Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

[ace]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester

(18/07/2012 20:53)Mayneway Wrote:  

(18/07/2012 18:59)R971XVM Wrote:  Well, maybe you can do the decent thing then and pipe up and help out rather than wondering why drivers don't know their geography. The countless times that I've been asked whether I go down a particular road / near a particular church / school / temple / hotel / shopping centre and I haven't known the first time and had to ask other passengers who, lets face it, know their patch a lot better than us drivers ever will. I know South Manchester pretty well where I grew up but outside of that I'm still learning as I go along. 99% of the time the passengers help out, 1% of the time someone like your good self will be wondering "God, doesn't he know where such and such a place is"

If I ever route learn the 236 I'll take a note of local landmarks, but anything that's not directly on the route I won't know until it's pointed out to me or I move there.

But is it not part of their job to know that Hadfield is in Glossop?? And tameside college is pretty big. I know that from time to time people do ask for really obscure places and I'm not saying they should know the bee all and end all of minor locations but to turn passengers away from his bus because he aint got a clue where they want to get off is pretty poor, let's not forget drivers are paid a vert decent wage, and surly part of their job is to help passengers who don't know where their going.

I once had a similar experience in London with a driver who I think was of Hong Kong origin or something and could hardly speak a word of English. I wanted to go to the O2 Arena to see a concert and asked the driver if he went there. The conversation went something like:
Me: Do you go anywhere near the O2 Arena?
Driver: Where sorry?
Me: The O2 Arena
Driver: (Opens Cab door and puts his ear to my face) Sorry I can't hear you, the Old what?
Me: (Slightly louder) The O2 Arena
Driver: (After long pause) No, another 2 stops and I finish

At which point I politely thanked him and got off. The bus had Canary Wharf on the front so it was reasonable to assume he may be going that way as I didn't know London, but to meet a driver who had clearly never even heard of one of the world's biggest landmarks was rather amusing at best.