(09 Aug 2021, 10:41 am)Adrian wrote You've probably been unlucky, because in about 13 years of taking photos, I've only had this happen a handful of times. I wouldn't say any operator is worse than the next for it, but you're always going to get the odd idiot... if someone is daft enough to give me a middle finger when I'm taking a photo, it'll still go up online and it's out of my control if someone takes exception and reports it to the operator.

I wouldn't expect waves or anything, as you've got to appreciate that the driver's attention is on the road, not someone standing taking a photo of their bus. Especially if you're in or around bus stations.

It's the general public that have more of a problem with photography from experience, but even then, most are just curious about what you're up to. So being polite and having a chat is always best policy.

I wish it was a rarity for me, happens on the regular although I likely take pics more often than some so naturally will happen more frequently for me.

I've experienced most outcomes now, blinds pulled down, hiding behind running boards/hand, offensive hand gestures, coming up to me using intimidation, pointing me out and slagging me off to other drivers, potential threats of violence, being called a saddle and told to get a life, I even almost got run over once as the driver was losing control of the bus whilst going in a huff and mounting the kerb where I was standing and similar stuff from general passengers along with being referred to as a nonce/paedophile and the other week in York I had one creep up behind whilst taking the photo almost causing me to drop the camera (wanted to deck that tit), have also being threatened with law enforcement being called by Bus Station security before

There's even instances where some have actually managed to remember my face and give hand gestures or hide even when I don't have the camera out.

I rarely complain as not worth the hassle half the time and looks badly on us when we do and the last time I did complain I didn't even get an acknowledgement that they even received my email after it got passed to another department.

In my experience GNE drivers can sometimes be too spotter friendly, to the point where they hold up services so people can get a good photo.

A couple times I've been on a bus and the driver has stopped, let someone off to take a picture, waited and let them back on. Now, granted one of those times was when the bus had maybe a 10 minute wait in Bishop anyway and they just stopped at Market Place.
Or when they let them stand at the front of the bus when it's driving so they can have a conversation.

I've had the odd few drivers be off with me taking a photo of there bus

I think that the reason that some drivers might not want their photograph taken is because they have had some problem with the government (be that a government department / agency, a local authority or the police). Or that they are claiming a benefit of some sort that if it was discovered that they had a job they might well lose that benefit if it was discovered? Or maybe that they have been signed off sick from one employer with a long term illness but have then got a job working for a different employer/

A-line Coaches 255 / SN58 BYP by kieron mathews, on Flickr

A-line drivers are enthusiast friendly, got a thumbs up last week when I took a photo of 255 on the M6


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A Line, Jh, Weardale, Go North East, Some stagecoach have all waved or stuck there thumbs up. Yet to have an Arriva driver do that

(09 Aug 2021, 4:33 pm)streetdeckfan wrote In my experience GNE drivers can sometimes be too spotter friendly, to the point where they hold up services so people can get a good photo.

A couple times I've been on a bus and the driver has stopped, let someone off to take a picture, waited and let them back on. Now, granted one of those times was when the bus had maybe a 10 minute wait in Bishop anyway and they just stopped at Market Place.
Or when they let them stand at the front of the bus when it's driving so they can have a conversation.

Hopefully it annoys the same passengers that are tossers and stick their fingers up at people for the hell of it

(10 Aug 2021, 6:12 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Hopefully it annoys the same passengers that are tossers and stick their fingers up at people for the hell of it

   just what I was thinking.

I've been photographing buses for over six years now. I still find it funny some of the looks I get from the public.

Today in Hexham this lady just stood with a shopping trolley staring at me. Then in Haydon Bridge two ramblers walked past shaking their heads.

Oh well if it keeps me out of mischief I'll keep doing it.

Charles

This was posted on a Facebook group last week about one of the Plymouth Citybus drivers


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