I have had a few bust-ups with rude bus drivers. I've even chased and attacked a couple of buses that failed to stop and pick me up, like a mental patient. I'm angry just thinking about it, haha.
The other week my friends and I waited for a bus in central london. They have recently introduced ticket machines and you are supposed to buy one from these instead of from the driver, though they are often broken like the one at our stop. So when the bus arrived I explained that the machine wasn't working so we would buy the tickets from him. He said that he was no longer allowed to take money and would have to let us off at the next stop to buy a ticket from the machine. I asked if he was going to wait for us, and he said no but there was a bus a few minutes behind him. I said that we were on this bus, ready to pay, and that the machine had been broken - why should we wait any longer? By this time we'd reached the next stop and my friends had stepped off to buy tickets. The driver closed the door, hoping I'd be so afraid of being separated from them that I'd just get off, but instead I waved them goodbye and asked why he was being so unreasonable. I said that it wasn't our fault his companies machines didn't work, and he replied that the machine was working fine. I said I didn't appreciate being called a liar and he was welcome to turn the bus around and find out. Then he turned on his microphone and announced to the packed bus 'The machines DO work, the machines DO work.' I said loudly 'because you say something into a microphone doesn't make it so'. He says 'So, you're not easily embarrassed then?' I said you're the one who should be embarrased, I'm just someone who wanted to get home. He stopped the bus and said it wouldn't move until I got off. I looked at the crowd incredulously, I knew they were on my side but if it came down to supporting me or getting home quickly they would turn. Just then a little old woman marched up to the front and said to the driver 'I was at that bus stop and the machine DIDN'T work.' Triumphant I gloated 'SEE! An unrelated witness confirms my story! Are you going to apologize for calling me a liar?' Unsurprisingly he wouldn't, and the bus was still not moving. With a flourish I announced 'I'm not going to hold up these good people any longer' and got off the bus and walked home. Take that, The Man.
So in summary, yes, some bus drivers need shooting.
