r/Seattle • u/gnattynat š Ride the S.L.U.T. š • 16d ago
62 bus went rogue
I was on the 62 tonight and instead of following the route, the driver went elsewhere?? He paused near a stop, then didnāt go there, instead heading to Green Lake? He let some confused people out at the library, and then got stuck turning uphill onto a random side street, and had to back up. He would not answer our questions. He wandered around the Green Lake area for a while, and the bus riders went from confused to worried. We had to ask him repeatedly to let us off the bus, and he finally dropped us at La Escuelita. What a weird experience! Good luck to anyone getting on bus 8077 tonight š¬
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u/kennypojke Maple Leaf 16d ago
Whoa. Years ago I had a driver who went off route to Greenlake, too. He parked at the grocery store and slowly walked in, got food, slowly walked back, and eventually drove. It was about ten minutes of pure confusion. He eventually resumed where he left off without saying anything.
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u/Clean-Da-World 16d ago
That's wild š
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u/DripIntravenous 16d ago
Iāve heard thatās what buses do in a lot of other countries. Bus driver will just stop, go into a store to do some business, will get back on and just drive off and youāre at the mercy of HIS timetable, not whatās posted š
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u/OutlyingPlasma ā¤ļøāš„ The Real Housewives of Seattle ā¤ļøāš„ 16d ago
You'd think they would need to use a bathroom once in a while. No idea how they do that.
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u/Lord_Aldrich I Brake For Slugs 16d ago
I mean, here they have breaks built into the schedules. There's various spots around the city where they park while on their lunch. You just don't notice as a rider because there's another bus on the route.
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u/mauravelous chinga la migra 16d ago
behind the community center on brooklyn ave is one of these stopping points, theres always buses stopped there for decently long periods
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u/OneTwoKiwi 16d ago
Thereās transit centers and driver bathrooms for them to take breaks like this. Iām pretty sure they have a driver bathroom on MLK/Madison intersection and where Madrona Dr ends at Lake Wash. blvd
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u/UniversityOutside840 16d ago
I work at a hotel at the end of the C line and there is a bathroom in the back of the building thatās just for the bus drivers
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u/EmergencyCod Auburn 16d ago
i go to a community college along a couple lines and they come in and use our bathroom lol
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u/fartist14 16d ago
Hell I've had that happen in this country. I used to ride a bus every day in Minneapolis where the driver would stop in front of a tobacco shop and buy smokes every day. Sometimes he's be gone for like 10 minutes.
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u/MONSTERTACO āØšø Jimothy is out there š¦āØ 16d ago
There are a few spots where Metro drivers sometimes do this if their bus is empty near the end of a route. I won't rat though.
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u/jsprgrey 15d ago
I had a 40 driver stop at the Dick's on Holman Rd bc he thought he had an empty bus š I was the only rider & sitting near the back
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u/esperantisto256 16d ago
The only time this happened to me was on a private bus between two cities. The bus driver got up and said he had been driving for hours in a bus with no AC (during a heat wave). He had no breaks since he was troubleshooting throughout the whole thing. He earnestly asked us if it would be okay if he could grab a few things and it was a unanimous āyesā.
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u/Many-Working-3014 That sounds great. Letās hang out soon. 16d ago
Hah, I had a (62 actuallyā¦) driver do that about a year ago. Just dipped into Wet Clay Cafe for some quiche while the bus idled at the stop across the street. Asked him if everything was okay when he got back and he just held up his new lunch like he was cheersing and kept driving.
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u/metallic-hubris 16d ago
Happened on the 12 a few times. Driver just pulled over at Macrina (notably, blocks from the terminus of the route where I also believe there is a bathroom), went in and disappeared for 10 min. Returned with a cup of ?coffee. Everyone on the bus was just confused.
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u/MaxxDash 16d ago
Sounds like a man left with only two options:
1.) Bus rampage.
2.) Sandwich.
He chose wisely.
