Deliveries and Dogs

The bus drivers are a big part of the X37 experience. In many ways, they shape your commute and , like the conductor of an orchestra, set the tone for the 55-minute journey.

Most of the drivers I’ve met are perfunctory in the manner in which they greet every passenger and acknowledge them on the way out. Their nods and “Good mornings” follow the same rhythm at each stop. There are a few standouts, the drivers who make eye contact and smile as you fumble with the Metrocard. Those drivers are typically the ones who like to talk to the passengers in the first row of seats. In fact, I’ve noticed that some ladies tend to choose those seats so that they can chat with the driver on the way home. They have history and share personal stories that are not about the traffic.

There are some drivers who are real characters. They love the route and know the commuters. If they see you running down the street, they’ll wait for you. They laugh out loud. Their love for the job really comes through.

Unfortunately, some journeys are not a love affair by any means. Last night, I encountered a driver for the first time. He wasn’t very nice. The first sign of this was he didn’t let any of us board the bus while he waited for his shift to start, and instead left us out in the rain for nearly 10 minutes. When he finally let us on the bus, he started out the window and ignored our hellos and thank yous. He yelled at a passenger for speaking on a cell phone. (Although I agreed with him in principle, it was the manner in which he did it that was unpleasant.)

And, the driving! It was horrible — bordering on road rage! He drove really fast, zipping through yellow lights, and would break hard and suddenly at the bus stops. He drove the big, hunkering box of steel as if it was a Ford Focus. Some of us nearly toppled over as we got up.

Still, I have him my most emphatic “Have a nice weekend,” when I disembarked.