OC Transpo Driver Fired

[elk]

Have you seen the video on Youtube of the driver swearing and threatening the passenger?

What are your thoughts and opinions?

[JetJumper]

Apparently this is the guy who was pestering the driver.

http://www.youtube.com/user/10thDimensionMatty

Interesting...

[JetJumper]

Just found this as well
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/11/07/ottawa-octranspo-driver-tirade.html?cmp=rss

[Stussi613]

I love how the union says its inconclusive as to whether the driver was the one yelling or the passenger, yet you can clearly hear the shouter saying "when I open my door, you're going to get off".

I can just hear all the forthcoming comments (on the story, not on here) about whether you can shoot pictures and videos on OC buses already. It's actually illegal for OC to stop you from taking a picture, or video, on one of its buses...From OC' official By-Laws:

(6) No person shall operate any camera, video recording device, movie camera or any similar device on transit property without the express written permission of the Director.
(7) Subsection (6) does not apply to the following:
(a) the operation by a person of any camera, video recording device, movie camera or similar device on a transit vehicle where such operation is for personal use; or
(b) the operation by a person of any camera, video recording device, movie camera or similar device on a transit station platform area where such operation is for personal use

[bt]

Saw it on the (national) news last night.

My thoughts before seeing it were "Maybe the passenger deserved to have a strip torn off them, wouldn't be the first time".

After seeing it?

No excuse for that kind of behaviour.  I don't care what triggered it.  Even if the passenger did deserve a strip torn off them (something the video doesn't firmly establish either way, though the passenger does repeatedly attempt to apologize), this was not remotely an appropriate response.

And of course, the driver will likely get off completely, or with a slap on the wrist at worst because we don't see the start of the altercation.

[smalltownfan]

As the Superintendent of Transit Operations I would like to apologize to all members of this forum exposed to the behaviour of the driver in the video.  He gives a bad name to OC and is an embarrassment to the vast majority of hardworking and dedicated drivers who work for this company.

Hopefully people will realize this is an isolated incident and not paint all Operators with the same brush.

As there now is an investigation taking place, I can say no more.

Hank

[Cheebs]

For sure Hank, 99% of the drivers I've dealt with are hard working good people. Sometimes they might be haivng a bad day and be a bit grumpy which is acceptable, but this guy crosses the line, and that shouldn't reflect on all the other drivers. I do find it a bit silly that the response to this was basically citing that the accusations are invalid because of rules about video taping on buses... The person that taped it clearly only did so once it had all started, and was likely doing so because a rider's rights were being violated.

Having taken the bus very often, I've witnessed on several occasions mentally challenged riders chatting up the drivers. The drivers always showed a great deal of respect for them and politely chatted back. I'm not quite sure what set this particular driver off and I don't know the story, but it seems completely out of line. I'd like him to take responsiblity for it and not hide behind loopholes about video taping.

[smalltownfan]

I agree Phil,
   There are procedures for the Operator to follow. He may have had issues with this passenger but that is no excuse to react like he did in public.

[bt]

Yes - there's the rare bad operator who goes off on a passenger, but I agree the overwhelming majority are polite (or at least professional, which is all I ask for) in their dealings with riders.  I've encountered maybe 3 or 4 drivers with actual attitude problems (not counting cases of bad days) in about 10 years, and no outbursts remotely like this one.

Which is impressive, given the stupid stuff they have to put up with from some riders.  I've seen abuse directed at a driver far more often than I've seen it come from a driver.

[Stussi613]

Smalltown, it goes without saying that many people will not lump this driver in with the hundreds who perform their job diligently, with respect and a professional attitude...and the few that literally risk their lives to help people in accidents and burning houses. While your apology is appreciated, it's not necessary.

Chubs, I'm not sure if you were talking about general reaction to the video, or what I posted above. To clarify on my post I was illustrating that OC Transpo vehicles are considered public domain for the purposes of photography/videography and OC's by laws clearly state that anyone can engage in the act of capturing an image on an OC vehicle providing that they are not doing so for commercial gain.

[Cheebs]

Ah yes, sorry I was reffering to the public's and OC traspo's reaction... I completely agree with you

[elk]

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

In the video do we actually see the driver arguing and swearing at the passenger,
ABSOLUTELY NOT.