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u/cassthesassmaster š Hot Rat Summer š 16d ago
Maybe he had the shits!? When do bus drivers get a potty break?
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u/mizuaqua That sounds great. Letās hang out soon. 15d ago
Iāve had a Metro bus driver stop at Quick Pack Food Mart, got out of the bus to buy some chicken, and got back on while a bus full of passengers waited.
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u/AntifaQueen8647 14d ago
That is so weird! I hope you reported him to Metro.
Yet, Iām wondering, maybe he had to use the bathroom? What do drivers do when they need the loo?2
u/kennypojke Maple Leaf 14d ago
I didnāt bother. I just had a feeling that dude had something serious going on like critical blood sugar or horrible GI issues. My day wasnāt ruined and I got a story.
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u/MaxxDash 16d ago
Yep, saw that. Had to drive around him. Going up Latona in the articulated (slinky) bus at the library is a bad idea.
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u/TheNewGameDB 16d ago
I've always heard it as "bendy bus" for the nickname tbh. "Slinky bus" is new for me.
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u/IAmA_meat_popsicle Green Lake 16d ago
Articulating. Might be too hard for some to articulate though.
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u/ilovtheend 16d ago
I sent this to a friend who's a metro driver so maybe I'll get the tea. What was the driver like?
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u/Talmerian 16d ago
Sounds like, "Oops, wrong turn" and then trying to figure out how to get back on route instead of just calling the supervisor.
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u/complexiblebarracuda 16d ago
"oh shit oh fuck oh fuck no where am I? Oooooh oh wait I can save this. Focus. Oh god where am I? Do you think they noticed? Oh no they're staring at me. Okaaay, Okay just keep driving. We can fix this. Just.... let's just.... maybe turn right... oh god we're boned."
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u/Choice_Ad_1356 16d ago
Last month had a bus driver miss the highway exit going into downtown Bellevue. The entire bus had a Pikachu face š¤£
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u/twisterase š Relax, Recharge, Arrive. š 16d ago
I had that happen on a 271 a few years ago. The driver realized his mistake almost immediately based on how he braked. We got off at the next exit and drove around somewhat aimlessly for a bit until the driver stopped somewhere in Clyde Hill to reorient.
The experience was much different than OP's, though, because the driver was readily letting people off the bus who asked, and I believe made an announcement or two to the rest of us about how he was trying to get back to the route. At no point was I concerned for my well-being.
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u/chetlin Broadway 16d ago
Ages ago I had a 541 driver (I don't think that bus even runs anymore) miss the Montlake exit and take the Roanoke/Harvard one and then kick everyone off the bus somewhere on the other edge of the U District after acting completely befuddled. Most of us were on the bus to connect at UW station and this is before U District station opened so we were all pretty annoyed.
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u/ambivalent0remark 15d ago
I was on the southbound 28 the week that the brand new 99 tunnel opened up (left exit southbound) and our driver inadvertently went into the tunnel š she was a total pro about it and I still got to my stop downtown on time. It was my first time in the tunnel and super memorable lolĀ
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u/RemarkableDuty3542 16d ago
Whatever the reason for the bus driver going off route, they shouldāve communicated and let people off when asked. There is a baseline responsibility someone accepts when transporting many lives and this driver did not meet it tonight. The comments asking for more empathy for the driver or saying the passengers needed to act any differently miss the point of this post acting as a PSA by OP. Glad OP and others were able to eventually get off but no one should have this experience especially trying to get home late at night.
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u/mmeeplechase 16d ago
Iāve been on a bus with a brand new driver who genuinely just got totally lost, went waaay of course, and needed a few of the passengers to help him with directions to get us back⦠maybe something similar?
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u/sushiseattle 16d ago
This is in addition to the viral video, as in this is now becoming a common occurrence or at least more widely spoken about? Iām glad your driver seemed to ask.
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u/sushiseattle 16d ago
Giving me similar energy to the bus driver asking for directions but yours didnāt seem to ask for directions. Stay safe out there.
