BENGALURU: Regulars on BMTC buses, the city’s most wide reaching public transport, are no strangers to the rudeness displayed by their drivers and conductors.
If it’s not haggling over change, it’s an argument about overshooting the bus stop or ‘accidentally’ brushing past or even falling over women.
The transport corporation currently employs about 20,000 drivers and conductors for its fleet of 6,200 buses. Each of the staff is trained on how to interact with commuters soon after being hired. Nevertheless, this disreputable behaviour persists.
Some commuters share their experiences with City Express.
Women Feel Unsafe
The few BMTC bus drivers and conductors who behave rudely bring disrepute to all, says Amrutha B V, pursuing BE at Jyothi Institute of Technology. “And because of them, women don’t feel safe using public transport.”
Agreeing with her, her classmate Supritha Uday says, “Every woman boards the bus with a prayer on her lips.” She thinks the government should be more proactive in addressing women- and passenger-safety concerns, and not wait for an untoward incident to jolt them into action.
Being harassed by conductors or male passengers is an experience common to most women commuters.
“The conductor used to deliberately fall on us when the driver braked,” says Jacintha J, studying journalism at KLE College. Once, when her father observed this, he fought with the conductor.
“It’s not just me, my friend has also experienced something similar.”
Problem of Change
More often than not, instead of returning change, conductors write the amount due at the back of the ticket when they issue it.
“They often refuse or behave rudely when we ask them for it later,” says Vidya Ratna, a B Com student at Maharani’s College.
“Or they say they don’t have change,” adds Veneeth, who works at a clothes showroom.
Software developer Deepa says she fights for change everyday.
Sometimes, passengers who don’t have exact change for the ticket are not allowed to ride the bus. “Once, when I didn’t give change, the conductor asked the driver to stop the bus mid-way and made me get down,” says Kaveri B, a housewife.
Where to Stop
It’s not only over change that stops go off schedule. “When the bus is crowded, the driver zips past the shelter, and stop further ahead,” says Pavitra, another B Com student from Maharani’s College. “Ask them why, and they start shouting at you.”
Asking passengers to get down at the nearest red signal is also common.
“Here, people lose their mobiles and wallets to pickpockets,” says Alok Bhat, working at Infocon International.
He has also often observed drivers of two different buses that share a common route racing against each other at passengers’ risk. Conductors are often disrespectful to senior citizens, notes Niveditha, a B Com student. “They are less likely to stand up for themselves, unlike youngsters.”
Men and women conductors alike are rude to commuters, adds Yamuna B, a student at KLE College.
Not Easy, Say Staff
Chetan, a BMTC bus driver, says, the eight- to nine-hour shifts wear drivers’ and conductors’ patience thin. “We are under stress as we have to reach a particular point within the a given time,” he says. “People don’t read the board, and instead keep asking questions about the route, which gets frustrating.”
Conductor Siddaraju says commuters should not label all BMTC staff as rude. “When commuters give us Rs 100 for a Rs 20 ticket, how do they expect us to produce change?” he asks. “They should cooperate as well.”