The courses were provided by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality’s Electricity, Gas and Bus General Directorate (EGO).
A previously conducted survey revealed that passengers complain most about drivers’ lack of courtesy, EGO General Manager Ömer Ulu said, adding that they then decided to launch courses for drivers to address this problem.
Previous years saw complaints about worn-out and old buses, Ulu said. “We handled complaints about buses by purchasing ones that run on natural gas. We then began offering courses to our drivers, who work long hours, to provide customers with better service and for the drivers themselves to feel good about themselves. So far, we’ve received positive feedback from our drivers,” he said.
Counselor Gülgün Karahalil said the courses were delivered to groups of 50 drivers and added that visible changes in the drivers’ attitude and behavior have been observed. “Some of the drivers are now more sensitive and have even begun to bring home flowers to give to their spouses,” Karahalil noted.
Several of the drivers who attended the courses also said they expect passengers to respect them and the work they do. Additional courses will soon be offered, including courses on speed-reading and computer literacy, Ulu said.
