Would/should you press the stop button on a bus if you see someone running for it?

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Sad-Nectarine-7855@reddit

I've "fumbled" getting my ticket up on my phone because I saw someone running for the bus giving them time to catch it and would ding the bell too

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Fearless_Airline421@reddit

This is such a simple, yet wonderful outlook to have. Thank you for this

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I've pushed it before for this reason and almost every time the person gets on thanking the driver for stopping. I'm AuDHD so may that's why I aggressively don't care if people look at me or question me or do anything other than keep their mouths shut that I showed kindness and helped that person catch the bus when they clearly needed to. You do not know what a person is going through, what is happening in their life right in that moment, but what others arrange you might think or say or, god forbid, *look* at you for what you did? Like wtf? Are you really so concerned with what other people might think that you will not help someone who's clearly in need of aid? Seriously what is wrong with people?

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Bksudbjdua@reddit

That's what I think, so many people look out for themselves first.

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abyssal-isopod86@reddit

I mean you should help yourself first, you can't help others if you aren't in a good place yourself, but if helping another doesn't detract from your life, why not help?

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Bksudbjdua@reddit

I think there's a balance, and too many people focus on themselves. When you help others, you actually get a sense of belonging. That could help with a lot of internal negative thoughts.

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Queen_of_London@reddit

Exactl;y. The worst that can happen is that the bus stops when it doesn't need to. No need to make a big deal about being the one who pressed the bell for the bus to stop.

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abyssal-isopod86@reddit

Right, just do it, you don't need a fanfare reward, or a medal. The simple act of pressing that button takes nothing from you, it is neutral but for that person who clearly needs to get on the bus, it's a huge positive in their life for something that's inconsequential to you.🤷

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Neither_Process_7847@reddit

As Kant put it:' Act as if the principle of your action were to become a universal law of nature'. Being good is worth it regardless of whether people recognise it.

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evenifihateit@reddit

If I'm on a bus where there are loads every hour and another one will be along soon, no. If I'm one one of those which comes much less often and the person running will have a while to wait if they miss this one, yes.

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Pedantichrist@reddit

You did wrong. Press the button next time.

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Katodz@reddit

Press bell. If person doesn't get on shout "woops sorry wrong stop!"

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Dragonfruit-Agitated@reddit

Someone on the bus may have been late for an interview or job interview. You've just cost them a life changing opportunity.😁

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UpsetMarsupial@reddit

The person running for the bus might have been late for a job interview.

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Dragonfruit-Agitated@reddit

Yes, but presumably the people on the bus left in good time for their appointments. The same can not be said for the person running for the bus.. Having said that, if it was me running for the bus , I wouldn't mind somewhere delaying it for me

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binaryhextechdude@reddit

Serves them right for not planning their day better.

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Dragonfruit-Agitated@reddit

You could say the same for the person running for the bud

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Swimming-Lie5369@reddit

Busses take stops into account when estimating journey time. And "sorry, my bus was 5 minutes late' is far better than "sorry, I missed the bus and there wasn't another one for an hour"

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History_86@reddit

Bus drivers around here (Scotland small towns) won’t stop if it’s not at a bus stop! Press the bell all u want but they won’t. In the middle of no where they pick people up but if they have started driving away then it’s a nope

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DIY_at_the_Griffs@reddit

I’d mind my own. If you saw it’d the driver would have too. It’s his job, not yours.

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No-Extension-2378@reddit

I'd ring the bell, and being British, I'd get off the bus at the stop if the person didn't get on. Hell, I'd probably get off even if they didn't get on, lest I be accused of falsely pressing the button.

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DiablosVert@reddit

I would have gone to the front and the profusely apologised for pushing the bell early - allowing them to get on and then I'd get off at the next one... Even if it was miles away

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No-Extension-2378@reddit

This is the only correct response to the situation. Don't forget to apologise to the person getting on too!

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fothergillfuckup@reddit

Hear hear.

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El_Bastardo_Grande@reddit

Nah fuck that, I'm rushing home to have a poo.

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Swatch843@reddit

Yea it's a risky game. If you push it and he wasn't going for it after all, you'd either 1. Have to get off and pretend it was your stop and be late for work.. 2. Shout the driver it was a mistake and look a right mug 3. Stay quiet if the bus stops and no one gets on... But then in your immediate surrounding people would know you pushed it but aren't getting off, so are now wondering why your a pillock doing that..

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

None of these are really issues tbh. The driver sees the bell go and stops. No one gets off. They indicate out and carry on going with their 8 hour shift where far worse things would happen. If I saw someone ring a bell and not get off, if I even took any notice, I'd assume they did it in error and not think they were a pillock. Definitely don't get off and be late for work out of some kind of social anxiety!

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Swatch843@reddit

Yea I was thinking from the perspective of myself who has crippling social anxiety lol. Was also hlaf joking, but the attention if it drew to me would floor me lol

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abyssal-isopod86@reddit

*you're

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Mindless_Count5562@reddit

We have very different definitions of ‘risky’.

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CeeApostropheD@reddit

You'd be bringing revenue in for the bus company. Keeps routes open and drivers in a job. Literally no loser in this situation so should be a no-brainer. Yet despite this I'd also be nervous about doing it! Psychology of other people whingeing I guess.

