ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Petersburg bus driver has become a beloved fixture in the city’s downtown.

Terrence Brown drives a free trolley-style “Looper” bus and has a reputation for going out of the way to make people feel welcome in downtown.

Brown has been driving a Looper bus for about 15 years and he loves telling riders about downtown.

“There’s just so much to tell people. The food scene is wonderful,” said Brown. “The music is great. The art is probably second only to New York City. And we are gaining on them when it comes to art.”

Brown likes to strike up conversations with riders like Andrew Montgomery and his mother Karen. He told them about the Palladium Theater as they drove by.

“And if you ever get a chance, there is a musical they put on here,” he told them. “It’s called Webb City. And the acting and singing is second to none.”

Brown said he really enjoys the people of St. Petersburg.

“You know, I like to give people a nice tour,” he said. “I like to inform them how great our city is and how great the people are here.”

Sometimes Brown will pull his bus over to say hello to riders who aren’t getting on his bus. That was the case when he spotted an elderly man who he hadn’t seen in a while.  

“Where have you been?” Brown said as he motioned for the man to come closer to the open doors of the bus. Brown got out and asked the man how he was doing. “I was worried about you. I was praying for you this morning because I was saying to myself, ‘I haven’t seen Bob.’”

One of Brown’s biggest fans is Alex Edmiston.

Edmiston said he wasn’t a regular Looper rider, but said Brown stopped one day to ask him why he hadn’t seen his wife on their regular morning walks. Turns out Edmiston’s wife was dealing with a health issue. The two men became friends.

Brown credits his Jehovah's Witness faith for his kindness.

“Just being nice to people doesn’t take a lot of work,” he said. “But when you do it, it’s very rewarding.”