To the Editor:

On Tuesday, May 18, I was riding home from the subway on the #2 shuttle bus.  We had a new driver, someone who was filling in, who drove relatively safely and slowly with a very packed bus.  However, after he made the stop across from Westview, he took off and never observed any of the two or three stop signs on the way toward Gristede's.  He literally whizzed by them.  As he approached Gristede's, I suggested to him that he was supposed to stop at those signs, but I met with total silence.  When he stopped at Gristede's, I asked his name and again asked why he had not stopped at the signs.  His response was not just total silence þ he looked away from me, out his window.  I informed him then that his non-response and his dangerous driving would be noted with RIOC, Public Safety, and with the Manager at the garage.

When I got home, I called Public Safety.  I told the officer on duty what had happened and that I wanted to file a complaint.  His response was rather defensive.  He said he would be unable to create a summons because one of the points on the document is that the officer filing the summons has to witness the grievance.  I never asked for a summons; I made it clear to the officer that what I wanted was for an officer to get on this driver's bus and reacquaint the driver with the rules of the road and see that he follow them.  I also wanted the officer to inform the manager in charge at the garage of this driver's arrogance and misbehavior behind the wheel.

A short time later, I walked over to the bus garage to speak with the Manager, who was quite courteous.  He confirmed that he had indeed received a call from Public Safety about the driver.  He said he had spoken to the driver.  In the garage, I saw the driver on break, and asked his name once again.  He responded by saying, "It is none of your damn business."

I don't wish to vilify this driver, whose name turned out be be Burt (not to be confused with one of our long-time drivers of the same name) or cause him to lose his job.  He was actually quite pleasant when we were all struggling to get onto a packed bus at the subway.  I merely want him to be more aware of his responsibilities while driving on Main Street and to be clear about the hazards of driving through stop signs where kids are generally free, comfortable, and sometimes forgetful about darting out into the street.

I'd be interested in seeing if anyone else on a bus that this fellow is driving has experienced any similar behavior.  I was told that my complaint had been logged.

Sherie Helstien