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Bksudbjdua@reddit

What makes you think someone would whinge at you?

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Neither_Process_7847@reddit

This is Britain. We whinge.

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MinimumBeginning5144@reddit

I'd probably press the button, but just to be a devil's advocate there is a reason for not doing so: - The person running for the bus might have a habit of being late for everything, and won't learn their lesson if people keep bailing them out. - The bus might be running a bit late itself, and there are passengers on the bus that are desperate to get to their interview on time. You're not helping them by making the bus even more late.

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ClassicPart@reddit

> The bus might be running a bit late itself, and there are passengers on the bus that are desperate to get to their interview on time. You're not helping them by making the bus even more late. Sounds like a them problem caused by lack of planning ahead.

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Bksudbjdua@reddit

Interesting take.

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gwaddo91@reddit

Ex bus driver here. He definitely saw. If you're late I'm sorry but that's a you problem.

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ElectricalInflation@reddit

If I am in a car, I will purposely turn into a road to slow the bus down if I see someone running for it and they don’t look like they’ll make it.

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FornyHucker22@reddit

I don’t ride busses but I thought the stop button meant ‘please stop at the next designated bus stop‘ not stop right here I want to get off…

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Azpiria@reddit

Amazes me how many people care what strangers they're never going to see again think about them. Yes, blast that bell. If anyone rises an eyebrow I'd hope they'd be the poor bugger missing the bus next time.

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Kanyelikesfishstickz@reddit

I got on a bus I wasn't waiting for and pretended to look through my bag because I saw somebody rushing to the stop as it was leaving. The driver was telling me not to worry about my ticket but I was like no mate its fine I'll find it.

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CaersethVarax@reddit

Hi. I'm a bus driver. Please, don't do this. It brings a flicker of joy to the cold, dead abyss of my heart to leave people at bus stops, but especially so if I can justify it. Don't take that away from your bus driver.

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Riovem@reddit

Yeah, I'd press the button, I've flagged a bus down before when I've seen someone running for it who won't make it too. Doesn't cost me anything other than a second of inconvenience and could make all the difference to that person.

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Bksudbjdua@reddit

Yeah I've done this loads of times. Flagged down the bus and then taken my sweet time to get on

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sock_cooker@reddit

I still have to stop myself from *not* ringing the bell. Has adulthood sapped you of all joy?

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Bksudbjdua@reddit

I would ring it and if driver shouted anything, I'd just say, it was an accident

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ImaginationOnly4225@reddit

They probably wouldn't know it was you who rang the bell anyway if you do it sneakily enough, so ring it and feign innocence lol

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TapeDeckSlick@reddit

No you're supposed to laugh and wave at them through the window

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dennis3282@reddit

I heard you get bonus points for doing the wanker gesture at them too

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Juicylucyfullofpoocy@reddit

Ah yes, the reverse bus wanker

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Dr-Ben701@reddit

Press the button!

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L-0-T-H-0-S@reddit

I usually do, yes. I'm normally the mug standing because I offered my seat to someone else, 9-10 my fingers right by the button anyway and I know all the drivers on our route anyway, so it's never a problem.

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acidic_tab@reddit

Not any more, no. I did this a few times in the past, but more often than not they were actually just exercising, or running for a different purpose. If it's abundantly clear that they're after this specific bus (ie trying to signal to the driver to stop or wait), I'll consider it case by case though.

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Snaggl3t00t4@reddit

Good heavens no. They should have known when tea and crumpet time ended in order to make it to the stop in good time.

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StereotypicallBarbie@reddit

No… you’re meant to bang on the window, then point and laugh at them as the bus moves further away..

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OptionalQuality789@reddit

The buses in my city stop at every stop anyway. No need to press the button. They stop even if no one is there.

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GenericDefaultGuy@reddit

Nope. The bus is on a tight schedule and that person should have gotten out of bed earlier to make said bus. Time management skills are easy to learn.

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tiorzol@reddit

Absolute Nigel energy this.

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pastilla889@reddit

you must be fun at parties

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Vehlin@reddit

Or the bus was early.

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himit@reddit

I'd ring it. Karma comes back around.

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NullandVoidUsername@reddit

Just ring the bell, the driver isn't going to waterboard you if no one gets on or off...or so I hope.

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SquareEconomist1992@reddit

It's not difficult is it to discreetly press the button without anyone else really seeing it?

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Christine4321@reddit

Id have rung the bell. Kids do it all the time, just act daft.

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Cosmic-_-Apple@reddit

What’s the worst that could happen? The bus stops and the guy doesn’t get on so the bus drives off. I think even if someone noticed you stopped the bus and asked why you haven’t got off you could easily explain you were confused/it was an accident. Also considering the guy was waving and everything I’m sure he wanted the bus. Wouldn’t beat myself up about it though, now you know what you’d do next time

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spannerintworks@reddit

I imagine it would be relatively clear that they were running for the bus I was on, at least 75% sure. So, why not? Helps someone out. Saying that i'd probably not have the presence of mind to actually realise what was happening, and that it was in my power to press the stop button until far after the event itself!

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bogyoofficial@reddit

I ring the bell.

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EntrepreneurAway419@reddit

If I saw it then ofc id push the button

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