Now ye're talking - to a bus driver

Deleted User wrote: »

Just looking to throw my question in the hat again incase you missed it:

Just to reassure those who have questions relating to the Job of busdriving,that I'm not ignoring them,but I don't have unlimited time available to do the Boards Shuffle,so if it takes a few days,I humbly beg pardon.


Also,the point of this AMA is to offer assistance,advice and personal experience on the Job in General.


I try to stay clear of Canteen Talk,over-the-garden-wall gossip,rumour and the Us & Them Union stuff,which many observers appear to think fully occupies a Busdrivers every waking moment....however,for me,It really does'nt,so those who might need such input will have to search elsewhere for it,no offence intended.


To return to your point KKV,regarding Sleep,it's something I have not experienced.
It is a condition of employment,and also a legal requirement that a Driver be in a fit state to perform their duties,so ensuring you get sufficient rest,is part & parcel of the job.


People differ in their ability to cope with sleep deprivation,an issue which is very well known across all Professional Driving sectors.


The advent of ongoing Driver CPC courses ,and particularly the Health & Safety module,did raise awareness regarding Tiredness and also highlighted issues such as Sleep Apnoea and Narcolepsy,both of which can end a Professional Driving career.


So I'd suggest that most Truck,Coach and Bus drivers are far more aware of the dangers now,than at any time up to this,but yet again,the individual human being van have vastly differing tolerances.

Maldesu wrote: »

Are there 'starter' routes for new drivers? How do you learn all the stops for a new route and are routes allocated based on proximity to where you live?

Different operators have differing approaches I suspect.


The prevailing situation in my own company is based on a gradual progression through routes in the location...gradually leading to full familiarity by the end of the probationary period.


Training is the key.


It is somewhat commonsensical to keep staff within a reasonable distance from their base,however the demands of individual locations can alter,so no guarantees can be given.


Often a new entrant will become quite comfortable in their first location,and not bother following through on moving closer to home.

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

Do you ever tactically use the accelerator to 'help' elderly passengers to sit down more quickly?

Absolutely not....why would any trained Busdriver even want to do this ?

Stephen15 wrote: »

Is it actually true that some drivers refused to drive buses during the European elections for Gemma O'Doherty? I didn't think drivers just like most passengers would even look at the ads on the side of buses. Does it actually ever happen that drivers refuse to drive buses due to a moral objection to the ads that are on them?

Also what's your opinion on spotters SG323?

I have no idea whether it's true or not,but I most likely drove Ms O'Doherty around Dublin on many occasions.
I'm not aware of many Drivers who carry out surveys of the adverts on their buses,but there may well be some,but I'm not one of them.


Apart from noticing them snapping away at some locations,I've no opinion good or bad about them...they've never interfered with my Driving or caused any problems.

Deleted User wrote: »

Probably a silly question and apologies if already asked, but i haven't seen it:

Did you set out to be a bus driver? A friend of mine's dad drove a bus, and my friend, during school, was obsessed with driving buses. Never actually did it in the end though.

Or did you just happen to fall into it?

Also, despite the AMA you're doing now, if you clock out and go home, and someone mentions buses, do you eagerly discuss the ins and outs of the bus world, or do you wish an early death on the person for talking to you about 'work' on your down time?

Do you read up on the new bus models coming in, read online enthusiast forums, look at pics, etc. or is a bus just another random vehicle to potter about in and you don't actually care about it beyond it being comfortable?








Yeah me too.

Nah It was'nt my chosen path in life,but at one point it arrived along just when I was waiting for something


No family connection,no friends in the job...just something flexible and reasonably well paid..pay the mortgage,put food on the table.


I would have some degree of interest in Buses and equipment,which after all I might have to operate some day,however that would'nt stretch to taking photo's or noting registrations.



If the Bus topic comes up in conversation then I'll chip in,but it's a Job to me,one which I enjoy and I would'nt ever get elevated so much over it to wish harm on anybody bringing it up.


If I did start to feel that way,I'd get out of the Job as fast as I could.

john boye wrote: »

Ever had a dispute with the company and had full support from the union only for them to throw you under the (actual?) bus at the eleventh hour? Seems to be a common theme

No,never had that happen to me.


It may well be a common theme,but it never occurred to me,nor to most of my immediate colleagues.
Often,things that "seem" to be something,may in fact,be nothing at all like what they actually are.

Stephen15 wrote: »

How do you deal with people asking to be let out at the lights?

Oddly enough,it's something also dying out as people generally have become so risk averse that such behaviour is alien to them.


Today,it's only the odd old-timer who'd ask you to "Throw uz out there pal"

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Hi - One of the most shocking things I've ever seen in Ireland was an attack on a black bus driver (Dublin bus).

I was sitting on the bus with my then 1 year old, and even for me sitting there and not involved, it was fairly terrifying.

Against that, the drivers calm but strong reaction was incredibly impressive.

Do you get training to deal with thugs?

And in general, do you find that passengers appreciate the service, or do you generally perceive a lack of gratitude.

I can't speak for all operators,but the larger ones do provide such training/advice under the Customer Service heading.


Plenty of gratitude and basic civility is the norm,I dont need people to be OTT about it,as I get paid to do a Job,and,to the best of my ability I do it,and then go home.The VAST majority of Bus Users are 100% appreciative and decent folks,who never get involved in any ill tempered behaviour.


Behaviours which some appear to feel is commonplace,is in fact,NOT the norm in an average Busdrivers working day.