(17 May 2014, 7:57 pm)Jimmi wrote Most of the Darlington drivers are alright, especially the Sapphire ones, but there are a few awful ones. My least favourite Darlington driver makes all the OAPs put their pass on the card reader the correct way up, makes everyone sit until the bus has completely stopped and he always looks and sounds like he's been slapped repeatedly with a wet fish. I swear this driver has something against me, I had him on the old 8A and I was about to board the bus because I thought he was ready but he very angrily shouted "WAIT!" then eventually got on the bus. I wanted to get off this bus at Newton Aycliffe Tesco because I was going to catch Scarlet Band Service 16 because I didn't want to walk home in the pouring rain, so then I rang the bell then he drove past the stop then stopped just before the roundabout and he angrily spouted that he did not stop there (even though he did) he didn't open the doors whilst he spouted this argument, then he did open the doors and I had to step in the mud and frantically run for the 16 which had pulled in behind. This experience left me badly shaken, I never left the house for days and I was scared of getting on a bus for about a fortnight.
There used to be a Loftus driver always told people to sit down til the bus pulled up. Haven't noticed him lately. Don't know if he's left or calmed down now!
I would think drivers would get annoyed by these notices telling people not to get up til the bus stops. If everyone did that the buses would never run to time. Stupid as well when half the time people are having to stand anyway (and some seats are not within reach of a bell).