“Where the hell have you been?” a) “The pizza delivery boy was late and apologized, so I got a free pizza and ate it all at the terminal. You don’t expect me to wolf it all down in five minutes, do you? I am not allowed to use my phone while I am driving, so …
Author Archives: driverdoug2002
Motor Coach
When our barn falls short of equipment, we are assigned to Woods Division to get a diesel or motor coach. I love trolleys, and I love that San Francisco did not do away with streetcars and trolleys. Nowadays, trolleys look like buses. They have rubber tires and the body of a bus, except for the …
Low Fat Turkey Bacon or Double Smoked Cheddar?
What are your feelings about eating meat? There are incredible things in the animal fats that help our bodies improve in immunity. We Americans just go overboard on everything. Cardiologists would do well to test me for insulin levels–and include the test that shows recent insulin levels–when I go in for an MRI scan on …
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Free Ride
For those riders who are ready, a free ride is an opportunity to imagine what Muni would be like with no fare box at all. A smile and thank you is all it takes as a regular breezes by the yellow line to find a seat. The Zen zone is strong and the crunch zone …
Not All Stops Are Equal
When buses are missing, the time between buses doubles so waiting time increases. It can become very unclear to those standing at or near multiple line bus stops why the bus passes by. The bus is full because double headway means double passenger load. One phrase used frequently by bus drivers are the phrases, “my …
I’d Never Do Your Job
I come from a background where money may not be the root of all evil, and it was acknowledged that it did indeed grow on trees, but that there were two types of money: Good money and bad money. You never wanted to throw good money after bad. And there was a nuance between money …
Secure the Coach
Part of testing a new operator in being qualified by a state inspector is coach securement. As this book is written by a trolley operator, the added requirement of coach securement is in cradling the poles by the hooks near the harp at the back of the coach. Many a day goes by where a …
My Channel
What are your favorite websites? The biggest wonder I’ve seen in my time are the improvements in the internet and media sites. I’ve always wanted to be a radio star, a game show host, or an open mic comedian. YouTube makes all this possible! We can be our creative selves and be a host, a …
Stop Request
One defect that does not usually appear on the defect card is that of a stop request. Most of the time as operators, we become so familiar with our routine that we almost don’t need the stop request lights or bell to know where and when people are getting off the bus. Likewise, we know …
The Late Ring
I approach a stop that I sometimes pass up without a ring or without anyone standing on the curb. Still no chime or no dash light. I coast without accelerating. I make the decision to stay in the traffic lane and pass the point of pulling to the right to bring the door to the …
The Dao of Doug: A Bus Driver's Perspective 