I was waiting for my bus home at McPherson Square today (6/6/14 around 5:20 p.m.), and this bus, number 6569, pulls up. I believe it was an out of service A9. The driver, this guy who appears to be in his mid-30s and is snacking on what appears to be a SlimJim, comes too close to me. He also stares at me for longer than I’d like.
“How ya doin’?” he says.
I pointed to my headphones and said that I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone and that I wanted to listen to my music. And I didn’t apologize for not wanting to talk either because I had no reason to. I had a very long day and was looking forward to my weekend. I just wanted to be in my headspace.
He then points to his bus and asks me to board.
“That’s not mine,” I say.
I reiterated that I wasn’t in the mood to chat and then he says, “I don’t mean anything by it, baby.”
I tell him not to call me “baby,” then said, “Didn’t you take WMATA harassment training? Don’t call women ‘baby’.”
He scoffs, says, “Good god,” then walks onto his bus.
This is not the first time that a Metrobus driver has attempted to flirt with me, and this is not the first time that one has called me “baby.” I wish that these men would pay more attention to their jobs and stop trying to hit on women. It’s not a dating service. The only thing I want from these drivers is to get me to my destination.
I’ve filed this report with WMATA’s harassment site as well.
– D.
Location: McPherson Square (Washington, DC)
