From Liverpool: “Bus driver who stopped to give £5 to homeless man gets his own Christmas surprise,” by Jonathan Thurton

Downloaded from the Liverpool Echo.

A bus driver who stopped his vehicle to give an elderly homeless man a £5 note has been tracked down by a passenger and rewarded with presents. (Read the whole story here.)

From San Francisco: “Bus Report #895,” by Rachel

At Park Presidio a man got on the bus and the driver handed him a wallet. (Read the whole story here.)

From WIRED: “Watch ‘Desert Bus For Hope’ Play a Bad Game For Charity, Once Again,” by Jake Muncy

...because the world is occasionally a lovely place, Desert Bus has become the catalyst for the internet’s longest-running charity, Desert Bus for Hope.(Read the whole story here.)

From Paris: “Flowers in a Pool of Blood: Thoughts From an American in Paris,” by Nathan Vass

They closed the Eiffel Tower. (Read the whole story here.)

From Boston: “An MBTA bus driver got real in a Reddit AMA,” by Brian Burns

Reddit user jonmadepizza asked if [the bus driver] had any examples of riders going out of their way to be nice. DriversBeware’s response was as timely as it was sweet: (Read the whole story here.)

“Boston Police Captain: ‘Magic Words’ Helped Save Suicidal Veteran’s Life,” by Katie Brace for WBZ

In 21 years on the job, MBTA bus driver Wilberto Colon experienced a first on Veterans Day. A fare threatened to take the bus and everyone on it – hostage. (Read the rest of the story here.)

From Walnut Grove, Alabama: “Halloween Full Moon,” by Tom Brandon

A kindergartner was struggling as he came up the aisle.  It was the Friday before Halloween and his hands were full.  In one hand he held on to his book bag that was bulging with all the necessities of a day in kindergarten.  In the other hand he held the haul of candy from the class party and the special treats that had been so lovingly made by his teacher. (Read the whole story here.)

From Little Rock, Arkansas: “The dangers of smiling at crazy men on the bus,” by Richard Drake for the Arkansas Times

Just when things couldn’t get any more bizarre, the fellow across the aisle began looking at the two women sitting in front of me, and began remarking upon the smile of one of the women. (Read the whole story here.)

From Bangkok: “Bus driver steals bus to visit sweetheart in Bururam,” by Jon Fernquest for the Bangkok Post

Last month, a public bus operating in Bangkok's eastern suburbs disappeared rather strangely without a trace. (Read more here.)

From Walnut Grove, Alabama: "Radio For Help?" by Tom Brandon

School: You have a boy named Jack and you don't know what to do with him? (Read the whole story here.)

From Portland, Oregon: “The Unwelcome Rider,” by Bill Reagan

The #35 was standing room only when two gentlemen, locked in conversation, boarded and stood in front of me at the front of the bus. The one closer to me had a messenger bag over his shoulder and as he adjusted it to accommodate the other standing riders, I saw a small spider clinging to the strap by his shoulder. (Read more here.)

From Chapel Hill: “J bus driver is the captain of quotes,” by Maggie Mouat

It’s not every day that a person can get on a bus and see the quote by Woody Allen, “The lion and the calf shall lie down together, but the calf won’t get much sleep.” (Read more here.)

From Seattle: “Shadow Is Alive! (Celebrate!)” by Nathan Vass

On a long enough timeline, all clothes worn in the elements turn brown. It's a muted shade of that hue which cloaks these two men now, but that's not to say they're lacking in personality. (Read more here.)

From Detroit: “Riding the bus with Gary Winslow: Heroin,” by Michael Jackman

Anyhow, I was sitting at the left and front of the bus, contemplating what parts I was gonna buy for my ride when, on my periphery, I noticed this dude acting strangely. (Read the whole story here.)

From Dindigul, India: “Mentally-ill man keeps bus stand in Dindigul litter-free,” by Padmini Sivarajah

A mentally-challenged man has become an ambassador of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much-hyped Swacch Bharath [Clean India] mission albeit at the bus stand in Battalagundu in Dindigul. (Read more here.)

From Washington, D.C.: “I Like the Bus,” by Julie Beck for The Atlantic

As a traveler, my competitive advantage is laziness. I truly do not mind sitting still in one spot for hours on end with nothing to do but read or listen to music. In fact those are three of my favorite things—music, reading, sitting. And I cherish when circumstances give me an excuse to spend my time that way, rather than worrying that I could be being more active, or productive. Because I am doing something productive—I’m going somewhere.

