homelessness.

I drive six different routes every week and each one of these routes takes me through the worst part of the city - the downtown eastside. So needless to say, I have a fair bit of interaction with the homeless. I've even come to develop relationships with some of them. Names have been changed to protect the Innocent (and not so innocent). There's Fred, one of the nicest men I've ever met. He always brings me up to date on the current gossip happening in the area. It seems that he knows everyone and everyone's story. He is a tad absent minded as he forgets his wallet (that contains his yearly bus pass) on a daily basis. But all in all, he has a heart of gold. And there's Jane who shuffles on to the bus every Wednesday and Thursday, sits in the very back and sings her heart out.


I've come to the conclusion that the downtown east side isn't as dangerous as people think. Sure, there are a few rotten eggs out there, but most are harmless. It's all in how you deal with them. I try to treat every single person who boards my bus with respect. I'll listen to them, talk to them and give them a transfer if they need it. It's paid off. Most now respect me and when they have a bit of change, they throw it in the fare box. And if someone on the bus is insulting me or the way that I drive these people are the first ones to stand up for me. It's a nice feeling.


I understand the skepticism people have with this area. I often see tourists, maps in hand looking bewildered, lost and frightened in the east side. Why do all of the guide books recommend that folks visit this area? It's not pretty and it sure as hell doesn't make a good first impression! I should write my own guide book, that way people see the good side of the city. Although it isn't pretty, it is safer than a lot of other areas. The police station is right on the corner and the cops patrol the streets quite frequently. To be honest, I've had more problems with passengers in the so called rich neighbourhoods than I have had in the slums.



The other day I had a tourist get on my bus downtown. He wanted to get to a location on the other side of town. I assured him that he had the right bus and I'd announce his stop for him. In order to get there, I had to drive through the east side. He started off sitting at the back of the bus. The further we went, the further he moved forward, until he was standing right next to me. "Where are we? Are we going to be okay? I didn't realise that it would be this bad." he commented. "Don't worry, we'll be fine, I drive through here every night" I responded. "I don't see how you do it. No offense but you're a small girl and I'm scared shit less right now so I can't imagine what you feel." He said. "I know it looks bad, but it's all in your attitude. If you respect them, they'll respect you. I've never had a problem so far." I replied. "I can't take this. I'm getting off and going back to my hotel. This isn't safe." He told me. Okay, suit yourself. This isn't even that bad compared to other cities. 



Tonight I pulled into my terminus stop (where I get my break) and a woman comes running up to the bus and starts pounding on the doors. I open them and let her in. "Thank you so much, those two drunks out there were harassing me and threatening me" she says. "Okay, I'll call security for you. Or if you'd rather the police?" I say. "No, I don't want to press charges, I just want them gone" she responds. So I make the call and request for someone to remove these two drunk twenty somethings from the bus stop. She then starts going on about how transit is so bad and the last bus driver let her off with these two drunks without caring about her safety. "It's because I'm native, they don't care about me" she tells me. "No. No one deserves to be harassed regardless of their race. Don't worry, someone is on their way." I tell her. I notice another driver waiting outside so I go out and chat with him, leaving the woman on the bus (with the doors shut, so the drunks can't harass her).



The drunks notice us talking and decide to come over and talk to us. One looked like he ran straight into a knife. He had a gash on his forehead that was dripping with blood. They stopped by us and attempted to say something but unfortunately with all of the alcohol they had consumed their tongue's weren't cooperating. It was all gibberish with lots of hand gestures. Eventually a supervisor arrived and escorted them off the premises. These guys were so drunk that if you touched them, they'd probably fall over. About an hour later, as I was walking home from the depot, I noticed that the police had arrested them. I figure they went across the street to the bar, got the shit kicked out of them by the bouncers who eventually got bored and called the cops.