Saul Dennis, I don't know you, so I apologize, but you seem a terrible confidant and a torpedo disaster of a friend. A city employee -- who you appreciate and who did you a favor -- very explicitly asked you to tell no one (presumably, lest it imperil their job). And your response was no only to disregard this plea, but to publish the exact location of this person? Not just anywhere, but in the Times?? Wow.
2
2000 was the year of the summer of skunks, raccoons, and a CRAZY rooster in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard. I had no car, worked looooong hours every day in Edgartown, and traveled round trip by bus. I developed a morbid fear of being sprayed by one of the 100,000 skunks that hang out ALL NIGHT on the Vineyard. In addition, the very thought of a raccoon attacking me (again) was far more than I could handle on one particular and very dark night. The bus driver knew of my ACUTE fears, and offered to drive me directly into the woods, far from the bus stop so that he could shine his headlights and "scare all those critters away" while I RAN into the house. Sure enough, every nosy neighbor reported him to the Transit Authority first thing in the morning. (I remain convinced they were green with envy.)
As for the driver? Well, 17 years later, he's still a bus driver, and my HERO.
As for the driver? Well, 17 years later, he's still a bus driver, and my HERO.
11
St Paul MN... About 20 years ago but I have never forgotten it. I was taking the bus from Minneapolis, and going to a library somewhere in the St Paul downtown. As we entered the city, people kept getting off until I was the only one left. The driver called to me : - Say honey, come up here. I walked to the front and he asked me my destination. It was several turns and blocks away, not on his route at all. But...he drove me right to the front door. What a guy! And he said "have a nice day." Yes!
16
Ever notice how much precious NYC real estate those double buses occupy and how sparcely occupied they are? How hard they make it for pedestrians? Mmmhm. How about temporary housing for the homeless?
You haven't taken the M60 or any of the other crosstown buses frequently enough if you can say that.
3
They're often very full, and they take up a tiny portion of "precious real estate" vs. the vast spaces given for free parking of private vehicles.
10
are you kidding me -- personally I would prefer a bus two miles long permanently stretching from east to west across Central Park. The more buses, the less cars, the faster the traffic.
12
To keep your promise and share your experience only required not identifying the intersection.
12
It's possible they secretly altered the intersection for the story.
1
Nice to see that the bus driver is as flexible as his bendy-bus!
8
Your secret is safe with us.
29
In Pittsburgh my husband and I were waiting for a once every 40 minute bus at a stop near the fabulous Strip District (a must for visitors and locals). There were no posted times of arrivals. Imagine our surprise when our bus went speeding past us without even a cursory glance at the stop. Luckily a different bus came by going in the same general area but with a two mile walk at the end. At least it was summer and despite being seniors, we are in shape. Did the bus system care....nope. You were lucky.
6
I was trotting as fast as I could to catch the morning express bus to Manhattan which had stopped on the corner. But I slowed down when I saw the last commuter board and realized I would never catch it. But wait! The bus stayed on the corner. What's he waiting for? He turned the corner, very slowly. Then I saw the driver wave me forward. He was waiting for me!
I see the express bus drivers do this all the time -- wait for their regular commuters hurrying to make it. Not so the regular city bus drivers.
I see the express bus drivers do this all the time -- wait for their regular commuters hurrying to make it. Not so the regular city bus drivers.
28
I have benefitted many times from the good nature of express bus drivers. One driver waited for me when I was half a block away. Once, I fell asleep on the bus and the driver woke me at my stop. Commuters typically travel at the same time each day and get to see the same driver day after day. I have seen people let a bus pass in order to wait for their favorite driver. I have fond memories of one driver who after his final pick-up in Brooklyn, before heading onto the highway, would announce, "next stop, work!" At the end of the day, he would announce as he left Manhattan, "next stop, home!" It's a great commute when you have a driver whose good nature make it an enjoyable ride.
29
Love this!
Heavily pregnant in the summer of 1985, I traveled by bus daily to my job at what was then Bulova Watch. The drop off was several blocks from Bulova. It was the final stop on that route before crossing the Grand Central and starting again.
One morning he commented that he thought I looked a bit flushed. He asked me to have a seat until I felt better. I sat for a moment and he turned to me and said, " from now on wait until all the other passengers have departed and I'll drop you at the gate". He did so for the next few weeks until I had my son.
Humanity is very easy to find in NYC. Seemingly small act of kindness that stays with me to this day.
One morning he commented that he thought I looked a bit flushed. He asked me to have a seat until I felt better. I sat for a moment and he turned to me and said, " from now on wait until all the other passengers have departed and I'll drop you at the gate". He did so for the next few weeks until I had my son.
Humanity is very easy to find in NYC. Seemingly small act of kindness that stays with me to this day.
81
Totally awesome and perhaps our new President and several members of his staff, could take lessons in graciousness and compassion from this gentleman driver.
2
Nice guy, he didn't have to do that for you while exposing himself to censure from his superiors.
A single spontaneous act of kindness is long remembered.
A single spontaneous act of kindness is long remembered.
37
Not unique--except for the polite apology.
We've had a couple of buses go right by us, waiting. No apology.
We've had a couple of buses go right by us, waiting. No apology.
14
Join the club pal....... This is NYC !!
1
Nice story… Just hope the driver doesn't get reprimanded because you broke your promise!
15
There's no identifying details other than the route. I think the driver's gonna be ok.
4