Deke's Note: It's sometimes difficult to balance why I began this blog versus its continuance. Originally, it was written because I simply wanted to share my experience as a transit operator. Period. As the hits began to increase exponentially, my ego soared too high for this soul to accept. Brought myself down to Earth again. It took a few years for me to realize I don't need to write here because of some ego-driven impulse, but to simply chronicle what I experience "out there". It either resonates with the reader, or not. Either way, it remains as it was born: a simple exercise in writing for a writer who drives a bus for a living. I hope you get it, but if you don't, thanks for reading. It's all fluff anyway. Our lives are too harsh to deal with egocentric bullshit. Take it as you will. I just write for self-therapy.
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Our annual ATU757 picnic was another magical moment which reminded me of solidarity past. Seeing fellow brothers and sisters in one place is rare since signups were done in person. We congregated, often loud and rowdily, so happy to be together in one space and time. Ever since COVID, we've been subjected to a remote event which robs us of our ability to celebrate our common reality.
Signups were a cohesive moment, where we could reconnect. Although some of us moved to rail, we kept a strong bond. We lived the same struggles of those decades hence. The veterans who passed by simply smiled and nodded at our "newbie" recollections, likely recalling their own experiences likely similar to ours.
In a cost-saving effort, management kept the COVID-19 method. This has robbed us of solidarity. Seeing those with whom we came up through the ranks gave us cohesiveness. We might tease those below our seniority we might sign the runs they pined for. Seniority matters in this job because it's earned. We have all suffered the loss of a favorite run to one more senior to us. That's why you have a Plan B,C,D or even E ready.
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Hey Extra Board Ops, yours is a difficult job which many of us have also done. It's vital you understand sometimes you may respond to a stressful situation. That operator you were sent to relieve? She/He might have just been attacked, or experienced a tragic incident. If you ever board passengers from a bus "involved" in a collision or stressful incident, it's vital you understand the situation. Take a moment to ask what happened. Are your passengers okay? Connect with whomever is willing. Do your best to assure them your main goal is to get them safely to their destination.
If you haven't driven the route before, it can be very stressful to relieve another operator. Your passengers are likely on edge, and those you pick up might have waited much longer than usual in unpredictable Portland weather. BE PATIENT! Once you get to the end of the line, make sure you know how long Dispatch expects you to roll that route.
Read the Hard Copy Reroute Sheet, for crying out loud. To not do so is pure laziness, if not dereliction of duty. A Road Supe might not care if you're "new" to the route. Never been to that particular transit center? You better know when and where to be, otherwise you're probably fouling up a carefully-crafted system likely in place for a lot longer than your tenure. If you "wing it", chances are you could deprive a fellow Operator of valuable recovery time. If you have questions, ask another Operator. Be diligent in your profession, because your fellow Operators depend on you to do so.
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Our job can be chill. We "JUST DRIVE", so most people believe as they blithely stare at their phones. We know it's much more. Our main goal is to deliver our human payload safely to their destinations, yet sometimes it involves a bit more. After a few years on the road, our souls deal with the human aspect of the job whilst the physical drives the bus.
Many ear-budded passengers simply need a smile and greeting as they board my ride. After 13 years of service, I recognize the regulars, those who missed my leader, the freeloaders who waive me down just short of the stop. Whoever rides my bus is treated to my calm, welcoming soul. I offer kindness to whomever steps aboard. It's up to them how to accept this open door policy.
If you are rude upon entering, be assured I'm watching you in my mirror. The first infraction of transit policy, I will publicly call you out. If you continue to misbehave, I will conjure the fleas of a thousand camels unto your privates while giving you one option: leave the bus to try your luck elsewhere.
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Each safe trip comes at the controls of dedicated individuals. Not only do we sweat bullets just to get hired, but then endure rigorous training, line training and classes beyond before we're even entrusted with your safe transference. Each moment in the seat we're highly-stressed, working while agonizing over every memory of training. Meanwhile, we're driving a huge vehicle with precious cargo aboard. Fielding questions we may not yet know the answers to, dodging ridiculously-reckless drivers hell-bent upon arriving first at the next red light.
