This devilish mode is found in the morning when someone turns on the coach in neutral; it’s a bummer when you need to pull out on track four. Nowhere can the ghosts inhabiting some buses be found more frequently than in the flashing red light on the dash that notes propulsion down or reduced performance. …
Category Archives: Transportation
When Worlds Collide
It wasn’t until I looked through my old journals that I finally found an answer I had been looking for about why I was on the black list of an important street operations inspector who has dogged me for many years. And I have been replaying in my mind, what I could have done differently …
Flat Tire
The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town, except for when there is a construction detour, or another patch job in the making from the Water Department, or PG&E, the utility company! The wheels go round and round, even if the tire tread doesn’t. But you would never know, because …
Islands vs. Curbs
On Market Street, there are two places on a block to catch or pick up a bus. If you have your Incredibles superhero costume tights on, you should know the newer ETI Skoda trolleys weigh about ten tons sans passengers, so be careful you don’t pull your back muscles when you catch the approaching bus …
The Kneeler
“You’re supposed to lower the kneeler for seniors,” or “Thanks for lowering the steps,” sarcastically spoken after departing to the sidewalk does not help much. A request for the kneeler with a condescending tone (as if I’m a mind reader) after ascending or descending, may not reflect where my attention is focused at the time. …
Timed Transfers
If you are taking a bus in the wee hours of the morning, a good place to find out where to go to meet one is at a bus shelter with a map of the transit system. In the corner of the map is a gray box that shows the owl lines. Owl lines are …
Beach and Broderick
If there was ever a more tranquil and restful terminal on a busy line, it would be the peaceful residence location of the 30 Stockton terminal when I was working at the Presidio Barn a few years ago. Since I left the 30 Stockton Presidio Division line, the terminal has been moved to Divisadero and …
How Do I Plan my Goals?
One of the simplest, most basic way to plan goals is with a pen and paper in a spiral notebook. Sometimes a pencil is better, and a smaller, pocket sized spiral notebook is better. The problem with phones is screen size, and the inability to read the font of longer bullets or outlines from page …
Why Do I like to Write?
Writing helps me preserve my best thinking in a cleaner, clearer, more thoughtful way by slowing down my brainwaves into telling you what I really desire to say. Lord knows I have a lot to say–and if you know me–this is the cue to roll your eyes and lol your head! I’d say journaling and …
Always In Service
Unlike motor coaches, trolleys are always in service. This is in the rulebook although very few people understand this. If I put up the sign that says “Garage,” it does not mean I will not pick you up. I am putting up “Garage” so you can see my destination clearly. Many times when I put …
The Dao of Doug: A Bus Driver's Perspective 