This video could very well be staged to try and extorte money from OC Transpo.

With all the current technology there should be security surveillance in all buses just like they have in police cars and taxis.

[Stussi613]

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

In the video do we actually see the driver arguing and swearing at the passenger,
ABSOLUTELY NOT.

This video could very well be staged to try and extorte money from OC Transpo.

With all the current technology there should be security surveillance in all buses just like they have in police cars and taxis.

He's so innocent that OC Transpo officials are apologizing in newspapers and even on this forum...

[Severum]

That driver should take some lessons from the singing bus driver that would be on the Kanata Expresses. Whats better than showtunes on your way home from work.

[bt]

In the video do we actually see the driver arguing and swearing at the passenger,
ABSOLUTELY NOT.

There were 3 people on the bus - the driver, the passenger being yelled at, and the guy with the camera.

It's been all-but-confirmed that it is the driver's voice, as well:

Mercier conceded the images in the video are "consistent" with the swearing and yelling voice belonging to the driver.

[Medym]

Just a couple things for you guys to maybe ponder;

The YouTube account this was posted to was created 2 Nov 2011.  The video was posted in the wee hours of 3 Nov 2011 after having occured at approx 0230hrs 3 Nov 2011.  Im sure this is just odd timing on the part of the guy with the cell video.

From another website, the guy who took the video posted:

I took that video, it was 2:30am on Thursday, November 3rd. After the Moody stop I took notice that it was only me, this other passenger, and the driver. I felt that my intervention would have only gotten me in trouble. The very next day I submitted my video to YouTube and put it up on Reddit, went down to the police station and tried to file a report. The police did not file a report but rather forwarded me to the OC Transpo Special Constable and we talked for a bit and he told me that this driver did not file any sort of complaint within OC Transpo. The driver stopped on the Queensway in an attempt to get this passenger off. Thank goodness that he stayed on. I felt I have done everything possible to make this public.

I have learned that this guy's name is Matty and he was practicing for a school play. He was rehearsing his lines and he was speaking rather loud. He seemed to make other passengers uncomfortable as they moved away from him on the bus. After the Moody stop I looked down towards the back of the bus and only saw Matty. At that time it was just Matty, the driver, and I. Matty approached the driver and he was being very obnoxious towards the driver. The driver told Matty to sit down and after about 5 minutes of not sitting down the driver detonated and started the rant you see in the video.

So after 5 minutes of this "mildly autistic" kid bothering the driver with who knows what language, the driver looses his cool.  Oddly enough after 5 minutes of watching this happen, the cell phone video only captures the driver yelling.  Where is the other 4 minutes where he watched the guy bother the driver?  I will say, the bus driver was inappropriate, however do not know what was said to trigger this reaction.

I took a couple minutes to google the kid.  Take a look on Youtube to see the videos this guy makes:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Matt+Taronno+&aq=f

He does a terrible and offensive Borat type skit on Parliament Hill on three occasions.  On the Youtube video posted by the media, there are comments from classmates saying things like "lol, that is totally Matt, by the way check out a video we made together at....."

Sure there are a bunch of things which could be a coincidence, but my guess is this kid baited the driver into a reaction and he got a good one.  Does that excuse the bus driver, no; but there is another side to this story in my opinion.

[Hookup]

Cool. I like big threads!

Sounds like one of those things we'll never truly know the whole story...

[elk]

well here we go again with another video on youtube.

Why are people out to ruin oc drivers reputation.

We all do it while driving,not so much holding phone in ear but texting still is an issue.

These drivers are up everyday at 4am and work long hours to get you to where you want to go.

I dont see any videos on youtube of people in cars on the phone.

[Stussi613]

Why are people out to ruin oc drivers reputation.

Why are you, obviously an OC driver based on your other posts in this thread, posting these questions on a fish forum? 

I don't think anyone is trying to ruin their reputation. A few of them are doing a pretty good job of ruining it for the majority on their own. 

[Cheebs]

No need for hard feelings... Elk, you brought up a question, people opined, and that's just how we feel . If people chose to label all drivers because a couple of them made mistakes, then that's their issue, but I think most people do realize these are isolated incidents.