METRO VANCOUVER -- Santa could be coming to a bus stop near you. "Rebel with a Claus," Kirk Rockwell, won the right Thursday to keep wearing his Santa suit behind the wheel.

After massive public outcry, Coast Mountain Bus Co. backed down from an earlier edict that had prohibited drivers from wearing anything but their uniforms.

Hundreds of people called or emailed Coast Mountain dismayed by its lack of Christmas spirit, while others tweeted about how Vancouver was no fun, and suggested Coast Mountain was the corporate Grinch.

"There was overwhelming customer support at what the driver was doing. We really underestimated the public's support for his holiday spirit," said Stan Sierpina, Coast Mountain's vice-president of operations. "We have a lot of customers out there and we value their input."

Rockwell has dressed as Santa and decorated his bus with garlands and toys during the month of December for the past 16 years. But he was told last week that he would no longer be allowed to decorate his bus or dress like Santa during working hours because it violated Coast Mountain's uniform policy.

He refused to follow the order, saying he had to stand up for what he believes in. But despite passengers coming up and supporting him Thursday, Rockwell admits he was nervous going to work, after he was splashed over newspapers and TV screens in his Santa suit.

He wasn't even sure what to expect when he got the call from Coast Mountain while picking up passengers at Kootenay Loop, 45 minutes before his shift ended.

"I was pretty much on guard," Rockwell, 51, said. "I'm very pleased at how fast everything went. I'm so overwhelmed with the public, the riders, the media ... and the support from the union and my coworkers was phenomenal.

"I got an early Christmas present. I wouldn't have given up on it but I was glad we didn't have to have a major showdown."

Sierpina said the uniform policy was put in place last year for several reasons, but mainly for public and operator safety, noting it's important that drivers are easily identifiable in case of an accident.

Another reason, he said, was to ensure "fairness and consistency," noting many drivers come from different backgrounds. The company will now review the uniform policy.

"We did the right thing. We've already told him to keep on wearing the Santa suit while he's on duty," Sierpina said. "It's that time of year and we never want to offend the public. We value their support."

Nathan Woods, president of Unifor 111, which represents bus drivers, said Rockwell — "a rebel with a Claus " — credited the media and the public with the reversal.

"It looks like Santa won."

ksinoski@vancouversun.com