Public transport - different countries - do you say "thanks"?
#16
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I'm a regular user of buses in Seattle and Portland and it would be unusual to not greet the driver and if convenient, at least wave goodbye when alighting at the rear door. Every once in awhile I'll get a grumpy driver but they are far and few between.
It's been my experience that bus drivers in New York City barely look at you but I did have a friendly driver last time I was there that actually surprised me. It might have been because it was a LGA connection bus with limited stops but because he was so friendly, all passengers greeted him and either said or waived goodbye.
London I've found to be a bit of a mixed bag with the bus drivers. Same in Singapore and Hong Kong. The most shocking to me were the unfriendly drivers in Australian and New Zealand cities I visited, except Sydney - go figure!
It's been my experience that bus drivers in New York City barely look at you but I did have a friendly driver last time I was there that actually surprised me. It might have been because it was a LGA connection bus with limited stops but because he was so friendly, all passengers greeted him and either said or waived goodbye.
London I've found to be a bit of a mixed bag with the bus drivers. Same in Singapore and Hong Kong. The most shocking to me were the unfriendly drivers in Australian and New Zealand cities I visited, except Sydney - go figure!
#17
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"Any country?" The difference between San Francisco (MUNI) and Oakland and surrounds (AC Transit) are like night y day. On MUNI (albeit I rarely ride it anymore) I rarely heard any pleasantries between driver and passenger. (And now, there's rear door boarding with a place to tap card, so even less interaction). On AC Transit, the majority of passengers greet the driver, and then thank the driver from either leaving up front or the rear door. If I leave from the rear door, I'll usually wave and when walking past the front door (if walking that way, and if it is still open) will call out a thank you.
#19
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Other places, I watch the locals and see what customs are prevalent and follow them.
#20
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Same. It's kind of a Portland "thing" to thank the bus driver, even when exiting out the rear door. My East Coaster GF finds it amusing.
#21
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Really? My impression is that at least parts of Switzerland follow German norms and one would be expected to say hello and goodbye in small shops, etc. as well as thank you.
IME it's more in big east coast USA cities where one doesn't talk to strangers (except to thank taxi drivers, etc.).
IME it's more in big east coast USA cities where one doesn't talk to strangers (except to thank taxi drivers, etc.).
And to add: In Vancouver, you're definitely hearing/saying thank you when exiting through the back door. You yell that stuff through the bus!
#22
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Alternatives include "cheers"
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 167
I'm a regular user of buses in Seattle and Portland and it would be unusual to not greet the driver and if convenient, at least wave goodbye when alighting at the rear door. Every once in awhile I'll get a grumpy driver but they are far and few between.
It's been my experience that bus drivers in New York City barely look at you but I did have a friendly driver last time I was there that actually surprised me. It might have been because it was a LGA connection bus with limited stops but because he was so friendly, all passengers greeted him and either said or waived goodbye.
London I've found to be a bit of a mixed bag with the bus drivers. Same in Singapore and Hong Kong. The most shocking to me were the unfriendly drivers in Australian and New Zealand cities I visited, except Sydney - go figure!
It's been my experience that bus drivers in New York City barely look at you but I did have a friendly driver last time I was there that actually surprised me. It might have been because it was a LGA connection bus with limited stops but because he was so friendly, all passengers greeted him and either said or waived goodbye.
London I've found to be a bit of a mixed bag with the bus drivers. Same in Singapore and Hong Kong. The most shocking to me were the unfriendly drivers in Australian and New Zealand cities I visited, except Sydney - go figure!
When you were in NZ, were the bus drivers playing music/the radio?
#24
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Auckland drivers are a huge mixed bag. When I catch the bus home, it's usually the same drivers at the same times; if I catch my "earliest" bus, it's a grumpy/silent driver; the next guy is a friendly older guy (reminds me a little of santa claus, no beard though), and the next one is again grumpy/silent.
When you were in NZ, were the bus drivers playing music/the radio?
When you were in NZ, were the bus drivers playing music/the radio?
#25
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On a recent trip to Australia I was very surprised that virtually every patron alighting from the rear door yelled a loud thanks to the driver.
#26
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I say thanks to everyone in a service industry who has helped me;
I thank security guys opening the door for me at a hotel
I thank bus, taxi, tuk tuk etc, drivers
On leaving a restaurant I say thank you, that was nice or thanks the pasta was beautiful
I thank airline counter staff
I thank lounge staff when leaving
I thought that was normal.
I thank security guys opening the door for me at a hotel
I thank bus, taxi, tuk tuk etc, drivers
On leaving a restaurant I say thank you, that was nice or thanks the pasta was beautiful
I thank airline counter staff
I thank lounge staff when leaving
I thought that was normal.
#27
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Aussie here. I would thank bus driver in that instance too and call out.
#28
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You'll hear it in Ottawa too, definitely not 100% of the time, but its not uncommon.
Last edited by TechnoTourist; Jun 16, 2019 at 6:57 am
#29
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I have lived in Toronto and 4 other cities in Ontario and also never heard anyone thank a bus driver when alighting from the rear door. I would find it odd to have people yelling their appreciation at the driver from the back of the bus. More common is people saying hello when boarding but even then it's far from all of them.