Unsuck DC Metro: Her Name Is???

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Her Name Is???

From an anonymous reader. This was submitted to WMATA as well.

There is a female driver of the D6 bus who is unfailingly rude and difficult to deal with.

About a week ago, the front sign on the bus was inoperable, and I asked if the bus was the D6. The driver would not answer, and just looked at me like I was offending her.

I repeated my question, and she pointed in the direction of the front sign. I indicated that it was not displaying the information, and repeated my question.

Finally a passenger said that it was the D6.

The other morning, the woman in line in front of me asked if the bus went near a specific intersection (24th and P, I think) and again, the driver just looked at the woman and refused to answer.

After the woman repeated her question a few times, the driver responded "I guess. We go to P."

I realize that a bus driver has to deal with abrasive and unpleasant people on a regular basis, but that is no excuse for a lack of common courtesy.

If our questions had been presented improperly, or in a less than polite fashion, perhaps her response would have been warranted. However, both the lady the other morning and I excused ourselves, and addressed the driver as "ma'am."

Additionally, in the course of driving the route, this driver will creep into intersections when making a right turn, and honk at pedestrians who have a walk signal, if they don't move fast enough for her. She cuts off bicyclists and drives very close to them.

I attempted to get the name of the driver, but she has electrical tape over the center of her name tag. The first part says "Ms." and the last part is "liams"

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Comments (44)

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+8 Vote up Vote down

Richard · 721 weeks ago

It should be easy enough to identify her, especially after this piece.
She definitely wants reporting.
You are mistaken that she might have been entitled to be rude to you had you not been polite to her.
Unfortunately it is her job to take it, rudeness and all.
If she is unable to function she should be dismissed.
Oddly, though, I find many bus drivers to be very pleasant, and so are many passengers.
It is not uncommon for a passenger to say thank you to the driver when exiting the bus. I find this rather charming.
This driver, however, wants reporting.
Just an aside. I was once waiting for a bus when it came and the busdriver (rudely) chastised me for where I had been standing. She told me I had to stand back further away from the curb (I was not that close to the curb) I asked her is she was planning to drive the bus right up onto the sidewalk.
I always chuckle to myself when I think of that.

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Guest · 721 weeks ago

You must believe in slavery!

5 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Guest · 721 weeks ago

One woman working for metro once told me that she believed she was never meant to work. Huh, maybe other people have the same thought. I was astounded

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UnSuck Fan · 721 weeks ago

Really??? I wasn't meant to work either yet somehow I show up every day and make the most of it. Maybe it has to do with earning income, paying my bills, etc.?? Other people maybe able to get through life doing little to nothing because they weren't meant to work, but I think many of us weren't meant to work, but do so out of necessity.

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Guest · 721 weeks ago

I think she meant a man should work for her and support her, still astounded

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UnSuck Fan · 721 weeks ago

Well, I'm sure we can tell the "Lucky Lady" that we wish her all the luck in the world. I bet almost all of us don't want to work either and would rather have someone else working to support us. Again, I think many of us don't want to work (or to put it nicer most of us don't want to work, but realize we have no choice), but do so (1) out of necessity or (2) have yet to win the lottery or (3) have yet to find their Sugar Daddy/Sugar Momma. [Yes, that is sarcasm coloring my voice.]

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hoosteen 82p · 721 weeks ago

^ a victory

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Katy · 721 weeks ago

I am going to guess an employee purposefully obscuring their identity is against some rule but how to find out who it is? We all know metro can not do something as simple as look in their logs of who signed out a bus for that route that day. Especially since they ONLY have a partial name and route number to go by .... there must be hundreds of people that it could be! *sigh*

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Richard · 721 weeks ago

I was told that all you need to do is note the number on the bus.
You can be sure that Metro knows who is driving.
Should they claim not to know, then they just dig themselves in deeper for their extreme level of incompetence. (But how low can you go?)

+7 Vote up Vote down

hrh king friday 13 · 721 weeks ago

It should be mandatory for Metro drivers to diplay thier bus driver's license and credentials.

+4 Vote up Vote down

mike · 721 weeks ago

While it may be that way in the employment manual, it is not that way in real life.
I've had at least 2 kiosk station tenders tell me that they don't have to give me their name or their employee number.
I'd like to fire about 80% of them. But again that is wishful thinking.
We are the cattle and they think they are the cowboys/cowgirls ;-(

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John · 721 weeks ago

Unless you pull out your cellphone and film these actions, along with the bus #, nothing can be done.

