The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is encouraging people to celebrate “Bus Driver Appreciation Day” on March 18.
Driving a Metro bus isn’t an easy job, but the best drivers make it look that way. KCATA Metro bus drivers provided nearly 16 million trips last year, getting people to work, school, shopping and medical appointments. We are asking Kansas City to say “Thank you” to a bus driver on March 18.
Help us get the word out
KCATA encourages all riders to join us in celebrating our hard-working bus drivers. On International Bus Driver Appreciation Day, please make a point of saying “Thank you.” Printable cards are available at busdriverday.org. For those who don’t ride on March 18, a “Thank you” or a card is welcome anytime.
Why our riders say “Thanks”
The recent snow storms made customers especially appreciative of their drivers. Here’s a sample of their messages:
Beverly told us, “Thanks Metro and drivers for always being available especially on snowy days like today. Can always count on The Metro!”
Chris said, “Just want to give kudos to the 129- Boardwalk/KCI bus drivers and what a good job they have been doing under extremely unfavorable conditions. We are so appreciative of what they do and how they do it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
And Mackenzie told us, “Many, many thanks to @KCATAMetro for giving me a warm, stress-free ride to work today.”
But we also receive comments frequently about the day-in, day-out quality service that our more than 450 bus drivers provide. Customers appreciate a smile as they board the bus, watchful drivers who always have an eye on traffic, and the drivers who help blind passengers cross the street.
Why March 18?
International Bus Driver Appreciation Day was started by transit riders in Seattle in 2009. Hans Gerwitz and Shannon Thomas wrote a blog post that inspired the International Bus Driver Appreciation Day movement. They chose March 18 because it was on that day in 1662 that bus service began in Paris.
