Be careful out there Wally!

It's the Silly Season, stress, money, shopping, crazies....

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12012008/news/regionalnews/bus_driver_stabbed_to_death_by_rider_141730.htm

Yeah, I saw that this morning, immediately worried about him.

You okay, Wally?

Margie

Yeah Wally, pipe up. Let us know you are OK.

His last post was 10:28 on the 1st...Wally please let us know you're OK!

Can anyone call the funnel cake shops in New York and ask if they've seen him?

Maybe call the pretzel vendors as well?

I was able to get on NYPost.com, according to the latest update as of 8:10 AM 12/2 it wasn't Wally. Unless he's changed races.

It's terrible to hear of this. I am just glad it wasn't our resident Renaissance Man/funnel cake freak.

No it wasn't me thank God. I got out of Brooklyn 8 years ago and don't plan on going back. There have been alot of nuts out lately but lucily this doesn't happen often. It is one of the things I don't miss about driving. Very few people come after the paper shufflers.

You don't drive the bus anymore? I wondered how you posted so much.

I is a stupidvisor now. I stand on a street corner and tell people what to do and fill out paperwork. It's less headaches and fewer angry people. :D

Thanks for everyones concern. Oddly I've heard from most of my friends to see if I was okay or stuck doing paperwork but not a word from my family.

You know, some of us from the magazine were hoping to ride Wally's bus the next time we're in New York. As Margie just said, there goes the big reason to visit.

Glad it wasn't you Wally :)

A member of our motorsports club drives city bus, Mr Niteowl (challenge Rampage) and I hopped on his bus one night just for fun.

Lesley wrote: I hopped on his bus one night just for fun.

Lesley, Is that code?

Wally, glad you are safe. Keep out of the way from the crazies. Just curoius, the stabbing was over not getting a free transfer. What is the cash value of that?

-John

Yup! 8)

jrw1621 wrote: Just curoius, the stabbing was over not getting a free transfer. What is the cash value of that? -John

If you pay your fare in cash you get a free transfer to take a second bus. If you don't pay anything your not supposed to get a transfer.

So if I understand this right, the guy didn't pay for the free transfer and was pissed that he didn't get it? Wow. People in NYC sure seem touchy.

Boy, I'm glad to hear it wasn't you Wally! Myheart goes out to the family of the driver though.

Wally wrote:

jrw1621 wrote: Just curoius, the stabbing was over not getting a free transfer. What is the cash value of that? -John

If you pay your fare in cash you get a free transfer to take a second bus. If you don't pay anything your not supposed to get a transfer.

I thought if you didn't pay.. you can't ride?

That was a long time ago. To try and cut down on assaults and keep the traffic moving the driver is supposed to remind the person how much the fare is and go on with his day. In some neighborhoods like where this took place the fare is just wishfull thinking, like those kettles in front of the grocery stores. The police have enough to do without being called everytime someone doesn't want to pay a bus fare.

wow.

Thanks wally. Glad you are OK.

Now I know why my sister rides the subway up there.. Soooo much safer.(sarcasm)

Actually, since the subway has gates you don't have the fare evasion problem that the buses do, and most areas the buses are safe as well. If your sister was in the Bed-Sty section of Brooklyn riding anything I'd worry about her safety

She lives in park slope brooklyn.

Someone on the replies to that article mentioned adding a plexiglass barrier. I think the day may come when that needs happen. Sad what the world is coming to.

Wally, this morning I heard they arrested a 20 year old for murder.

Dan

Quite a record he had amassed for a 20 year old. How do you serve nine months for attempted murder?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/12/02/2008-12-02_parolee_held_in_bus_drivers_death_busted.html

NY Daily News said: The paroled ex-con suspected in the vicious slaying of a Brooklyn bus driver was free to kill despite a violent past that included a July bust for toting a knife in the subway. Horace Moore, 20, was barely out of prison on an attempted murder conviction when he was grabbed four months ago with the folding knife aboard a C train in Brooklyn, the Daily News learned Tuesday. The paroled recidivist - who's been busted at least eight times since 2002 - was released after the knife arrest, sources told The News. The case was adjourned, and Moore was told the charge would be dropped if he stayed out of trouble, the sources said. He instead plunged a knife into the chest of veteran driver Edwin Thomas before a busload of horrified riders on Monday afternoon, authorities said. Moore's long rap sheet includes busts for robbery, grand larceny and knocking up his 13-year-old girlfriend when he was 17. Moore, of Brooklyn, received youthful offender status on the 2006 attempted murder charge, leading to a reduced sentence of 1 to 3 years, sources said. Details of the sealed case were not available Tuesday. He served only about nine months on the sweetheart deal before his release in February, sources said. The drug-dealing Moore's latest arrest, after one of his marijuana-buying regulars gave him up to police, was the lone bit of emotional balm for Thomas' devastated family.