Miami-Dade bus driver’s act of kindness goes viral

Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) operators go above and beyond to serve our community through both their everyday work and small acts of kindness outside the job description. Although those small acts may often go unnoticed, this wasn’t the case for Metrobus operator T’Yanna Sims on a recent Saturday while driving her route in Miami Beach.

Operator Sims was driving her bus along Washington Avenue on Route 120, a familiar route for the 23-year-old operator who started working for the department back in January 2020. As she drove, a visually impaired passenger told her that he needed to get to Collins Avenue and 5th St.

"As I was pulling up to Washington and 5th, I was observing the traffic and I saw it was hectic," Sims said.

Sims pulled over at the bus stop on Washington and 5th St. She was watching the passenger and noticed him wobble as he got out of his seat to exit the bus. Without hesitation, she got out of her seat and offered the passenger help.

"I exited the bus behind him and offered a helping hand," she said. "He told me he had wanted to ask me for help but didn’t know how I would respond."

Unbeknownst to Sims, a Metrobus rider saw the interaction, took out his camera phone, and began recording. The video was later shared on the popular Instagram account of @OnlyInDade where it has amassed over 230,000 views.

As shown in the viral video, Sims held the man’s arm and helps him to cross bustling Washington Ave.

"He asked me to place his hand on the wall so that he could walk down to Collins," Sims said. "I placed his hand on the wall and let him know to walk straight until he doesn’t feel the wall anymore, then he would be at Collins and 5th."

Her simple act of kindness quickly circulated throughout the community on social media and she was also featured in a story on WSVN Channel 7.

"I was amazed and shocked,” Sims said. “I felt really good to know that I helped someone. People were really proud of the good deed."

Sims comes from a family with strong ties to Miami-Dade’s Metrobus system. Her grandfather, Donald Thompson, spent 37 years at MDT, working for 11 years as a bus driver and 26 years as a bus supervisor. Sims’ aunt, Chantel Simpkins, has been an operator with the department for nine years and an instructor for four years.

Providing excellent service is at the forefront of Sims’ mind when she boards her bus at the start of a shift. She says it’s the dedication to serve her community that motivates her as an operator.

"There is more happiness in giving than receiving," she said.