OC Transpo passenger says bus driver berated him for boarding bus too slowly
OC Transpo has launched an internal investigation following a public complaint by a passenger.
Ben Schell alleges a bus driver repeatedly cursed at him for taking too long to board a bus in downtown Ottawa on Tuesday.
He posted smartphone video footage of some of his verbal altercation with the driver on social media and has filed a formal complaint.
"I have never been cursed at, denigrated like that by anybody else in any public service, ever," he said.
"I was absolutely flabbergasted by the fact that this person thought that ... this was an acceptable way to behave ... and to take it to the level where he then was basically trying to put all the blame on me."
'As soon as I was on the bus the driver began to berate and insult me'
Schell regularly catches the route 95 bus on Albert Street just east of Lebreton Flats, he said. He hadn't quite made it to the bus stop on Tuesday when the 95 bus approached, so Schell said he signaled to the driver that he wanted to be picked up.
The Presto pass Schell said he was carrying allows passengers to board through rear doors, but Schell said the driver refused to open them.
Schell thinks it took him about 10 or 15 seconds to reach the front doors.
"As soon as I was on the bus the driver began to berate and insult me and curse at me, by telling me if I were to take that long again that they won't f--king pick me up and I shouldn't expect to be f--king picked up if I'm going to be that f--king slow, which, of course, to my shock and awe, was completely unacceptable."
Schell said he told the driver his behavior was unacceptable and that he'd be making a formal complaint. He claims the driver kept berating him, then, at the next stop, ordered Schell off the bus.
When Schell refused the driver called for a supervisor. As they waited, Schell started recording with his smartphone.
The footage shows the bus driver repeatedly asking Schell to "shut up" as Schell repeatedly asks the driver whether he thinks his behaviour is acceptable.
Investigation underway
When a supervisor arrived, Schell said he told his side of the story. The driver was also interviewed.
OC Transpo said it has launched an internal investigation into Schell's complaint.
In a brief statement, Troy Charter, OC Transpo's assistant general manager of transit operations, said one of the guiding principles of the bus company is that passengers and staff will be treated with respect.
He added that he'd prefer not to comment further until the investigation is complete.
Schell said he's run into rude drivers before, but nothing compared to what happened on Tuesday.