8 replies · active 721 weeks ago

+28 Vote up Vote down

unsuckdcmetro 92p · 721 weeks ago

Sadly, I think even if you had photos, video, fingerprints, DNA etc nothing would happen.

They'd likely get "fired," file a grievance and then be reinstated with back pay after a nice vacation.

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John · 721 weeks ago

Mr. Unsuck, I need to ask you the question, since you have various sources:

Do you know of any cases in the past, say, decade, where someone has been fired from WMATA permanently?

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 721 weeks ago

I'm sure there must be, but I don't know about them. I'm unclear how badly one has to act before that happens.

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John · 721 weeks ago

Your forehead must be hurting from all the times you've slapped it when you hear all these stories from people huh?

+7 Vote up Vote down

unsuckdcmetro 92p · 721 weeks ago

Sometimes, but I also talk to a lot of really good Metro people who want to see things improve as much as we all do.

+1 Vote up Vote down

ex metro rider · 721 weeks ago

You typed "a lot," when I'm pretty certain you meant "a few."

For every really good experience I've had in dealing with metro employees I've had no less than 10 rude, ignorant, incompetent experiences.

Some people just aren't well suited working with the public, unfortunately, metro is a failed system where these things aren't taken into consideration.

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Guest · 721 weeks ago

Yes, but it is difficult, very difficult

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anon · 721 weeks ago

Yes a Ms Furgeuson was fired and then i heard received a settlement from the Union for failure in getting her job back or another job. Ask Jeter what the amount the Union paid on this one.

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Richard · 721 weeks ago

I already commented on this, and I now just read the piece on the dirty diaper.
I myself do not have a cell phone--I have yet to discover the personal need for one.
Most of you out there, have cell phones, with cameras! I can't understand why you don't document these infractions so that you can make a proper complaint.
I am beginning to think that a cell phone might be useful for that if nothing else.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Dezlboy · 721 weeks ago

Are you implying the diaper belonged to this driver?!?!

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Sam · 721 weeks ago

I'm probably not the only one, but my cell phone is a work cell phone and I can get fired for using the phone/camera for personal reasons. Getting someone in trouble on Metro is not worth more than my job.

+9 Vote up Vote down

Kat · 721 weeks ago

I don't think that you should have to take a photograph and subject yourself to possible retaliation, especially if you have to ride this route every day. A physical description along with the information you presented here should be sufficient for Metro, and if it is not, then this is an issue that needs to be presented to the ridership board.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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hrh king friday 13 · 721 weeks ago

I can see this point but at the same time the driver is clearly trying to remain anonymous by redacting her name so snapping a picture might make her think twice. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand physical descrptions emailed to Metro. Plus, when her pic is posted on here we can make fun of her lazy ass. Don't deny us that, Kat. :)

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goodcommuteforonce · 721 weeks ago

I agree; the vast majority of bus drivers are actually the friendliest people I encounter in the metro system. My guy this morning on the F8 was particularly nice; saying good morning to everyone who got on the bus, waiting till everyone had gotten to their seat before pulling out in a slow and smooth fashion (unlike the oft-used "pedal to the metal destined to put you on the floor" method); he was exactly on time and he told everyone to have a wonderful day when we exited the bus. Not to mention he actually drove the speed limit which I realize should be a given; but most of the buses tear through my neighborhood. Put me in a darn good mood for the rest of my commute.

I've totally encountered the opposite though and it's just frustrating. Thing is, if you're saying good morning and have a nice day - it actually typically makes you feel good too; having been in customer service I know that putting on the happy face often actually makes you feel happy. Being disgruntled does not. So buck up, drivers - some of us passengers are absolutely nasty awful people - but alot of us aren't; give us a chance.

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11th · 721 weeks ago

just wanted to chime in (along with others) that most bus drivers i encounter (both as a bus rider and as a biker) are really professional and nice. i can't say how many times i've seen them help someone out above and beyond what's needed (directions, helping older folks on and off, etc.). and as a biker i've noticed those (especially on 14th street) are pretty courteous and willing to adapt to folks on bikes. i try to return the favor.

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VeteranRider · 721 weeks ago

I am going to add my $0.02 on how nice many of the drivers are. In fact just yesterday as I was on the 52 (at Thomas Circle about 8 or 815AM). As is typical, the bus was jammed full of people, but the driver's personality made me think how much better the ride can be when there's a pleasant driver who is nicely encouraging people to move back, make room, etc. as opposed to the occasional one who barks orders or says nothing at all. I thought about trying to get our driver's name to write a positive message to Metro, but was too far back to do so.

