Editor:
I have been a resident of Santa Monica for more than 25 years and have always been proud of the city, but I must say that the quality of drivers of our Big Blue Bus has definitely waned.
I happily support public transportation, yet my experiences in the past year have made me consider purchasing a car in 2013. While I have had wonderful experiences with a few drivers, on a whole I find most drivers are not happy in the role of servicing the public.
I am a 55-year-old woman and last night at 9:15 p.m. I was standing on the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Montana Avenue and the driver looked at me, waved me away and kept on driving. Not only did he leave me stranded, but a young man as well.
Unfortunately, this was just the tip of the iceberg of many unpleasant experiences of rudeness. I have seen tourists berated, the handicapped disregarded and the elderly abused.
Shame on you, Big Blue Bus drivers. I am sure the city pays you very well.
My suggestion? Mandatory Big Blue Bus driver customer service training and accountability.
I do hope my letter helps others.
L. Ford
Santa Monica