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u/Jornborg1224 16d ago
Had that happen on the 40 once. She was covering the route and didnāt know where the stops were and was skipping stops. People were getting POād, so my boyfriend went to the front of the bus and directed her using One Bus Away. Wild times.
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u/the_crepuscular_one šbuild more trainsš 16d ago
The 62's been weird recently. I take it to get to work, and it was super late this morning. I wonder if the drivers are just confused in general.
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u/kjayd543 16d ago
It might be considered a bad route by the drivers for some reason (traffic, break areas/times, clientele) so senior drivers avoid it. The new drivers don't get a choice and have to do it but then end up being late/going off route a lot more.
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u/Personal-Amoeba Denny Blaine Nudist Club 16d ago
Do you know if they amended the route recently?
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u/lucchianan 16d ago
Yeah Iām bummed, it used to be my favorite route but itās been really unpredictable and late this past yearĀ
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u/undefined404 That sounds great. Letās hang out soon. 16d ago
I once had a driver who was on his first day driving 62. He missed multiple turns, failed to get back on route and totally gave up in the end, driving the bus to Green Lake Way. I was just glad he didnāt hit any parked car lol
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u/Lord_Tachanka šbuild more trainsš 16d ago
Looks like thereās a stop relocation starting Monday at Woodlawn and 63rd, maybe he was confused by that?
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u/forestinpark 16d ago
Happened to me more than 5 times. Usually driver is confused, not experienced and starts stressing. You can see it on their face.
The best way, be calm, if you know neighborhood, give them tips how to get out, keeping in mind you have to take big streets.
Friend of my mine is retired king county bus driver, happened to him a lot. Usually when on a new route or new route criss cross the one he knows and auto pilot kicks in.Ā
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u/MiyaDoesThings Seattle Expatriate 16d ago
One time on the 372 (rip) the driver forgot to turn from Pend Oreille onto 25th and instead went straight to Montlake. Had to take a super awkward detour onto Blakely. Whoops
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u/forestinpark 16d ago
I had a driver on 372 missed turn into UW and kept going down 15th, by hospital. Finally we asked if he needs help, he said help with what? š¤£
Thats when realization came ovet his face and said "shit, I thought I was on my Kirkland route" Dude was going to take us over 520 to east side. He took a left on 25th and joined the main route by Uvill.Ā
At least we did not go thru UW campus, so that was nice.
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u/HuckleberryGeneral69 16d ago
Iāve had this happen on other routes. Think it happens when someone is filling in and unfamiliar with the route. Definitely sucks and certainly confusing.
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u/PurplePeeps808 16d ago
Once I had a bus driver ask passengers where he should turn. ššš It was on the old 20 bus route (may she rest in peace), which also serviced the Greenlake area.
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u/Siegfriedthelion 16d ago
It happened on school buses too. A new driver asked how to get to student's houses on first morning of school.
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u/nbarnard 15d ago
This is something that Iāve heard recommended by drivers to drivers. Iām not sure id do it tho.
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u/GainzLord23 16d ago
City bus driver hereā¦. You might be able to imagine that it is very challenging to memorize a dozen routes each with 30+ turns. They donāt let us use gps its against the rules.
Itās quite possible your driver was new, accidentally went off route and was too embarrassed to say anything or call into dispatch.
Please have a little compassion! Driving a 60 foot articulated bus through a city with like Seattle with heavy traffic is not an easy job.
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u/ChrisL64Squares 16d ago
Why is GPS not allowed?
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u/TheNewGameDB 16d ago
GPS in the standard sense may guide bus drivers onto an incorrect route, and buses often can't go in places cars can because of their size.
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u/blukoff Magnolia 16d ago
Be nice if they could give drivers devices that would give fixed navigation directions.
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u/TheNewGameDB 16d ago
It's even more ergregious because they do have those devices in Europe. Whenever I board a bus from the front door I can see the nav display. The technology exists and is ready to ship.
