this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2024
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I'm sort of okay with driverless trains — they are pretty much/ideally limited to the railway tracks. This has too many possibilities for error for my taste.
Perhaps the real question is, are we ready for a world without bus drivers? I think they're a net positive in the daily commute.
Took the bus a lot as a kid/young adult. Some bus drivers were nice, but most were rude or basically had no impact on my commute. I've had a driver hit on me and then miss my stop multiple times after I declined. At least where I am, busses don't stop at all stops unless there's someone that needs to be picked up or dropped off and will regularly just skip stops if they're running behind, regardless of how packed the bus or stop is. Have a bike, or need wheelchair access? The bus driver is going to give you attitude the whole time, if they stop for you at all. Some bus drivers were nice and would remember you and say hi, or help people who had questions, but it was a minority in my experience.
I'm not saying we're ready to move to AI, but I can't imagine what kind of positive they're adding to your life that it is seen as a valid reason to keep them if they're not actually needed. Like if they're actually nice people, I would love to make sure they're working jobs that need to be done and could use the injection of positivity you're describing.
Ugh, sorry to hear about your experiences. Yeah, I'm not going to bat for all bus drivers. I'm speaking in favour of having a human onboard, because the passengers aren't necessarily an ideal crowd either...
The role of being a proxy authority figure can definitely turn some asshole drivers further to the dark side... I don't want to come off as defending those.
Totally understandable to want to have a kind of "responsible party" there. Public transit has a relatively high proportion of vulnerable populations, so you make a good point.
You didn't come off as defending anyone. I think it was just one of the first times I've heard someone talking about having mostly positive experiences on public transit (in the US). For what it's worth, it's nice to know it happens lol. Hope they continue to be positive!