver's dismay, the supervisor looked the patron right in the eyes and told her she was right. She was able to walk off satisfied screaming, "told ya so!" 

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  • 01
    Property - "I just got off and loudly said told you so.º Driver wasn't thrilled."
    via World Bank Photo Collection via Flickr
  • 02
    Font - Posted by u/emowolfsgirl 21 hours ago Bus Driver Thinks Scooters aren't Allowed So I live in the states and public transportation is trash (I live in the smallest state so there isn't a large transit budget I guess.) and I also own a scooter because I live at the bottom of a large hill.
    via u/emowolfsgirl
  • 03
    Font - Second bus of the day and two hours in I'm tired and quite frankly, don't want to be messed with. Mind you, every bus I've been on since getting this thing half a year ago has let me on (one driver wanted it under the seat, unnecessary but fine.) and there's never been an issue.
    via u/emowolfsgirl
  • 04
    Font - Bus stops and driver looks at me and says scooters aren't typically allowed but he'll "let me this time". I look at him and told him the truth "I think that's just a you rule."
    via u/emowolfsgirl
  • 05
    Font - Driver gets angry and threatens to throw me off the bus so I placate by saying I didn't mean disrespect, I just worded it poorly (I said what I intended to) and he seemed to drop it.
    via u/emowolfsgirl
  • 06
    Font - We get to the bus station and the driver calls me over. He presents me to the supervisor and says he was telling me scooters aren't allowed. Supervisor looks at me then him and says "yeah, they're allowed now".
    via u/emowolfsgirl
  • 07
    Font - I just got off and loudly said "told you so." Driver wasn't thrilled.
    via u/emowolfsgirl
  • 08
    Font - kiwimuz 20 hr. ago ● Always know the transport companies rules as individual drivers try and make up their own.
    via u/kiwimuz
  • 09
    Font - hymie0 16 hr. ago I had a similar problem with my monthly pass. Roughly 50% knew it was valid, about 25% would honor my request to ask their supervisor, and about 25% just refused.
    via u/hymie0
  • 10
    Font - night-otter Know the current rules! And have the customer service number on speed dial. ● 6 hr. ago
    via u/night-otter
  • 11
    Font - Used to ride a route with a very grumpy driver. One lady got on and was having problems getting her suitcase on too.
    via u/night-otter
  • 12
    Font - Route had a stop the you could jump on the Airport shuttle, so we had lots of travelers with luggage go to/from the airport.
    via u/night-otter
  • 13
    Font - She asked for help. "Not my job Bh." Entire bus was like WTF? 5 minutes later the lady calls out "What did you call me when I asked for help?"
    via u/night-otter
  • 14
    Font - "I called you a B] H!" "Did you hear that? Good. Route XX, Bus #9999" He didn't lose his job or the route, but he was very very quiet in the future.
    via u/night-otter
  • 15
    Font - Just_Aioli_1233 · 1 hr. ago Having a folding one makes it even more ridiculous he objected.
    via u/Just_Aioli_1233
  • 16
    Font - How are people getting from where they are to the bus? The ones around here have bike racks on them, a scooter seems even less of a transition time issue since you can fold and walk on unobtrusively.
    via u/Just_Aioli_1233

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scooter adult electric scooter public transportation failblot bus driver rhode island Reddit Rhode Island Public Transportation public bus
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