Dar has been extremely wonderful since we were together and I hardly make my home on a bus (usually cab as it’s too late). In one of the rare times I did last Wednesday (22 August 2007), it was such a traumatic experience. Though Dar wanted to pick me up as usual, I insisted on coming back myself so that he would not be so tired, I think it will be the LAST time I insisted. I was so mad with that stupid bus uncle that I sent this email to SMRT without even changing after I got home:

Bus Number : 190
Bus Registration : TIB897L
Time Boarded Bus : 10.15pm
Stop Boarded : Opposite Far East Plaza
Time Alighted Bus : 10.45pm
Stop Alighted : Blk 183 Bukit Panjang Road (After Bukit Panjang Plaza)

With reference to the above details:

1. I waited for 5 buses and they were all full. I was not able to even squeeze up these 5 buses that came between 9.45pm to 10.15pm. I think its ridiculous to wait for 30 mins for the bus. Can’t more buses be arranged in view of the high volume? All the rest of the bus numbers did not have this problem, only 190.
2. When the sixth bus came (which is the above bus), I boarded the bus by the back door. I know this is not correct but the passengers were not willing to move to the rear causing the congestion in the front of the bus. The bus driver saw that I was boarding by the back door, close the door on me which I would actually suffer willingly BUT there was another passenger getting off the bus and this passenger got hurt slightly whose legs got clipped by the door. I can’t imagine if this passenger is elderly, he might have been hospitalised. My arms hurt as well due to this bus driver’s action. And there was another passenger wanting to get off, hence the driver had to open the door again (it’s not like he was closing to drive the bus off, he did that ON PURPOSE).
3. And for those poor passengers whom were still trying to squeeze their way up in the front, instead of motioning the passengers to move to the rear, he actually said very loudly to them ‘I’M GONG TO CLOSE THE DOOR, I DON’T CARE IF THE DOOR IS CLOSING ON YOU AND GET HURT!’ and he closed door. Couldn’t he do it in a more polite manner?
4. Just before I alighted the bus, I walked all the way to the front of the bus to flash my EZ-LINK card for payment (I even paid for the FULL FARE without any rebate as all I want to do is get home, the taxi Q was extremely long at Far East Plaza) and I told the driver he could have hurt somebody and especially if it had been an elderly passenger or child by closing the door that way but he SHOUTED at me and say that it was my fault that I boarded by the back door and it is not his fault if he closes the door. BUT MY POINT WAS NOT THAT if I got hurt, I’m saying that what if there was an elderly passenger or child getting off and he closes the door on them too? In addition, I told him his he could have been more polite but he keep shouting its not his fault for closing doors on people whom chose to do such things like squeezing up the bus.

I’m extremely APPALLED by his attitude and behaviour. Is this a driver that a bus company which aims for world class public transportation wants to have? In view of the constant fare hikes claiming to provide better service, is this justifiable?

I demand to have a satisfactory answer (please do not brush me off by saying he has been counselled, this bus driver should be sacked as he is highly dangerous with such attitude causing bodily harm to passengers). I do not wish to escalate this to the relevant authority or media in order to be heard.

Thank you.