Tag Archives: unhelpful driver

Terrible Tag-Team

I just got called a “fucking bitch” because I didn’t engage a guy in conversation as he was following me trying to say hello. Then when I told him that that was rude and unnecessary and I just don’t want to have a conversation, he blew up in my face and started yelling at me and calling me names. Then I got on the bus and he did too and he and the bus driver started talking about how rude I was and what a bitch I was and how much of a nice guy that guy is. So I got off the bus and am so pissed off.

Left Out In The Cold

I hopped on the 325 bus yesterday outside Chermside Library to head toward Geebung Station when I was told off by the bus driver for not smiling at her. When I realised she was talking to me; as I had wondered in absentmindedly and tapped on without really thinking about it, I went went back to ask her to explain herself to which she demanded I show some polite courtesy and acknowledge she actually stopped to pick me up. When I tried to explain that just because I had forgotten to smile did not give her the right to make snide remarks to a customer she told me and I quote, ” Just remember I did not have to pick you up”. When I asked her what that was suppose to mean she refused to give me an answer instead she requested I take my seat and made an effort to whistle tunelessly for the rest of the journey. I was waiting at the right bus stop, I was not behaving drunk and disorderly, I had tapped on before taking a seat and had only made enquiries pertaining to her offensive behavior. I had to stand in the rain and wait for the bus for 40 minutes because the first bus I hailed down refused to stop for me. So unless I’m mistaken she was implying she didn’t have to pick black people like me up so I should be grateful and keep quiet when she throw jeers at me in front of other passengers. Of course she only gave me a smiled when I asked and refused to say anymore after that so its anybodies guess.

Masked Harassment

The Saturday before Halloween I was with my friends on the skytrain, on our way to a restaurant. A group of drunken young men, wearing heavy costume makeup were being disruptive, and a general nuisance to everyone on the train. One of them walked up to me and stuck his crotch near my face and started pelvis thrusting. I told him to stop and he laughed and walked away. When we got off at our stop I told the transit security, but instead of taking me seriously, she told me and another woman complaining, to calm down. The transit security did absolutely nothing about the problem letting the drunken men who also got off at the same stop, walk past us and off of the platform. It seems as if during Halloween, people can get away with the most ludicrous behaviour just because they are hiding behind a mask or makeup.

Shared Experience

My partner and I are both tall, with blonde hair and glasses. We have been asked on numerous occasions if we’re sisters or twins. One time, just before the Olympics, a bus driver who’d just let us on, asked us if we ever shared the same boyfriend. When I approached him about it just as we were getting off, he tried to excuse himself by saying: “I thought you were twins.” He expected his incestuous three-way fantasy to excuse him from … his incestuous three-way fantasy. How strange.

Filthy Mouthed Toad (F/50s)

This happened several years ago, probably on the 99B-line, the #9 Broadway or maybe the #20. I sat in one of the single seats on the side of the bus behind the driver, round about the middle of the bus. I noticed a dirty, dishevelled looking old man in the seat right behind me. For several minutes, his muttering went on in the background of my awareness. Then I realized he was talking to me, using the lewdest language possible to describe me sexually. I was shocked and indignant. I jumped up, ran to the bus driver, and repeated in a very loud voice the things that toad had been saying to me. If I had to hear that filth when I’d just been minding my own business, then I was going to make sure everyone heard it. Some passengers glared at me (as if I was at fault?!) I didn’t care. I didn’t feel at all ashamed or at fault. And I think loudly broadcasting his filth helped me to let it go. All the bus driver did was tell me to sit in a seat close by him.

About 15 years ago, while I was waiting for a bus at Broadway and MacDonald, an old man sat down on the bench at the stop, took his penis out, and started jerking off. He had a huge umbrella strategically placed so the people driving by couldn’t see what he was doing. But I had full view. It left me feeling dirty.

Menagerie of Public Masturbation

1 – 8 years old, #41 bus in Vancouver, heading West on 41st Avenue, near Dunbar. My mom was at the front of the bus talking to a friend, I went to the middle of the bus and sat down alone. I noticed movement and looked to the left. A man in his 20’s had his penis out in his hand, and it was all red, he was masturbating and leering at me. I went and got my mom and told her I wanted to get off the bus. I didn’t tell her what happened until we were outside so it was too late to alert the driver.

2 – 14 years old, #22 bus-stop, at Broadway and MacDonald, in Vancouver. I was waiting for the bus in my school uniform and a middle-aged man waiting at the bus-stop across the street was masturbating in public with everything showing.

3 – 14 years old, #25 bus, heading along King Edward Ave near Cambie. An autistic man in his early 20’s pulled down his pants and underwear and shouted at me and my friend, waving his body at us.

4 – 15 years old, again, at the bus-stop at Broadway and MacDonald, a middle-aged man, masturbating across the street publicly.

5 – 15 years old, me and all my friends on the #9 Broadway bus, all of us female and wearing kilts. It was stuck turning left up Granville St. and a man started yelling at us for five minutes straight about how we were the “devil” and that we would “go to hell” for being evil girls. The bus driver did absolutely nothing. We were terrified.

