Retarder Control

One aspect of driving a large vehicle is the larger number of lights and controls on the dash. In a tour bus there is sometimes a retarder control joystick that assists braking.   On a city transit bus, the retarder control is built into the service brake. We transit operators can see a retarder light illuminate on the dash after the service brake light goes on. There is usually a delay in braking when the retarder engages. Retarder control is extremely helpful for our long term physical stress on our legs and knees, which can also end up being read by our body as an emotional stress. 

Unfortunately, humans, unlike animals, cannot turn off stress as soon as a fight or flight situation ends. But I do appreciate the fact that our continuous stopping and starting at every corner keeps us city transit operators alert and on our toes, literally. The long uninterrupted freeway driving of a tour bus driver is not necessarily any easier when the miles turn into hours on the long slow graceful grade of an interstate highway.

Before being a transit operator I had the fun of driving the tour bus on the freeways. I say fun cautiously. Bay area highways are no longer that much fun. Traffic slowdowns and backups no longer give the feeling of freedom of being on the open road. As most drivers in the city come to realize, city streets, even with stop lights, become less stressful than highway driving that comes to a standstill. At least, the hope goes, the arterial keeps moving.

This accordion logic to traffic comes into play with how smooth a braking system we have on our coach. The great news is that within two years, all city transit buses will have the newest braking systems called regenerative braking. These brakes are not unlike the retarder controls on the highway tour buses I drove before taking a job in city transit. 

As a young man I thought nothing of any possible stress a bus driver would have. Seemed easy enough to just be sitting in a padded seat and not having to lift anything. But the idea and action of repetitive stress that was lost upon my youth has started to catch up to me as I approach my sixties and my twenty-year mark behind the wheel. 

Anytime new equipment is added to the fleet, I sigh a breath of relief.  I am so grateful my last years behind the wheel will be with brand-new equipment and smooth braking systems!

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