'I'm known as the happiest bus driver in Leeds - what's the point in being miserable?'
With a passion for bus driving and a persistently positive attitude, Nick Mitchell is known across Leeds as the city’s happiest bus driver.
Online, he regularly shares tales of his workdays, advice for passengers, and uplifting messages to brighten people’s day. As hundreds of people respond, Nick has formed a community united by a love of buses and appreciation of bus drivers.
But how did he become Leeds’ happiest bus driver? Nick, from Bramley, first became a bus driver three years ago and pursuing this career was a childhood dream.
“I’ve been mad on buses since I was little,” he says. “I liked big vehicles, I liked talking to people, so I thought bus driving might suit me.”
The now 36-year-old previously worked in the fast food industry for 16 years. After “years of patience” while building his driving experience, he finally became a trainee bus driver at First Bus in 2023. It was a scary yet exciting experience.
“The first time (driving a bus) was a bit nerve-racking,” he says. “You’ve got to bear in mind that it’s a huge vehicle - it feels like you’re driving your own car but just five times as large.”
Over time, Nick became familiar with the feeling and is now a qualified bus driver. Across the week, he regularly drives the number 4, 16, and 49 buses across Pudsey, Seacroft, Whinmoor, and Bramley.
On board, Nick enjoys banter with his passengers and is known for telling jokes to brighten people’s day.
In August 2024, he decided to post about life as a bus driver on the community Facebook group Leeds Place.
His first post offered straightforward advice for passengers who were accidentally paying for the bus with both a ticket and their bank card.
“It started out as a simple post on Facebook as I’d been reading that some people had been charged with their bank card when they scanned their ticket on their phone,” he explains.
“From there it became hints and tips for how to use the buses and it went viral instantly.”
Now Nick regularly shares advice on social media, with each post accompanied by a smiling selfie in front of a bus, which has led to him becoming recognised across Leeds and further afield.
Nick says: “Every time I go places, I’ve had people come up to me and ask for a quick selfie. It’s not just in Leeds.
"Once I was coming back to Leeds from London and there were some people I didn’t realise were my passengers that said ‘you’re that bus driver’. That was quite fun and cheerful.”
Known across Leeds for his optimism, Nick sees a positive outlook as the best way to get through life and his motivation is to make others smile too.
“I was once in a bad situation when I was young and I said to myself ‘what’s the point in being miserable when you can stay positive?’ That got me to where I am today,” he reflects. “I just like making people happy.”