Yesterday I took our girl to Technorama in Winterthur. Fabulous place with lots to do.
Because we used public transport and there are only two buses an hour, we left just before it closed. As we exited the building I saw the bus at the stop, it was due to leave at 17.00. We ran to catch it and I am certain the driver saw us and deliberately pulled away probably 25 seconds early. We had to wait another 30 minutes in freezing weather for the next. Would it be worth writing to the company that runs it? I would need to go back to find out which bus firm it was, but they would surely know which driver was on that particular route at that time.
I am not sure what outcme I want from this, an apology would be nice though.
Would I be wasting my time and effort? Any views on this anyone?

I agree, it is so frustrating and annoying when a bus does that, however I think you would be completely wasting your own time making a complaint - you will not get an apology!!

It's very common! Sometimes the driver is genuinely concentrating on the on coming traffic that he is about to join and hence not aware of people running to catch the bus but other times they knowingly do that as it seems to turn them on. Good and bad drivers out there!

If the bus left early, I would definitely complain.

Sorry about your expierence. This happens to me when I am in Luzern sometimes. I think they take a similar stance as the tram drivers in Zürich do, once the doors are shut and they are on scheduel they make no exceptions.

That I don't mind actually. It's the teasing part that I don't like. Btw I have seen people go crazy on the tram door and window. I have even seen people run to the next tram station to have a go at the driver

That was blooming quick.
I think the biggest problem would be proving he left early, how can you prove that your wristwatch is set to the atomic clock? (It isn't actually set like that, I use the pips off the BBC) As for pulling out into traffic, he was in a sort of car park bus stop so no traffic to pull out into. I suppose I'd better stop getting angry about it and accept that the next time we go I will drive.

Had the same problem with a tram driver in Glatt ... he saw me running (friggin' cold day), closed the doors, grinned, waved and pulled out (one minute before scheduled departure time).

...

No need to do that! Just make sure that you are a couple of minutes early for the bus. Not even Swiss bus drivers are infallible. Maybe his watch was wrong, maybe he wanted to get home for dinner. In my experience public transport runs like clockwork around 95% of the time which is pretty impressive compared to the rest of the world!

you may rejoice in the fact that this was the highlight of his day. Wave gleefully back to him and he'll become confused

Have we been observing the same people? I have seen this as well. What always gets me though is (especially in Zurich at rush hour) that the next tram is literally 4 minuets or less away. . . .

I think most of the bus drivers are not Swiss these days

...this being Switzerland, I'll bet they get more complaints about being late that leaving too early. While I can imagine a driver wanting to pick up a few seconds here and there for his smoke break, I doubt there is any illwill, though we might easily project that on a normally dour, sour grim face that always looks that way.

In any case, I'm glad I'm not a bus driver, damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Yeah but have you seen someone do a flying monkey kick?

all the ones I've encountered typically are. Especially Postbus.

Cite sources if you can prove it

You must live in the posh part Postbus is upper crust

No, point wildly at his front wheel, put your fingers in your ears and screw up your face as if expecting a loud explosion - now THAT will confuse him.

After he slams to a halt and runs out to have look, nonchalantly get in the bus as though nothing happened...

Pretty common in the Swiss cities, Geneva was awful as well.

But I have experienced more laid back and passenger-thinking drivers at the small towns.

I've had Basel tram drivers wait if they've seen me running - particularly when I've had the pushchair or been carrying baby in the Snuggli (baby pouch).

Cheers,
Nick

I must say I was very grateful this morning. I was hobbling as fast as I could and the bus was pulling out but I waved, pleading to myself, and the lovely bus lady stopped and opened the doors.

My physiotherapist said she had a similar experience (the driver waiting while she ran for the bus) and so the next day she gave him chocolates and she's always had the bus wait for her since.