This sort of me-time can be achieved on many forms of transportation—planes, trains, and automobiles (ones I’m not driving anyway) but the one I most enjoy is the bus. (Read more here.)

From Walnut Grove, Alabama: “Run It’s A Trap!” by Tom Brandon

Mother and child approached the large yellow symbol of education that had stopped in front of their house.  His excited, unsuspecting, little smile was visible even though they were still a distance away. (Read more here.)

From Portland, Oregon: “In Heat,” [a Top Ten Bus Stories nominee] by Bill Reagan

I’ve never seen him, but he’s clearly smitten with her. (Read more here.)

From San Francisco: “The day my Muni driver stopped the bus,” by Jay

Last Sunday afternoon I was on an almost full to capacity #1 California bus on its route to Van Ness and beyond. The bus stopped, which was not unusual, but then the bus driver got out and went around to the front. (Read more here.)

From London: “A Love Letter to London’s 139 bus, from an adoring day tripper,” by Gwyneth Kelly

I have loved many buses. The one I loved most was the Catbus from the Japanese anime film “My Neighbor Totoro,” which, sadly, I have never had the pleasure of encountering in real life. Transport for London’s Route 139 is a close second. (Read more here.)

From Burien, Washington: “Strangers build unlikely bond on a Metro bus,” by Eric Wilkinson

What started with just a few people quickly grew as others listened in. (Read the whole story here.)

From Portland, Oregon: “A Spat,” by Nickareeno

She stood up and turned to look at me.

Tears streaming, she said, “He’s trying to rob me.” (Read the whole story here.)

From Detroit: “Riding the bus with Gary Winslow: Tourette syndrome," by Michael Jackman

This was a tough one, ya’ll. Feeling groggy, just barely out of bed, I got on the 53 Woodward bus around 9 a.m. like I usually do and paid my fare. I don’t remember whether it was the last or second-to-last quarter I put in the machine, but right around that time I heard this loud unfamiliar noise. (Read more here.)

From Vancouver: “TransLink extends Bowen Island bus contract,” CBC News

Peter King/CBC News

Commuting from downtown Vancouver from Bowen Island is less of a headache than commuting from some other areas of the Lower Mainland, thanks to a bus service that has now been renewed for another year by TransLink. (This is a companion piece to Bus Story # 354. Read more here.)

From somewhere in either Colorado or Washington: “Today, I met a man on the bus,” by Zunawe

I don't ride the bus often. And when I do, I usually just put in my earbuds and look out the window without wanting to be bothered. (Read more here.)

From Provo, Utah: “Just Wondering,” by BUSNINJA

To the gentleman who said, "It's just a f****** bus ride," when the driver asked for payment: (Read more here.)

From San Francisco: "Dad and lad ride all Muni lines," by Martin

When he was 4 years old, my son Max was really into Muni. He knew whether all of the buses we frequently rode were electric, biodiesel, or hybrid electric. When we got off the bus, he made me stop and watch it go, so that he could see if there was a spark on the wire, or if the bus “came off the track.” (Read more here.)

From Seattle: "This One's for the Folks Upstairs," by Nathan Vass

I'm impressed by the two things which happened next: the overwhelming public outcry against the announcements, and Metro's immediate execution in addressing that outcry... (Read the whole story here.)

From Portland, Oregon: “Bus Etiquette,” by Nickareeno

The wheelchair lady looked at me, looked at the paper towel, and then gestured. She wanted me to pick up the towel and give it back to the skinny lady. (Read the whole story here.)

From Elkton, Maryland: “Wandering goat jumps on school bus,” by Jane Bellmyer for My Eastern Shore MD

According to the nursery rhyme, Mary had a little lamb, which followed her to school one day. (Read more here.)

From Seattle: “On busing and birthday parties (or, My brief encounter with a bus goddess),” by Carla Saulter

Friends, here is an exhaustive* list of the things I’m good at.

1) Writing

2) Babies

3) Riding the bus

(Read the whole story here.)

From Portland: “Morning Lovin’,” by Dave

She rose from her seat across the aisle, to move from being seated beside some other stranger she apparently found less appealing – to come sit next to me. (Read more here.)

