Daily News Goes After Abusive Riders as "Beasts on Buses"

Video captured the confrontation between Bus Operator Howard McLean and an angry 16-year old who repeatedly insulted and taunted him.

NOVEMBER 17 -- In a copyrighted story, Daily News columnist Pete Donohue takes hundreds of thousands of readers on a tour of bus assault stats -- and it isn't pretty. Donohue documents the fact that between January and October, nearly 100 City bus drivers were spat upon, and another 71 were slapped, punched, kicked, "or even attacked with weapons." Donohue zeroes in on the case of Bus Operator Howard McLean, who was only one driver "subject to a steady and disgusting torrent of abuse." What's the answer? Why have Bus Operators become "regular targets for a lot of frustrated and angry people"? Whatever the reason, it's something that has to stop -- now. Read Donohue's column here.