This month I want to talk about something that I’m sure cannot have escaped the notice of everyone at UWE.

The other day I boarded the bus home from Frenchay, showed my ticket to the bus driver who said “Yup fine, how are you pal?” with a jolly little chuckle. I almost stared open mouthed before firing back the obligatory “Ah not too bad, yourself?”

It then dawned on me that the reason I was so utterly flabbergasted was that nearly all bus drivers I have ever encountered are unrepentantly rude and cantankerous.

I’m aware that bus drivers who regularly drive student-heavy routes may get exasperated at having to explain that a student ticket price is only available with a student card and other recurring banalities. But on occasion it appears that some of them revel in being as rude, obtuse and officious as they can.

Everyone is allowed to have an off day but if it’s so utterly soul destroying driving a bus then perhaps it’s time to change career before you have a misery-related stroke?

In any other industry, to be as rude and unhelpful to the customer would be unacceptable. So why do some bus drivers deem it perfectly ok to tut, huff and generally make you feel like a prick for asking a valid and not exactly taxing question?

This is not to say that the occasional anomaly of the cheery bus driver doesn’t crop up occasionally.

But to be honest, I’m far more likely to suffer the truculent exhale when I try and pay with a tenner with weary apathy than not.