Translink really sucks, and I’m not just talking about how busses are never on time.
I walked onto the #27 bus at Rupert Station around 4:30pm, and flashed my new August monthly 2 zone bus pass. Since there were still quite a few people behind me waiting to get on, I walked quickly to the back of the bus and plopped down on a seat to read Game of Thrones #3 (which is really good btw).
Right when I open up my book (bookmark = July bus pass for convenience), the bus driver makes this announcement:
“TO THE LADY WHO JUST TRIED TO GET ON THE BUS WITH A JULY BUS PASS, IT WAS REALLY OBVIOUS.”
I spent an honest, hard-earned $110 on this piece of useless plastic/paper. I do not need to be accused of being a thief. I suppose a lot of people try to sneak onto busses with old bus passes or even with Upasses that aren’t theirs, but there’s no need to assume everybody will do it. Anyways, why make such a big deal about it, Mr. Bus Driver? Translink is making exorbitant amounts of money, and you’re not profiting from any of it, so might as well work together to beat the system.
Maybe the driver wasn’t talking about me, but about another lady. Maybe I’m just too sensitive. Maybe Translink should’ve made August bus passes more distinct from July bus passes. Maybe the bus driver should’ve stopped me right after I walked by him so that I could’ve properly shown him my bus pass instead of making assumptions and announcing lies over the bus intercom. I JUST WANT TO DEFEND MY HONOR.
It could’ve been worse, like the case in Hong Kong years ago:
If the bus wasn’t so packed, I would’ve walked right back up to the front and shoved it in his face. There’s always tomorrow; I take the same bus and see the same bus driver everyday. Tomorrow, I’m going to hold it right in front of his face, and point to the AUG 2012 at the top of the pass. And smile politely.