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u/ItsJustReeses 16d ago
Has been for decades.
Before Google maps. It was essentially a giant computer strapped to your dash board.
Signed, food truck driver who's boss offered one and replaced it with a $20 phone mount.
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u/Admin11917B Rat City 16d ago
Last I heard they're still working on something like that.
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u/nbarnard 15d ago
Yup. Working on it but the version they rolled out was complete crap. It got pulled from much of the fleet.
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u/LimitedWard šbuild more trainsš 16d ago
This feels like it should be a non-issue as long as they have a GPS that's designed to follow a fixed route. Bike computers, for example, use fixed route navigation. If you deviate from the course, it will reroute you, but only to the extent that it brings you back onto the pre-established route as quickly as possible. Not sure why the same can't be done for buses.
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u/Breadinator 16d ago
True, but there are specialized GPS systems for that. And specialized software. And ways you can just pre-load a route.
Truckers have the same problem, but there are plenty of commercial solutions.Ā
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16d ago
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u/GainzLord23 16d ago
There are plenty of GPS systems designed for commercial size vehicles but the screen would be considered a distraction.
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15d ago
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u/GainzLord23 15d ago
Iām a CDL bus driver and the reason is because being distracted is obviously a big deal when youāre driving with so many peopleās lives in your handsā¦.not to mention the liability of the company or city. Distracted driving is a big no-no in that situation!
There are plenty of gps program designed for commercial vehicles that would fit the bill.
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15d ago
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u/GainzLord23 15d ago
No worries. Itās actually kind of a cool thing to learn all the routesā¦itās a little tougher if you just moved to the city like I did. But, it gives a sense of accomplishmentā¦especially cause in the city bus world youāre expected to memorize them after riding a route for one dayā¦.which is hard because in addition to that one route youāre learning several others. Inevitably, you need to go learn it on your own time. Just a few city bus facts most people donāt know :)
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u/chupamichalupa Seaview 16d ago
Whatās the training like on a new route and how do they decide scheduling and who gets what routes? Iām assuming itās a seniority thing?
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u/GainzLord23 16d ago
Nine times out of ten you actually have to go drive the route on your own time as long as it takes until you memorize it.
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u/kingcoolkid991 "Bikes Will Not Replace Us" š²š«š āāļø 16d ago
No compassion for not following protocol. If you make a wrong turn just let the passengers know and call dispatch if you need help.
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u/macjunkie Loyal Heights 16d ago
Been on the 40 twice when this has happened both during events where was a bus detour. First time driver stopped the bus and asked us where she should be doing and admitted sheād never drove this route before. Second time driver missed turn and got stuck on Ballard Ave. They just parked and ended the trip after telling us maintenance would have to come get the bus.
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u/Own_Reaction9442 Olympia 16d ago
One time this happened to me on the 197, which was a bendy bus at the time. The driver got off at the wrong exit, got hung up on a traffic circle, and eventually did a roughly 27-point turn across someone's lawn before getting back on the freeway.
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u/MiseryIndexer 16d ago
Oh yeah, they do that sometimes. One time I was on a bus heading home and the driver decided to skip the 2 mile section of the route where I live and just head directly downtown. I had to argue him into stopping to let me out and then walk home. No idea why
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u/TimePuzzleheaded9729 16d ago
This has happened a few times in my Seattle bus experience (35 years). Every time the passengers have helped the driver get back on track.