From San Francisco: “Bus Report # 856,” by Rachel

The man noticed the water on the seat and he smiled at the girl, and then he used his jacket, which was wadded behind his back, to mop off the seat for her. (Read the whole story here.)

From Seattle: “Note passed on a bus helps a 5-year-old,” by Danielle Leigh for King 5 News

A letter from a stranger passed to a 5-year-old girl on a Seattle bus is having a profound impact. (Read more here.)

From Portland, Oregon: “The Virtuous Fare Inspector,” by Nickareeno

My favorite fare inspector boarded the westbound Blue Line at the Rose Garden.

He once let me go when I had boarded without a fare because I was clearly under the influence of pain medication. (Read more here.)

From Walnut Grove, Alabama: “Who Are You?” by Tom Brandon

“...You do know that’s not my name don’t you?” (Read the whole story here.)

From Commerce City, Colorado: “Purple Heart found underneath RTD bus bench near 60th Avenue and Holly Street in Commerce City,” by Marshall Zelinger for ABC 7 News Denver

John McDermott was waiting for his bus at 60th Avenue and Holly Street in Commerce City on March 11, when he saw something underneath the bench. (Read the whole story here.)

From Salt Lake City: “Ding Ding,” from BUSNINJA

The bus driver regarded him humorlessly. “Did you . . . want to get off?”

“Yes,” the man replied. “That's why I said ‘ding ding!’” (Read the while story here.)

From Renton, Washington: “Washington family uses bus ads to search for kidney donor: ‘It’s what I have to do to live,’” by Jamie Tompkins for Q13FOXNEWS

Q13 FOX photo

A Renton man is campaigning not for politics or money, but for his life. (Read more here.)

From Vacaville, California, submitted to Reader’s Digest by bus driver Lea Schroeder

Dear Sir,

I would like to commend driver Lea Schroeder for the following reasons:

1. She frequently doesn’t stop for me when I’m waiting at the bus stop, but she always waves as she goes by. (Read the rest of the letter here.)

From Portland, Oregon: “The Whine and the Crash,” by Nickareeno

Riding east on Barnes Road on the 20 Burnside in December just after dark, I'm nervous. Barnes is snaking down a hill and the the bus is picking up speed on the wet pavement as the driver makes it whine. (Read more here.)

From San Francisco: “Ticket to Ride,” by Sue Thile

This particular bus ride became more of a matinee than we could have ever predicted. (Read the whole story here.)

Leonard Nemoy: 3/26/1931 - 2/27/2015

Downloaded from Katieonviolin with thanks to Muni Diaries

From Moncton, New Brunswick: Bus Story # 3 from Bill Jarvis

I have four new stories from Bill Jarvis, a retired bus driver from Moncton, New Brunswick. All four are about drivers’ experiences crossing the Canadian border from the United States. Two of them deal with riders who ignore instructions. I don’t know if this is proof that Canadians and Americans are united by a common human nature, or, as my friends from Vancouver fear, that Canadians are suffering culture creep from our side of the border. In any case, here is a cautionary tale from Mr. Jarvis:


My friend, Verlie, was the manager of a large bowling centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Several times each year, she would take members of their seniors’ bowling league on bus trips to visit other centres. On one occasion, a multi-day trip extended as far as Connecticut.

Verlie had told the bowlers more than once what purchases they were permitted to bring back to Canada duty free. Among other things, a maximum of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of liquor and 200 cigarettes per person were allowed. Very heavy taxes and duties would apply to any amount excess amount.

The last day of their trip involved driving from Portland, Maine to Halifax, Nova Scotia. That was a trip of about 1,000 km (620 miles), with about 11 hours actual driving time. Add a routine stop at the border and a couple of meal stops, and the bus driver would have a day almost equal to the maximum hours he was permitted by law to be on the road. Exceeding the limit could result in the driver being fined and placed off-duty.

Verlie told me later that, in spite of her instructions, she and the bus driver probably were the only people on the bus who did not have two bottles of liquor.

Customs officers are not stupid. They are well-trained professionals who carry out an important and potentially dangerous job in a courteous and efficient manner. Just don’t try to mess around with them.

When the bus crossed from Houlton, Maine to Woodstock Road, New Brunswick, it did not take long for the Canada Customs officers to realize there was excess liquor on board. Then, the bus was thoroughly searched, both the passenger and luggage compartments. Every passenger’s luggage was thoroughly searched. Much paper work was involved. What should have been a 15 minute border crossing took four hours.

