Saying "Thanks" on the Bus
By Will Pate on March 8, 2005 - 10:29pm
What's the origin of saying "Thanks" to the bus driver when he drops you off at your spot? The tone of voice for some people suggests habitual recitation, yet it still sounds genuine.
I've never had this experience before on public transit in Toronto, Mississauga, Halifax, Orlando or Memhpis - only Vancouver.
Is it just a delightful social practice that spread virally? Was there some campaign to increase friendliness between drivers and passengers?
Are there any other cities that share the habit?
When I lived in Nanaimo ten years ago, people did not thank the bus drivers as they exited the bus. On the other hand, there were many rude and domineering bus drivers at that time who seemed to despise the Nanaimo passengers.
Arriving in Victoria, I was charmed by the friendly & helpful drivers and by the custom of thanking them, which is practiced even by the young college students.
They do it a lot in Mississauga. It's at the busier stops where it seems to get lost.
From my extensive bus-riding experience in Bristol and London, everyone thanks the driver in Bristol; in London it's rare enough that it took me a few days to absorb the custom when I moved to Bristol. It helps that all the buses in Bristol are designed so that the exit's next to the driver. I only notice it in Vancouver (or do it myself) when getting out at the front. I wonder if bus designers take that into consideration when coming up with new buses.
Even drivers deserved to be thanked. It is true that we pay for our ride, but drivers do more than what our money gives. Forming a good interaction with drivers in normal because they too need someone to talk to.
Stephen Rees, former TransLink economist: I even heard the “thank you” call to the operator as they left by the back door - something I have only ever encountered here. Re-reading the comments here again, though, others have encountered passengers thanking the bus driver elsewhere.