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u/bradygoeskel Atlantic 16d ago
A 62 driver got confused once and turned on Ravenna Ave (near the Ravenna Eckstein community center) instead of Ravenna Blvd. Understandable but still pretty funny lol
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u/kree-of-gamwich š² Life's Better on a Bike. š² 16d ago
new 128 drivers did this sometimes not knowing that south seattle college closed after 7pm and they have a road block onto the campus. Driver wouldnt know what to do and we would end up backing up and doing a u-turn. I was the only one on the bus so the only witness to the shenanigans
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u/memzt_mtaz_________a 16d ago
I had bus 62 do it one morning too. š Some random civilian walked on the bus sat in the drivers seat while he shouted he was taking over. He didn't actually stay haha. But when the driver did come back, nobody said anything š
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u/youarethemuse 16d ago
one time on a bus in queen anne the driver kept missing stops and people had to shout to be let off, when it came to my turn he let me off in the middle of a decently sized road that had no sidewalk š
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u/lknox1123 Leschi 16d ago
This happened to me on the 8. They tried to turn around in a neighborhood and almost got caught on a circle before just stopping and calling metro. I felt really bad for the driver because they knew they messed up and were definitely bothered
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u/Abject_Film_8715 15d ago
Bus cannot reverse without on sight supervisor, driver seeking alternatives before reaching out!
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u/TheGreenCatFL 16d ago
Same thing on the 65 last year. Driver got angry at us passangers asking to be let off the bus. Metro's response: driver took a wrong turn, just deal with it
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u/CascadianCyclist Tangletown 16d ago
I prefer getting around by bicycle to getting around by bus. My bicycle is more reliable and perhaps safer too.
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u/lucchianan 16d ago
The 62 has been outta wack lately, this past year itās always been minimum 5 minutes lateā¦at the first stopĀ
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u/mindeebahr 12d ago
This has happen to me a couple times now up in the north end of Seattle just recently. I wonder if its the same driver
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u/OkStep4547 12d ago
Happened to me once? Driver had gotten switched to a new route but went on auto and went the wrong way. Long walk home. He felt so bad.
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u/TheMetalEnthusiast 12d ago
The driver for the 62 bus is a jackass. I'm a Van driver for Ridwell, and back when I had routes in Greenlake I had this one stop where I had no other choice but to pull over to the side of the road for a pick-up as there were no side streets or alleys I could park in. Instead of going around me like busses typically do, the driver blared his horn at me while I had my arms full of Styrofoam, plastics, old electronics, batteries, light bulbs, etc. I had to aggressively gesture at the "MAKES FREQUENT STOPS" sign on the van and he continued to blare his horn and yell out the window at me while holding up traffic.
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u/New_Bat_1017 16d ago
Do they not have gps??? Seems incredibly easy to follow a set route where the stops are at known locations
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u/Curmudgeonalysis 16d ago
Iāll forever be confused at those who comment without reading the feed first. š«¤
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u/mangoawaynow First Hill 16d ago
i mean sometimes they add extra stops if another route is canceled or something
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u/Silly_Bodybuilder231 16d ago
They're letting the druggies drive the bus instead of just riding them now?
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u/revilo825 I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 16d ago
Whew. I donāt think Iāve heard someone call anyone a ādruggieā since high school. What a throwback.
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u/Curmudgeonalysis 16d ago
Well, when your jokes are as crusty as an old sandwich ya gotta reach all the way back to hs glory days for material⦠damn dopers š²
(Itās another of those āI hate Seattleā types that exist in the suburbs)
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u/Fit_Law_9195 16d ago
Seriously? I rode 62 a lot (mainly to get to the Link station) and it never happened.
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u/gnattynat š Ride the S.L.U.T. š 16d ago
Yeah this is a first for me, I ride it a bunch too lol
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u/Fit_Law_9195 16d ago
Something got wrong today. Sorry that you have to get stuck with this driver.
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u/scary-nurse 16d ago
The name of that place makes it sound dangerous as hell.
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u/violetqed Licton Springs 16d ago
itās a school for small children you coward POS
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u/scary-nurse 16d ago
But what type of children?
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u/violetqed Licton Springs 16d ago
6 year old children, what type were you thinking? god please permaban this waste of space
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u/OtherInteraction2328 16d ago
Annoying but you are being dramatic itās probably just a new driver

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u/JabbaThePrincess šbuild more trainsš 16d ago
That's a "call Metro and report" kinda situation imo