By Nikieta Liburd
Observer Reporter
It’s not always easy being in the driver’s seat, especially when you’re driving a bus.
Just ask Leon Archibald, a seven-year veteran of the bus operating industry on Nevis. He’ll tell what makes his day tougher.
“I don’t like unruly customers,” Mr. Archibald said. “There are some customers that come in the bus and curse because sometimes we are unable to carry them exactly where they want to go.”
That’s not the only thing that can get under the skin of a bus driver.
“Some (customers) are really loud and noisy. Sometimes there are persons who come into the bus with their fish (and) there is no box or anything to store the fish in until they reach their journey,” he said. “The fluid from the fish leaks on to the seats or bus floor and the stench of the bus prevents persons from coming into the bus and therefore customers are lost.”
Riders who have had too much to drink can also be a problem.
“Then there are the drunks. They come into the bus reeking of alcohol. They curse, sometimes for no apparent reason (and) interfere with other customers and sometimes even fight,” Mr. Archibald said. “They do not want to pay. That’s why sometimes when persons are drunk it’s really hard for the buses to stop for them.”
According to Mr. Archibald, there are persons who don’t drive with certain bus drivers for different reasons: they drive too fast, to slow, too much music or they don’t like the conduct that is normally on the bus.
“This is fine by me.” Mr. Archibald said. “There is one thing that bus drivers don’t like, there are persons who would never catch their bus unless they are stranded at nights and can’t get to their destination; or if rain is falling. We have a saying: “If you can’t catch me in the day or when sun is shining, don’t catch me at all.’”
But it’s not all bad news.
Bus driving has its perks, Mr. Archibald said.
“Some drivers have regular customers and if you treat them good, they also return the favor by treating you good,” he said. “There are some who give you jobs to do and there are some that tips really well.”
“By just helping out someone is a great deal to me and that’s why some people are glad to see you and make me their specific bus,” Mr. Archibald said. “The elderly are sometimes chastised by other drivers, so they are most gracious and willing to drive with certain persons.”
