Thanking bus drivers when getting off is an unspoken rule that most Australians follow.
But one Slavic expat’s video questioning the act has gone viral, with nearly two million views and comments of locals explaining why it’s done.
The woman who lives in Mandurah, Western Australia shared a clip of her getting off the bus online, with the caption: “Why do people in Australia say ‘thank you’ to the bus driver? Everyone does it.”
“Can you imagine how many times he says ‘thank you’ during his shift?”
Aussies took to the comments to explain that it’s just basic manners
One viewer wrote “It’s cultural and being polite.”
“It feels good to be nice to others,” another person added. “Simple as that.”
“I get in someone’s vehicle, and they drive me to my destination safely. I will thank them,” a third wrote.
A few bus drivers also shared their experience saying that it’s a small but meaningful gesture.
“As a bus driver, for me personally, it’s a humbling feeling that you have been recognised enough for the passengers to say thanks,” one said.
“Many people walk on and say nothing.”
@aussie_blonde8 The most interesting fact is that the bus driver always says ‘thank you’ in return. Can you imagine how many times he says ‘thank you’ during his shift? 😅 #australia #perthisok #fyp #fy #trending ♬ original sound – aussie_blonde
Others argued that it was the least you could do, especially with buses no longer taking cash.
“Life is losing its human touch and this might be someone’s only opportunity to talk to someone outside of their social circle,” one user wrote.
However, the woman who posted the video replied to many of the commenters saying she didn’t think “someone doing their job” warranted such praise.
“What does saying ‘thank you’ to the bus drivers have to do with being polite? I mean, does your boss say ‘thank you’ to you when you finish your shift? The best ‘thank you’ is your salary, isn’t it?” she wrote.
“He doesn’t do something for me, and it’s not his vehicle. It’s his job, and I pay for my ride,” she added in response to another comment.
While a few places share this habit, in many European countries like Germany, Spain, Slovenia and Denmark, thanking or greeting the bus drivers is not natural.
An etiquette expert has even responded to this viral video, telling news.com.au that while saying “thank you” to bus drivers in Australia isn’t formal etiquette, it’s a “tiny low-effort gesture that reflects our egalitarian, community-minded culture.”
“One of the things that has always impressed me about NSW and Australia is the simple decency of people saying thank you as they step off a bus,” Transport for NSW Coordinator General Howard Collins added.
“It might seem small, but it says a lot. It shows respect for the people who keep our city moving every day.”
Images: TikTok
