Skip to main content

Bus Driver’s Epic Traffic Jam: A 10-Minute Standstill Behind a Parked Car Becomes Urban Legend

By

Epic Traffic Jam

Hands up "I'm new to the industry, oh, the glamorous life of a bus driver! Picture this: I pull away from the bus stop, engine purring like a caffeinated kitten, ready to tackle the urban jungle. But just as I hit my stride, I slam into an impenetrable wall of traffic. My bus, my majestic chariot, becomes a mobile waiting room.

I sit there patiently, practicing the ancient art of Zen and the Art of Bus Maintenance. I watch the world go by at a pace that makes snails look like Formula 1 racers. The passengers behind me start to fidget, their collective energy shifting from mildly annoyed to downright restless. Someone coughs. Another person sighs dramatically. I’m pretty sure I hear a toddler aging into adulthood back there.

Ten minutes crawl by. Not one inch has been gained. The bus hasn’t budged. The tension is thick enough to butter toast. The car in front of me remains stoically unmoved. I start to wonder if it’s taken root and begun photosynthesis.

And then it hits me like a bolt of lightning through a fog of exhaust fumes. I’m not behind just any car. Oh no, I’m behind a parked car. A vehicle that has no intention of ever moving again. It’s the vehicular equivalent of a retired octogenarian soaking up the sun on a park bench.

My realization arrives just as gracefully as a slapstick comedian slipping on a banana peel. I can almost hear the universe laughing at my expense. Feeling foolish doesn’t quite capture the essence of my embarrassment. I’m an Olympic gold medalist in the sport of driver blunders.

With the finesse of a circus elephant, I maneuver the bus around the stationary car, throwing apologetic waves at my passengers who, bless their hearts, are too polite to riot. They return to their various states of preoccupations, probably texting their friends about their epic adventure on the immobile bus.

So there you have it. The next time you see a bus driver looking contemplative behind the wheel, remember: they might just be philosophically pondering the existence of parked cars in traffic.

___ Jamie

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spotting the Signs: How Bus Drivers Can Identify and Assist Vulnerable Passengers

By
Bus drivers often face tough choices when passengers are unable to pay. By observing behaviour, engaging in conversation, and assessing risk, drivers can make informed decisions that balance compassion with responsibility. This guide offers a clear framework for identifying vulnerability and responding appropriately. A Driver’s Guide to Recognising and Supporting Vulnerable Passengers 1. Observation: Assessing Behaviour and Context To determine if a would-be passenger is vulnerable, particularly in situations where they cannot pay the fare, the first step is observation. This involves carefully assessing the passenger’s behaviour, physical condition, and surroundings. It is essential to consider the passenger's age and appearance, emotional state, and overall hygiene. Observing the context, such as the time of day and location, can provide critical insights. For instance, if a young passenger appears distressed or dishevelled and is in an unfamiliar or potentially unsafe area, thes...
Post a Comment
Read more

Trump’s Tariff Tantrum: And We’re the Ones Driving the Fallout

By
When the markets crash, I don’t need Bloomberg to tell me. I see it on the faces at the bus stop. Tariffs go up, and suddenly everyone’s carrying packed lunches and stress. The billionaires aren’t panicking, they’re shopping. Economic Repercussions You can always tell when something’s up in the economy. Before it hits the headlines, it hits the bus. The bloke who used to chat about upgrading his car? Now asking if we’ve got any driver vacancies. The regular who used to buy a coffee for the ride? Cold flask. Same coat. Worn face. The fare dodgers are sneakier. The pensioners quieter. Everyone’s just… a little more tired. And me? I’m still driving the same route, dodging potholes the council can’t afford to fix, thanks to budget cuts brought on by yet another economic shake-up dressed in red, white, and blue. This time, it’s Trump’s tariff circus again. Round two. "America First" they said. More like markets last, small businesses folded, and guess who’s still getting richer? Y...
1 comment
Read more

A Taxi Driver on a Bus: The Midnight Meltdown You Won’t Believe

By
Ever wonder what happens when a seasoned taxi driver takes a seat on a city bus at night? Spoiler: It's not pretty. From fish suppers to bell abusers, this is the one ride even a veteran chauffeur can’t handle. When a Taxi Driver Meets the Bus: A Ride You Can’t Unsee If you’ve ever driven a city bus late at night, you’ll know there’s a cast of regulars who make the journey... interesting. You've got the usual crowd, shifty-eyed characters who never pay but somehow always have a meal in hand. Then there are the partiers, treating the bus like an afterparty on wheels. And of course, the lost souls, struggling to stay awake, only to wake up just after their stop. But last night? Last night was something special. I had a rare breed aboard: a taxi driver on his night off. A man who’s spent decades chauffeuring drunks, philosophers, and blokes passionately explaining the offside rule at 3 a.m., and yet, somehow, he thought bus driving would be a walk in the park. When he boarded, I c...
Post a Comment
Read more