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Sometimes, things go horribly wrong. Without warning. Tree limbs pull our mirrors off. Motorists slam into us as we leave a stop with our lawfully-protected "Yield" light deployed. They blow through red lights and get slammed by a 20-ton bus then sue the transit agency despite their own failures. Headphone-impaired pedestrians ignore signals and end up amputees under a transit vehicle.
Earlier today I watched a video from a beloved brother who witnessed a motorist kill a pedestrian right in front of him. If not for our brother’s professional instincts honed over decades of service, others might have been injured or worse. I watched that video three times. Saw a deceased pedestrian lying in the street. Heard my brother in shock, describing what happened. Any of us could have been him. Yet there he was, describing the bloody scene. I could not fathom having the wherewithal to do the same with his calm demeanor. Knowing he has endured this profession much longer than I have, my respect for him intensified a million-fold as I watched my Brother trying to make sense of the the horror he beheld. It's a scene that will haunt him, and has likely afflicted thousands before his living nightmare.
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Hey Newbies, take heed. If any of your fellows comes up to you and offers advice, be polite and respectful. Know that the words coming at you are likely from positions of experience, NOT meant to hurt but to teach. We've ALL been where you are now. Be respectful. Listen and learn. If you ever come upon something that totally freaks you out, you'll likely not think of anything else the rest of your shift. This is when a supervisor will ask you if you're capable of continuing in service. Your answer should automatically be an emphatic NO!
The few times I thought myself capable of continuing in service after any harrowing incident, the rest of my shift found me constantly replaying that event. This is what's referred to by my friend and ATU757 Vice President Henry Beasley as "diminished capacity". At this point, you're no longer safe behind the controls of a transit vehicle and MUST be relieved of duty. Trust me, I've continued in service after incidents where I've been attacked or threatened and my refusal to be relieved resulted in many near-misses because my vigilance as an operator was compromised by an ill-conceived belief I could safely continue.
What happens when we disregard conventional wisdom in these moments is that for the remainder of our shift, we miss vital scans. We're constantly replaying what happened before instead of constantly scanning and being vigilant of everything we need be watching for. Our interactions with passengers are likely terse rather than cordial. Our whole world is fucked the fuck up. Believe me, I've been there done that.
Be smart when something abnormal occurs on your roll. If it shakes you up, ask to be relieved from duty because continuing "would not be safe". Call your union rep and explain what happened. Depending on your transit agency's operating procedures, chances are good or better you won't be disciplined for doing what you know is safe operation of a transit vehicle.
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Just for trying to guide newbies, I've been screamed at and accused of "going overboard" in my advice. If you believe those with decades of experience trying to guide you and explain 100 years of knowledge passed on between generations of operators is "harassment", just resign. You're not cut out for this work if you cannot think for yourself and determine common-sense situations on your own. Increase that tenfold if you're immune from advice coming from those who have done your job many years more than you have.
Meanwhile, I'm always offering advice to those I see need it. You're easy to spot, because you fail to read hard copies of the route Standard Operating Procedures. If you're an Extra Board Operator driving a line for the first time, take a few moments and read that sheet in your pouch. Anything you don't understand? Ask your leader or follower. If they're not available, call Dispatch and ask for clarification.
When you act independently of decades-long practices, you could piss off another Operator. Study what's expected of you at transit centers or other points along the route you're driving. The rules are there for a reason, likely over decades of practical experience. One operator's refusal to adhere to accepted practice, or ignorance thereof, can deprive another of valuable recovery time.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
It's more than valuable as a transit operator. It's vital. Disrespect your senior operators, and we'll work together to teach you. Others might get worse treatment. All you need to do is learn from those of us who have done the job longer than you have. Easy. Once you come to respect seniority, you begin to learn your job a lot easier.
Rule #1: R-E-S-P-E-C-T your seniority. It will help you in so many ways. Gain you respect and help in the most difficult times. We are an extremely close-knit group. We want to help you. Once you take that stance which builds a wall between you and all the experience available to help you grow, we might turn our backs on you. If you realize your mistake and learn from it we're very forgiving.
Safe travels brothers and sisters. Your passengers count on you to make the right decisions. Your elders can help you. All ya gotta do is ask, and pay attention.
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