The bus driver would have to add notes to his log book to explain his excess time. The passengers had a trip lasting many hours longer than expected. Later each passenger received a substantial invoice from the Canada Revenue Agency for duty and taxes on his/her liquor, plus presumably a fine if he/she had not declared the excess liquor as soon as reaching the border.

From Surrey, UK: “The Melodic Chatter of Two Old Geezers on a Bus”

Man 2: how you diddlin?


Man 1: fiddlin diddlin ha ha.


2: did you try that medicine.


1: ye ha ha. Not bad. Much better. 75% not 100%.


(Read the whole conversation here.)

From Seattle: post on Seattle Reddit by markait

Of course, I didn't believe a word of it at the time. Why would a rich guy be on a bus in Capitol Hill? (Read the whole story here.)

From Cincinnati, Chicago, and Long Beach: “Transit love stories: Meeting Cupid on the bus or train,” by Larry Copeland for USA Today

Every day, 12 million people take the train or bus. Sometimes Cupid rides with them, and they meet, fall in love and get married. These are their stories. (Read more here.)

From Oakland: “The Fire on the 57 Bus in Oakland,” by Dashka Slater for The New York Times Magazine

As Sasha slept, three teenage boys laughed and joked nearby. Then one surreptitiously flicked a lighter. The skirt went up in a ball of flame. (Read the whole story here.)

From Seattle: “Seattle dog's rush hour ride: on the bus, by herself, weekly,” by Lindsay Cohen for KOMO News

Public transit in Seattle has gone to the dogs. (Read more here.)

From Moncton, New Brunswick: Bus Story # 2 from Bill Jarvis

Bill Jarvis drove a bus for 25 years in Moncton, New Brunswick. He shared this winter bus story with me in a recent email, and when I asked, gave me permission to post it in This Week’s Featured Story.


At Tours to Remember Inc./Metro School Bus Service, Moncton, New Brunswick, the 5 highway coaches lived in the heated garage when not on the road. The 45 school buses were kept outdoors in a fenced and locked compound.

Len was a driver for many years. He had a regular school bus route carrying special needs children, and drove charters as well.

One bitterly cold, windy Sunday morning (temperature about minus 30ºC) Len had a charter with a school bus. When he tried to open the padlock on the gate, the key would not turn. Thinking the lock was frozen, he tried warming it in his bare hands, then tried turning the key harder. It broke off.

Next, he went in the garage. The door the drivers used was next to the bus entrance, with the wash-bay immediately inside it. Len got a hacksaw from the tool room, and went back to cut the lock. With a hardened Viro padlock, that was slow work. Len never wore a hat, and he was very  cold. By the time he got the lock cut, he was late for his charter. He returned the hacksaw to the toolroom.  As he was leaving the garage, he glanced at a school bus sitting in the wash bay. It was the bus he had been assigned for the charter. The cleaners had left it there for him, so it would be warm and easy to start. This was the fourth time he had walked by it.

 The next day at home, Len found out why the key broke. It was the key to his shed.

From Toronto: “Bus(ted),” by an anonymous bus driver for the website Not Always Right

(A woman enters the bus with her son.)

Me: “Excuse me, ma’am. Your son didn’t pay the fare.”

Customer: “But children are free!”

(Read more here.)

From NYC: "Finding the Bus With the Backpack," by Julia E. Whitworth for the New York Times

Dear Diary:

Today, I win at urban parenting.

I realize at preschool drop-off that my 3-year-old has left her backpack with her most beloved stuffed animal on the city bus we took to get there. (Read more here.)

From Seattle: "Let Us Not Judge, That We Might Not be Judged Ourselves," by Nathan Voss

These two were not students attending accredited universities. They were not educated businessmen. They were street people...(Read the whole story here.)

Busboy's Annual Pass: Was It Worth It? Spreadsheet for December.

35 boardings marks my lowest monthly total rides for the year. We had grandchildren (and their parents) in for the last 12 days of the month. We had two possible bus trips planned with the grandkids, but time knocked out one, and very nasty weather the other. Still, I ended up in the black, with a $4.75 “profit.” See below for the cumulative totals since January 1 last year.

You can find out what this is all about here.