None of this excuses the driver described by OP but it's good to know there are some drivers who really seem to enjoy their work and their passengers.

4 replies · active 721 weeks ago

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Metro Ryder · 721 weeks ago

I'm always afraid to let metro know when one of their employees does something good; I'm afraid it will get the good person in trouble. Can any of the metro readers put my mind at ease?

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 721 weeks ago

They publicly commend outstanding employees.

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thedofc · 721 weeks ago

sounds like DCPS

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Moonwolf 58p · 720 weeks ago

We've been sending in reports to Christian Kent of Metro Employees who've done something good for several years - we've never heard *what* (if anything) WMATA does as a result of it, though.

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M-Z · 721 weeks ago

Yeah, the drivers span the gamut. I usually rode the 80 and the 30s when I lived in the city until last year. I can't remember names, but there were two in particular that I remember. There was one guy on the 80 who usually ran late at night who was nice as anything, and we'd yuck it up (safely) for the ride home as I'd be one of the few--if not only riders towards the Kennedy Center end of the 80. Then, there was one woman on the 30s back in 2010, black with wavy/curly hair she usually kept in a loose ponytail with a thick, deep Southern twang who was sweet as anything.

Sadly, for every wonderful driver I knew, there'd be someone who couldn't give two damns about the schedule, and many who never even showed up, leaving me stuck waiting late at night on N. Capitol St. for 45 minutes to an hour for a half-hourly bus. I don't remember many of the D6 drivers as I didn't take it much, but fortunately, I don't remember anyone nearly as unpleasant as this class act.

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Soylent Green Line · 721 weeks ago

Someone already commented on this but it's worth following up on - are WMATA personnel allowed to purposefully hide their names in the fashion described in the post? I'd be interested to know whether this is allowable if there are any credible sources out there that can give authoritative answers.

It seems that if someone went out of their way to hide their name (by covering it with electrical tape) this is a legitimate question.

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One take · 721 weeks ago

Too bad that Border’s went out of business. If they were still open, I know I would be heading down to Friendship Heights on the Dirty Daiper Express to look for “Diary of a Mad Metro Driver”!

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Dezlboy · 721 weeks ago

Can you spell "paranoid schizophrentic"

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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dcn8v · 721 weeks ago

Can you?

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Guest · 721 weeks ago

As mean as this bus driver is Im sure she wouldn't want you looking her up. I knew another female bus driver who was assaulted, the guy tried to cut her throat, she put her hand up and it saved her life. He was the last passanger, she drove away wounded. The Bus # and time of day should be all you need to report this mean rude driver. But there are crazy passangers and some of the drivers are scared. Train drivers have a little more security. I have seen a lot of crap both ways.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Richard · 721 weeks ago

If bus drivers are scared there is all the more reason for them to not provoke the passengers.
Unless of course this bus driver was so scared she couldn't answer a civil question.
(That was not meant to be taken seriously)
Also I can spell paranoid schizophrenic, but I won't.

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Frequent metro rider · 721 weeks ago

I'm surprised to hear about all the accounts of people who encounter rude bus drivers. I have taken several bus routes in Maryland and have never had a problem. I do notice that drivers get upset when riders ask them if they are on the correct bus, but this only happens at stations where bus drivers do not change the route until they pull off. Always happens on a certain route at southern avenue and suitland metro.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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jkuchen · 721 weeks ago

The rudest Metrobus drivers I have encountered are the ones that I didn't get to see--some of the ones that used to drive the 12C/E/F out to Centreville. My favorites were the ones that would pull away from the bus bay at Vienna two minutes early when they saw a train pulling into the station and the 12E/F drivers who would go from South Centreville straight onto I-66 without stopping by the Stone Road P&R. I am so much happier with the Fairfax Connector service to Centreville now.

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anon · 721 weeks ago

Metro does not teach Customer Service and they do not press for responses that are appropriate. This is the problem. Partly it is a racial thing where blacks hold grudges and do not have friends who are white.

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b.d. · 721 weeks ago

Oh that's just Ms. Williams driving that bus with that funky attitude. Don't pay her no mind...her mama never taught her social skills.

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JRK · 720 weeks ago

Ms ****iams goes to work every day cognizant of her responsibility to perform a job on behalf of WMATA's customers. This job does not include telling you the route of the bus she drives -- she only drives the bus. If you want her to do more than drive, you apparently believe in slavery.