On May 5, in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, an elderly person took his grandson on bus route 313 using a senior citizen card. Although there were clearly empty seats on the bus, the driver insisted that they stand instead of sitting. The video footage of this incident uploaded online has sparked public outrage.
According to Jiu Pai News, Ms. Liang, the person who captured the footage, stated that they boarded the bus at the starting station. She was standing behind the elderly person in line to board the bus. Upon hearing the elderly person mentioning Lecheng when boarding, the driver immediately said that Lecheng was very close by, so there was no need to sit down. As a result, the elderly person had to stand to allow his grandson to sit down. However, the driver then asked the grandson to stand up, stating that the seat should be left for someone else. The elderly person ended up standing throughout the approximately 10-minute bus ride until they got off.
The video clearly shows that there were many vacant seats on the bus, yet the elderly person had to stand near the bus door with his grandson. The elderly person, who appeared to be around 60 or 70 years old, was bending down, while the young grandson looked around 5 or 6 years old. The elderly person held onto the handrail with one hand and held the grandson in the other arm to prevent him from falling.
The video circulating online has triggered widespread anger among netizens. Many have expressed sympathy for the elderly person and the child. “This behavior completely goes against professional ethics.” “Doesn’t the driver have elderly family members or children at home?” “What if the elderly person falls due to a sudden brake? “Public transportation, utilities, and postal services are essential for people’s livelihoods and receive financial support. They are considered state-owned enterprises and should not be entirely market-oriented.” “The greatest evil in the world is oppression among the lower class!”
In response to the incident, Zhaoqing Gao Yao District Smart Transport Development Co., Ltd. issued a notice on May 6 stating that the driver’s behavior did not reflect care for special passenger groups. The driver has been suspended, and further disciplinary action will be taken, including the deduction of performance bonuses.
The notice faced criticism from netizens. “The phrase ‘not properly arranging seats for the elderly and children’ seems too understated. In reality, the driver seriously violated the bus company’s regulations, infringing upon the rights of elderly people holding preferential cards to ride the bus. There are significant problems in job awareness, so the driver should be dismissed.” “There must be a strong demand for the dismissal of this driver. It cannot be just a suspension. How can someone with such a bad temper ensure the safety of passengers on board?”
Some netizens speculated, “The driver may be in a bad mood because of delayed wages.” “Public transportation companies are facing widespread operational difficulties, with delayed subsidies from the government. Employees of public transportation companies should not let their emotions affect their work.”