6 – 17 years old, waiting for the bus at 6th and MacDonald, at midnight, a man is masturbating in the alleyway near the bus stop and yelling at me to have sex with him. Just then the #22 bus rolls up and I get on. Bertha my favourite “take-no-bullshit” bus-driver is working, I tell her about the man in the alley, and she says that if that ever happens again to flag down whatever bus I can and get on the bus for free if needed, to be safe.

7 – 17 years old, a man is masturbating openly at the back of the bus, somewhere downtown. I stand up and start yelling at him to stop masturbating and I go get the driver to help. The man runs off the bus.

8 – 18 years old, a man on the #9 Broadway bus sits by me and starts talking to me. I don’t want to talk, and he gets angry, and wants to continue to chat me up and get my phone number. I refuse, he continues to get angry in his tone and rude words, calling me names, but still asking for my phone number and my name. I move seats. No one does anything. I hate the bus.

These events all occurred in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. Translink needs to pay attention and come up with some solutions. This harrassment and sexual predation on buses needs to stop. Women, everyone, have a right to ride the bus safely.

Priorities

Around 5:30 on Friday, November 1, I was on my home from a medical appointment. I got on the 20 near the Croatian Cultural Centre. The bus was a bit crowded. A woman got on near 12th or maybe 14th and was 25 cents short on her fare. The bus driver repeatedly told her that this was not okay, that she needed to pay her full fare next time, and that she was going to get charged the $173 fine if she got caught.

A stop or two later, before Broadway, as people were getting off, I was trying to move toward the rear of the bus. A man stood in my path and wouldn’t let me by. When I told him I was trying to move back, he became verbally aggressive, calling me names and threatening me. I moved back and sat down. He kept calling me names. I avoided eye contact. He continued. I looked at him and said “Please leave me alone.” I was afraid I would have to move past him to get off the bus. Had this been necessary, I would have just stayed on past my stop. Fortunately, he got off before I did, somewhere around 3rd Ave.

I don’t understand why Translink employees feel the need to hassle someone for not having the correct change, but feel no need to do anything about situations like this.

Yelling Bloody Murder

It happened 17 years ago but the thought of it still sends chills down my spine. I was living in east Van and was 9 months pregnant. I got on a bus at east Hastings and Nanaimo with my destination being a doctor’s appointment at Seymour clinic on west 7th. It was mid afternoon and I was seated in the first forward facing seat behind the driver. Five stops after I got on a very tall, large built man in his 40’s got on the bus alone, carrying what looked like long thin bamboo sticks, the kind used to stake plants. Like most people do I look at who is getting on the bus and happened to make eye contact with this guy. He went down and stood by the rear door. The bus at this point was standing room only. This guy begins to talk to no one in particular but as his voice starts to rise I hear comments like, ” You fucking whore over there, how would you like it if I came over there and beat you to death.” “You’re nothing but a filthy cunt, I going to kill you.” Now he’s yelling and everyone is silent. I turn to look and he points at me and says, “Yes you bitch.” I am scared out of my mind!!! A woman sitting next to me asks if he is someone I know and I tell her I have never seen this guy in my life and what the hell is going on. She told me to stay on the bus and not to get off until we get downtown then to get off in a crowded area. I knew there was no way I would get off the bus along with this jerk. The threats and verbal assaults continued all the way downtown and were escalating. Now he was threatening to stomp me to death right there on the bus. The woman sitting with me went to the driver and told him to all the police but he ignored her request. I couldn’t stay on the bus any longer, I was certain he was going to kill me. At Robson and Granville ALOT of people got off the bus through the back doors, I got up and flew out the front door and ran into Eaton’s. I ran through the store like a crazy person checking to make sure he wasn’t coming after me. I called the police who told me I had to call BC Transit. Yep. I called BC Transit relating what happened and they said there really wasn’t anything they could do but gee they sure were sorry for what happened. No one came to my defence, not the driver or any of the dozens of passengers accept for that one woman who tried her best to help me. I can in a way understand someone not stepping in when someone is that bent on hurting someone but I really wish that humans would collectively band together in these situations and together restrain these pieces of shit that wreak havoc on innocent people. I no longer ride transit but my heart goes out to all the woman who face assult and abuse from these low life bottom feeders. Stay strong, stay safe and it is never ever your fault.

Boozy Breast Grabber

I was 17 (31 now) & a happy first time mother. My mother had taken my son so my fiance & I could watch a movie or two. On our way back on the 169 we snagged the last 2 seats on a packed bus at the back, next to a man who reaked of alcohol. He started hitting on, to which I declined & cuddled closer to my fiance. He then started trying to touch my breasts & croch but I quickly covered them up, preventing him from doing so. I became flustered, my fiance restrained him, & I went to the bus driver to complain. The driver notified the police, who came & took a statement. I told them I wanted to press charges. They said no, because he was drunk & on his way to pick up his child as well, and that they would merely put him in the drunk tank. I know hold to my belief if that ever happens again I’m whipping out my bottle of perfume & hosing anyone down who thinks they have the right.