When a coach becomes disabled after an accident or a security incident, if the operator is occupied with the police or an inspector, it is important they are not blocking traffic or other trolleys coming up from behind. It is embarrassing to me when a transit bus appears to be the problem in causing a …
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Surrender
The most challenging aspect of any operator of large equipment on the road is keeping aware of the “what if ” possibilities. “What if ” that bus in front of me, stopped in the zone, goes out of service? Did I leave enough space between my coach and the stopped coach to get around, if …
Packed, Stacked, and Racked
Alliteration aside, I love this phrase when describing a bus which simply cannot take on one more passenger. One would think when the bus becomes completely grid locked on the inside aisle, common sense by simple observation would be enough to insure no one intending at the bus zone would consider even getting on the …
The Ninth Level of Hell
Whenever I find myself in the ninth level of hell behind the wheel of a large automobile, in my case, a trolley of Muni, I try to ask myself how did I get in such a place? And it is by an essay such as this that I can backtrack to find my part in …
Would you like to make Chrome your default browser?
What bothers you and why? The browser wars between Chrome and Safari. There are just enough of us that use the Mac iOS on Safari who can’t edit a mailing address on large state servers using Chrome and Microsoft apps and browsers. I couldn’t get my California State Franchise Board refund without a pdf copy …
Continue reading “Would you like to make Chrome your default browser?”
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 …
Loading Zone
How long can you stay before you see red?
The Fare Box
Surveys of time use show much time is spent in the bus zone loading passengers. Although this would seem to be a revenue loser as those who board in the rear would be evading the fare, my experience has been most riders are honest and pay their fare share by coming to the front door …
Thank You for Riding
We keep the heat off in the bus so no one falls asleep!
The Overhead
One of the differences our corridor streets have that most cities have lost, are the sets of wires over the center of the lanes. Only nine US cities still have overhead from the 50’s. Newer trams recently built may be increasing this number. In SF, we have numerous utility poles alongside the sidewalk that have …
The Dao of Doug: A Bus Driver's Perspective 