Mosman bus commuter sees drivers swear, yell at tourists on Taronga Zoo Wharf to Balmoral Beach bus
A MOSMAN woman has had enough of tourists being verbally abused by bus drivers, and now a passenger, on the Taronga Zoo Wharf to Balmoral Beach bus.
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“GET off the bus you stupid woman, some of us want to get home because we have been working all day.”
Those were the words shouted at an Asian woman with children on a Mosman bus popular with tourists, according to a frustrated commuter.
The incident on Tuesday last week was the last straw for Mosman’s Lynda Turnbull, who has even intervened when she sees tourists being bullied on route 238.
Mrs Turnbull said the bus driver did nothing about the agitated male passenger, although the driver had earlier verbally abused people who entered the rear door.
She often travels with her children and has used the service between Taronga Zoo Wharf and Balmoral Beach for about two years.
Mrs Turnbull said she was “embarrassed” every time she saw bus drivers yelling and swearing at passengers — mostly tourists — who mistakenly enter the rear door.
Rear door entry is prohibited for safety reasons.
Mrs Turnbull said the latest and most “disgraceful” incident occurred about 6.15pm outside the zoo, amid busy traffic headed for the last week of Vivid Sydney at Taronga.
“This Asian woman got on the bus and told the driver she was confused, she had her family with her and she needed a bus to the city,” she said.
“Outside there was a baby in a pram, a couple of little kids and maybe a husband.
“The bus driver said he could not help her because it was the wrong bus.
“The woman looked pretty desperate, then a rude male passenger completely insulted her.”
Mrs Turnbull said the distraught tourist backed off the bus and the rude man alighted at the next stop on Bradleys Head Rd.
Buses on route 238 have been the subject of 12 complaints about rude or unhelpful staff and four compliments in the past two years.
A State Transit spokeswoman said staff were counselled, disciplined and/or retrained if required.
Driver training
State Transit says training includes the importance of excellent customer service and allegations of unacceptable behaviour are investigated.
Give feedback via transportnsw.info or call 131 500.
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