Big Mouths and Crybabies

“Big mouths run hot.” So says our elected leader in the receiver’s office before picking up my outfit one morning. Apparently, a common thread running through arguments rebutting a write-up for running ahead of schedule is that of complaining about other persons, places, or things like our equipment as causes for running ahead of schedule. But it doesn’t take much to understand the simplicity of why a bus is ahead of schedule; it’s the operator behind the wheel.

And I have found myself in big-mouth mode often. In fact, before a suspension hearing, my union rep repeated to me (as he does every time I am in trouble), “You talk too much,” or “You ask too many questions.” And he is right. I find myself asking how I got into this mess, and in retrospect, it becomes clear that I just need to shut-up or say that I don’t know. Others are trying to help me by giving hints or obvious clues to tip off silence, but my monkey-Gemini mind seems incapable of holding back.

And holding back is a valid technique to avoid running hot. Running hot is running ahead of schedule by more than one minute. Most of my friends and riders give a look of disbelief when they hear that we are not allowed to run one minute ahead of schedule. With on-time performance so low, I understand why this rule may seem over the top, and I agree. But, like my manager says, the first step to run on time is to leave on time and not to run ahead of schedule. There seems to be less of a concern from management in running late, but as someone in the seat out on the road, running late has many consequences, none of which is as uncomfortable as the seat in the superintendent’s office.

Running late in the Mission between 18th and 23rd almost always results in no terminal time at the end of the line. Use of the kneeler for walkers and use of the lift for laundry carts and wheelchairs can drag down other trolleys. Loss of terminal time may not necessarily take any emotional toll or add to stress. So, although the bus is very crowded in this middle- of-the-line crunch zone, the consequence of complaint or accident is low. Outbound from the Ferry, however, I have found that getting too crowded does influence complaints and service disputes. So it is where we are running late that influences our trip. Getting into the crunch early on is bad news. The chance of going out of service goes way up.

As passengers, you would do well to look and see if another bus is coming. Use the clock inside the shelter to see if one is following in a few minutes. It is the use of this kind of resource that can make our railway run more smoothly. Please stop and take a look at this aspect of passenger load on the operator and the drama that ensues when no more seats or aisle space is available. Whether it is an operator crying at the barn or a passenger screaming in the aisle, use the next bus clock to your advantage. Good things come to those who wait.