Gee, would you have written “inebriated Caucasian woman” or “inebriated black woman”?

I sure hope not. You might want to examine your prejudices.

Here’s are some realities for all of us, be we riders (I not only drive buses, I ride them and so does my family):

-everyone is allowed on the bus, even the intoxicated

-drivers are extremely limited in how we can respond to problem passengers either before or during their ride on the bus

-passengers are allowed to use cell phones to call for help and look up information – drivers can be suspended merely for having a cell phone on their person which is turned on

-passengers are allowed to carry semi-automatic weapons – drivers can be suspended for having so much as a cannister of pepper spray on a key chain

-schedules are not written by drivers – they’re written by Schedulers using software to predict the often unpredictable (traffic patterns; obstacles; passenger load variances; and mechanical issues

-operating trolley buses (such as the #10) offers particular challenges involving the nature of the equipment, the diversity of the customer base, the frequency of operation (sometimes with as little as 10-15 minute headway) and a lack of prompt support from SPD and/or Metro Transit Security

-Operating buses on narrow city streets – like on Madison, 15th, etc. – can be difficult as lanes are narrow, cars often park at an unsafe distance from the curb, and signs, etc. have frequently been placed at close proximity to the curb (1 foot or less)

-passengers themselves are often ignorant of bus rules and etiquette – a reality not based on socioeconomic status so much as a general lack of awareness or experience riding. Standing right next to the curb risks collission with a bus mirror or door as it opens. Many passengers (often staring into the screens of their phones) reflexively begin loading when the front door opens – without first allowing passengers to exit.

-lots more.

So Michael and Nick – what do I propose to “make the bus suck less” at least from a bus driver’s perspective? First and foremost to communicate about some of the challenges that we as Operators face in the day to day doing of our jobs.

Stereotyping is a biggle. There are a heck of a lot of us out here with college degrees who have joined the profession after prior careers. We have book authors, nurses, teachers, social workers, and ministers in our ranks. Having become a driver at age 42 myself after 20 years in nonprofit organizations and a lot of other jobs – I can say with confidence that the people that I’ve encountered at Metro as drivers, supervisors, and administrators are among the finest, smartest, and hardest working that I’ve ever met.

So what YOU can do to “make riding the bus suck less” for starters is to give us a bit of a break. Understand that we may face challenges that you do not see; that we face barriers that you may not be aware of; that we darn well care very much that your ride is a safe and if not enjoyable at least not a frightening or “sucky” one.

And forgive us if we yawn once inawhile for crying out loud.

-w

NONE of these are “valid points” nor are his others on how the driver dealt with onboard security issues. They are nitpicky, whiny bullshit.

What “problems” has Michael identified? Let’s see a list of bullet points? What “solutions” has he (or you) proposed: answer “make riding the bus suck less”. Wow. I didn’t know they had so many middle-aged looking dudes with beards writing blogs from the Jr. High lunchroom.

I am part of the solution. Now feel free to do a better job identifying the “problem” (I propose that a bus driver observed yawning does not constitute a ‘problem’), and at least make a minimal effort at offering some possible solutions beyond “make riding the bus suck less”.

-jw

I think Michael brings up some very valid points. I don’t get why YOU are offended. He didn’t personally attack you, he made statements about the transit system in general. And those items SHOULD be dealt with. Or is your preferred method of problem solving to stick your head in the sand and pretend it will all get better on it’s own?

As the old saying goes: You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Which side are you on?

And I’m STILL looking for actual constructive suggestions from you (beyond the ejector seat idea) on how to make riding the bus “suck less”. This particular monotribe comes across more as a bunch of whining from an out of touch yuppie who tends to look down his nose at others.

As to “taking the bus out of service” – drivers are the target of numerous assaults each year (as are passengers) from disruptive riders. Our instructions are to call in issues as they arise and follow instructions that we’re given. Are you really suggesting that holding the entire bus captive in proximity to this on-board conflict would have been a better solution than what the driver did (and was instructed to do)?

As to making stops when nobody requested a stop, we have what are called “time points” which we must adhere to. In short – we’re not allowed to be early and must occasionally stop the bus and “hold for time” to allow the clock to catch up to the schedule.

Not that you appear to care about actual facts or explanations – just how something you don’t understand (or care to) affects YOU.

Clueless much?

Looking forward to those actual solutions – and less whining. I characterize your article (not your experience) as bullshit and blather because that’s exactly what it is. BTW – operators (including ATU 587 board members) are actively participating in the TRU, and were at the meeting the other night.

As I say, I have no idea what this particular problem was, and I don’t have any interest in being a back-of-the-bus operator. But taking an entire bus out of service can’t be an optimal solution to a single (sort of) disruptive passenger. Someone was probably in the right, and someone in the wrong, but that didn’t make the bus go.

As for the rest, you seem to have misread what I wrote (the operator stopped for an empty stop when no one on board had requested a stop), or have imagined excuses without being there and ignored the parts that don’t fit (stopping in front of a pole isn’t great driving). If an operator can’t make it through a 16-hour day without grogginess–understandably–maybe the takeaway is that 16-hour days are too long.

“Making the bus suck less” isn’t about placing blame or finding excuses: it’s just looking at things from a passenger’s perspective, determining if things can be improved, and prioritizing what to push for. Your tactic of minimizing a passenger’s experience as bullshit and blather is exactly why a Transit Union is called for.