Stephen's Own Domain 2008

One of things that I miss during my three years of driving is taking the bus. Not there's anything wrong with it. I used to be an avid bus rider since my teen days going to high school and college until 2005. But the incident that has me stirred crazy for the last couple of days really irritates me. I'll be brief. After looking at the footage over and over again either on TV or on the Web, I began to ask myself what was the attacker's problem? What did he do to that bus driver that made him want to go ballistic or postal? As a matter of fact, why didn't the passengers on that Bus do anything to help the driver? The person "said" that he had a weapon, but didn't show it. I remember back around a couple of years ago, there was a bus shooting near 20th and Capitol involving a passenger getting the bullet. Another we all saw or read that some bus drivers getting jumped by some juvenilles over bus transfers. Bus transfers?! Come on. Money is one thing, jewelry is another, but Bus Transfers, I'm sorry. That's just a new low.  And recently this one. It seems that there's no reason to ride the buses safely no more because of things like this. I can't imagine other cities around the midwest region and others probably might say that: "What is going on in MIlwaukee? You are on the news again". And another comment might be around here: "Time to start driving. No more bus riding for me." "I am done riding the bus!"

I have some family members, who are my first cousins on my mother's side, are bus drivers for the Transit System. One of my late uncles was a bus driver, and one of my living uncles is a mechanic that used to be a bus driver for the County.  There were talks about security on buses a while back around 4 years ago to ensure safety while riding.  I think after seeing this again and what I've previously described, there should be security on the buses as if they were regular passengers. Undercover really. I know that there are cameras on board which is one thing, but having live security would be another. Make that a definte must for all times. Not for show, but safety. In speaking of that, safety must be the first, next, and last thing on everyone. Not just the bus drivers. But everyone! And to add, I think the bus drivers as well as passengers, should learn Self-Defense.

I can't imagine what the driver is going through. And I hope and pray that he does find the time and patience to recover and get working again. I know that the Bus Drivers for Milwaukee County are out there picking up and dropping off passengers each day of the week. And they do a good job at it. Some passengers know the drivers because of family, friend, neighbor or associate. Like I said, I have family members that worked for the company as drivers,  and I think about their safety.

There's an old adage: "There comes a time in everyone's life, where a person must be held accountable for their actions". I think that's how that goes. Or here's another, "You reap what you sow." For the person who jumped the driver, I know that justice will come, and when it happens, that person will have to live with the consequences.