Bus Driver Story From Hell--TEMPTED ON MY LAST TRIP

ride along, it's been awhile

It was February 4, 2022, when I reported to work as a professional transit operator for King County Metro for the last time. My base chief met me and told me this would be the last time he’ll see me. It will be my Last Trip. He told me those who received a notice that they’ve been temporarily removed off their route until further notice never return. I was being taken off my route because I failed to comply with the new company policy. A policy ordered by Governor Jay Inslee. All state employees must be CV19 vaccinated or face termination. My termination day had arrived.

Der Chief said he’s losing all of his best drivers like me. Not many receive the 20-year safe driving jacket. Seattle streets are a driving nightmare for all who dare enter. One slight clip on your right-side mirror deemed your fault and you lose—LOSER. There were at least one thousand six hundred and sixty-sex close calls. God was on my side. I’m on a mission from God. You must know by now. It MUST not be interrupted. I was emotionless.

My Last Trip was on the 271 route, run 15. The route zigzags from Issaquah P&R to Eastgate P&R, then continues zigzagging to Bellevue Transit Center, across the 520 bridge and finishing at the masked up, vaxx’d up, gloved up, lubed up, fucked up University campus. I believe the zigzag trip is just over an hour long. Detailed map below.

Shown below on my last trip at the Bellevue Transit Center. Time is 5:06 and I am plus one minute and thirty fucking seconds. Perfect. What a goddamn professional. Fire me.

I’ll be parking my bus for the final time around 5:45PM. A six-and-a-half-hour route and I’m paid for eight. Perfekt. Maximum speed on the speedometer reads 85MPH. No fucking way. I tried. The mechanics have it rigged so it won’t go over 65MPH. Another example of technology taking us backwards. Slowing humans down.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.”—1 Corinthians 10:13

As I sat there waiting to pull out I was tempted. It happens—common to mankind. Tempted to turn on the PA and announce, “GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THIS WILL BE MY LAST DAY AS YOUR EXCELLENT BUS DRIVER. NO, I DON’T HAVE COVID. I’M BEING FIRED BY OUR FUCKING ASSHOLE PRICK GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE FOR FAILING TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEDICAL EXPERIMENT. MY BODY MY CHOICE RIGHT SEATTLE? THERE IS NO LAW REQUIRING ME TO PARTICIPATE. AN ORDER ISN’T A LAW, NOR IS A MANDATE. ALSO, THERE IS NO FEDERAL LAW SAYING ALL OF YOU WITH YOUR MASK ON MUST WEAR A MASK ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS KING COUNTY METRO CLAIMS, AS THEY HAVE AFFIXED TO THE FRONT DOOR, REAR DOOR AND ON THE SIDES OF THE BUS AND IN YOUR BRAIN.

TAKE OFF THE GODDAMN THING IF YOU WANT AND BREATH. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME AND THINK THERE IS A FEDERAL LAW REQUIRING MASK WEARING ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTION ASK KING COUNTY METRO FOR A COPY OF IT AS I HAVE DONE. THEY WILL NOT RESPOND. YOU MIGHT ALSO ASK THEM WHY THE MASKED-UP PERSON SHOWN ON THE STICKER DOOR IS A BLACK PERSON. HAVE A GREAT FUCKING LIFE. I WILL MISS LOOKING AT SOME OF YOU, LIKE YOU AND YOU. BUCKLE UP AND HANG ON. IF TEMPTED FEEL FREE TO EXIT OUT OF EITHER DOOR WHEN YOUR STOP ARRIVES.”

THE END—OH WELL