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For New Bus Drivers: Thoughts, Tips, and Stories

5/18/2021

14 Comments

 
Picture
EDIT: I'm bumping this up by request– sounds like more of us are thinking about becoming bus drivers!

Generally, bus drivers don’t talk about driving. They talk about people. You might think this job's greatest challenge is maneuvering those big lugs, but it's funny how easy the driving eventually becomes. It's our planet's fellow cohabitants that make this gig the challenge it is, and what justify its status as the all-singing, all-dancing customer service profession of all time. Nothing else comes close.

It's possible to have a great time doing this job. I promise (days like this and this are what keep me comin' back!). Crusty senior colleagues will tell you it's only a matter of time till your enthusiasm cracks. They have the experience to back that up– their own. Their experiences are valid, but they don't have to be yours. Nod and smile politely, appreciate the good qualities and ideas they do have, but remember: you have control over your experience. I've been doing this for twelve years, and I've driven the "worst" routes, at the "worst" times, on the "worst" days, for years on end. I love this stuff. They're going to tell you you're going to become miserable, gain weight, become jaded, injured... but the evidence is that some of us are still here. Yes, you'll find your patience pushed on certain days to the absolute limit. But.

You have control over your own experience. 

This job, like others but moreso, is a mirror; you'll get out of it just what you put in, in unexpected ways. Not everyone you greet will respond, and not everyone you're kind to will return the favor. That's okay. Things come back in a larger, subtler way. You say hello and help out, not to get kudos or acknowledgment (though you'll often get that), but to do your part. To feel the relaxed ease of being your good self, of having nothing to prove and nowhere to be in a hurry. 

You're getting paid; you need to be nice. They're not getting paid. They don't have to be anything. They're going through things you couldn't imagine. Just help and acknowledge, help and acknowledge. They may not love you today, but they may later. Others certainly will. Positive attitudes get noticed, and respect has massive currency on the street.

You may have a few days where you go home stressed or unhappy. The important thing is, as they say in dieting, to not let it become a habit. Eat that wedding cake, but not every day. Identify patterns of negative thought or behavior early on and do something about them. Sure, you'll have a few days out of the year that go spectacularly poorly. It happens. Don't be discouraged; as the wise man said, we learn more from failing than succeeding. The trick is to just not do it too often! Think about how you'll deal with whatever it is next time, how to think about it next time– because there will be a next time, believe me. The fix might be as simple as a tone change of tone or perspective. 

Below are a few links I urge you to check out. Maybe you only have time to bookmark this page for later. I get that. But keep in mind these three bullet points as you start your next trip:

  • Do not concern yourself over schedule or fare. You can't control those. Disregard them. You only need to do two things: be nice, and don't hit anything. You can control those.
  • Take care of your body. It's easier than you think, and more than worth it. if your hurting physically, everything else is that much harder.
  • Pretend to be happy. The funniest thing will happen: that pretending will start turning into actual happiness. It's bizarre, and I don't how it works, but by God, am I glad it does.

I don't have all the answers, but I do have a few:

Two lists you might find useful:
  1. A Love Letter for My Colleagues: Exercises and Stretches for Operators (mostly physical stuff)
  2. What I've Learned From Other Bus Drivers (mostly customer stuff. If you click on only one link here, let it be this one)

A few stories on topics that might be stewing on the brain:
  • Bad days;
  • Being new (and skip-stopping!);
  • Handling fights and other security issues;
  • Being afraid;
  • Homeless laziness;​
  • R-e-s-p-e-c-t;
  • Littering, et cetera;
  • Sleepers;
  • Being (un)deserving;
  • Race (an overview);
  • Race (a story);
  • Defusing scary people;
  • Unwanted attention;
  • Tone of voice;
  • Positive gestures and their value;
  • The importance of staying 'insane;' and
  • The Big Picture.

Let me know how you're doing. Seriously. We're here to help. Say hello if you see me!
14 Comments
Lori
5/2/2018 08:39:13 am

This is not just advice for new drivers--these are great rules for living. I hope you are going to write a book, as well as finish your movie. Thank you Nathan!

Reply
Nathan
5/2/2018 11:05:47 am

Thank you so much, Lori! Tell that to my agent– or better yet, to a publisher! Wink wink. Here's to hoping!

Reply
Stephen Marcus
5/3/2018 02:17:40 pm

dude, you're the Studs Terkel of our time. And you can tell your agent I said so. Words of wisdom flow from your "pen" like someone twice your age. And speaking as someone who IS twice your age and doesn't yet have your degree of wisdom and perspective, I know what I'm talking about.
Respect!

Reply
Nathan
5/4/2018 02:04:57 pm

Mr Marcus!

I do believe I've got a ways to go before entering into the stratosphere occupied by Mr Terkel! Aren't those oral histories of his a treasure trove? I'm honored to hear your words, and will endeavor to live up to them– or at least try to!!

Reply
Andrew link
5/22/2018 11:39:45 pm

Graduated on the 4th, been on my own for 3 weeks at BB, got to stay at BB after the shakeup too. I feel like I got it easy driving a 30ft on my route & including the next (221) its been super smooth going and everyone is reallll nice.

Deciding next shake up to try something more challenging- rambling on now haha. Love your Rome photos by the way.

Reply
Nathan
6/2/2018 01:28:17 pm

Congratulations, Andrew! Bellevue is such a great place to learn how to operate the coaches and really get comfortable. It's so quiet out there and the roads are nice and wide. While you're on probation I recommend picking the easiest, simplest routes possible- way too easy to get fired then. However, if you have an interest in going full-time, I urge you to pick trolleys before doing so, maybe once you're about six months in to driving. It's a steep learning curve, and a lot to have to figure out if you're trying to also memorize full-time routes at the same time. Enjoy the 221-lovely route with great people!

Reply
Douglas
11/4/2018 03:46:56 am

Hi Nathan,

I came across this blog out of chance, and I'd like to say thank you, for being the catalyst in my decision making. I've been thinking of applying to King County Metro for ages now, to drive, but was always unsure whether I could pull it off (such as remembering the routes). I'm an unfunded PhD at UW, and as I enjoy driving, I thought I'd give this a try.

Reply
Nathan
11/8/2018 09:10:15 am

Douglas,

I'm so glad you're trying out this grand adventure! I started the bus while at UW as well. Please reach out with any questions or thoughts; you can find me at Central/Atlantic in the afternoons (I do various swing shift sign-ins). I'm honored to have been a catalyst!!!

Reply
Douglas Miller
11/16/2018 02:01:22 pm

One thing I am still worried about though, is learning the routes. Do buses come equipped with any form of navigation, or are drivers expected to learn the routes by heart from the beginning?

Nathan
11/19/2018 10:58:48 am

To Doug–

You'll be surprised at how easily you're able to memorize a route. If you're a bus rider, you've already got them memorized, but as a driver, they'll come quickly. You're required to ride any route you 're going to drive, before you drive it. On top of that I would often drive the route in my car before the new shakeup started to familiarize myself with it.

Reply
Joshua
5/19/2021 09:42:04 pm

Praise to every driver who gives you a transfer even if you didn't pay, who rips long transfers, and doesn't scrutinize your transfer. Sometimes, I think that if/when I become a driver, I'll stick free transfers on the farebox and abolish fare myself.

Reply
Nathan
5/24/2021 09:53:17 am

I support this outlook!! Less stress for everyone involved, and helping others always feels good.

Reply
Joshua
5/19/2021 09:44:02 pm

Also just wondering - are you still at North on the same piece of work? Hoping to come say hi.

Reply
Nathan
5/24/2021 09:53:41 am

Sent you an email!

Reply



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