This week’s column in The Kerryman newspaper.
Michael Commane
It takes all types to make up the world. Every profession and workforce have the good, the bad and the in-between.
Because there is no large urban area in Kerry we don’t have the same exposure to bus drivers as the people in our cities. Of course we have Bus Éireann services, the new Local Link buses, which are proving a godsend to so many people, and we also have some private operators.
On Easter Monday I had a journey of about 12 kilometres to get to Dublin’s Blackrock. The plan was to cycle the first three kilometres, then put my fold- up on the bus for the next seven kilometres and back on the rothar for the final two kms.
I placed the bicycle in the bay inside the door, locking it to the bar, and went upstairs.
I was late coming downstairs before my stop. Rushing to unlock the bicycle I broke the key while it was in the lock. It meant I couldn’t get the bicycle off the bus.
I was in panic, as later that day I was attending a funeral Mass in Tallaght. I refuse to tell you about some of my embarrassing antics trying to break the lock. Eventually the driver said he had to drive on. Of course. I travelled on a number of stops. Gave the driver my name and phone number and got off the bus. Ran across the road and got a bus heading back towards Blackrock. Told the driver my story. He phoned bus control. The driver told me not to panic, all would work out.
At approximately 1.30pm shortly after I had arrived in Tallaght for the funeral Mass Dublin Bus phoned me. They sent a car out to meet the bus my bicycle was on, managed to remove the lock and told me that the bicycle was waiting for me in Donnybrook Garage.
Later that evening I called to the bus depot and collected my rothar. I only had the first name of the driver. After making some enquiries I got a second name. There are over 700 drivers working out of Donnybrook Garage so I hope I got the correct last name.
I left the man a bottle of wine. I hope he gets it, and if he doesn’t I hope someone enjoys a glass on me and, indeed, on the driver.
How helpful everyone was. The two drivers, the man who phoned me and then the man I met in the office when I went to collect the bicycle.
Just think of the value of a kind act for word and the ripple effect it can have. Deep in my DNA it’s easy for me to have a bête noire. I am far too quick to see the negative side in a person and then far too slow to appreciate their good points.
Nobody is all good and nobody is all bad. Can you imagine what I think of Dublin Bus drivers these days. I’d let no one say a bad word about them. That’s the way of the world.
It’s the small kind personal act and word that so often touches our lives, changes our minds and makes us open to the world.
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