Senior Citizen on a CTA Bus

By Steve Larsen, one of our reporters from Evanston

(Editor’s note: This account was written in August of 2020.  Maybe some people were just having a bad day.  Maybe it was a day to disrespect a senior citizen.)

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8-18-20, 5:20 PM, northbound, Broadway 36, CTA Bus Driver Badge #62119, Bus #1873

I saw another driver disregard the safety of a senior citizen passenger today.  The passenger boarded the bus at Clark & Division.

Once the passenger had paid with his card, he turned and headed toward a nearby seat.  But the driver did not wait for the senior citizen to reach the seat and set down his two large bags.

Instead, he hit the gas pedal very hard and sent the passenger flying toward the seat.  The passenger hit his knee on the seat and almost flew into the row behind the seat.

When did disrespecting senior citizens become a funny game on the CTA buses?

It was clear to everyone on the bus that the driver -- number 62119 -- had done this on purpose.

When passengers are carrying two bags, they cannot hold onto poles or seats, of course.  Perhaps the driver did not know this?

We are maybe supposed to believe this was an accident?