I was driving an accordian bus the other day and I realized how powerful they are.
In these big buses I can burn out from the stop light and almost immediately be breaking the speed limit!
IF: by burning out we mean burn out the engine by flooring it
IF: by immediately we mean three or four blocks
AND IF: the speed limit we're breaking is 25 miles an hour!
And speaking of burning out...
This smoking hot passenger who's been regularly riding two of my routes and smiling at me during the ride, etc...
She finally boards the bus and comes up to me, puts her hand on my shoulder and tells me how glad she is to see my smiling face then sits next to me.
She's shy & quite but gets the nerve to ask me about my day.
Oh My God, Becky!
I almost passed out behind the wheel.
Me, I was almost speechless.
I know, right?
My mouth went dry and I almost couldn't speak.
I was about to stutter and stammer out some response when my nose decided to prove that while my mouth was dry, my nose wasn't...
POP!
Snot bubble.
What the?
Ok, time to recover, she didn't notice, right?
I wanted to die.
Long story short, she did notice but we talked and she was flirting with me.
After she left and for the remainder of my day, I was driving this accordian bus and I had Lou Rawls stuck in my head.
I couldn't help but wonder what he would have been singing about had he been an accordian bus Driver?
"You'll never find, a bus as long as mine...
A bus that'll take you, girl where I do.
You're gonna miss, a bus as big as this...
That's gonna drive you, girl like I do..."
[Skip to refrain]
"You're gonna miss my bus Babe!
You're gonna miss you're gonna miss
You're gonna miss my bus..."
Yeah..
Can you tell I'm sick?
LOL - my brain is boiling and I'm feverish, obviously.
Union Insurance for us single guys runs around $300 a month so who can afford that?
Nor can I afford taking any time off.
It's cheaper to dose up on the OTC meds and hallucinate about the stunning passengers.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
It's The Law!
So I'm sure 100's of Drivers before me have asked this question.
And when I ask my supers, they give me a look like, "Shut up, Kid!"
It's the Law here in Colorado.
We're not allowed to Text & Drive.
And as CDL & RTD Drivers, we're not allowed to text or to be on the phones while Driving.
Not even hands free.
Anything that distracts from our attention is a huge "No No"
So why do "they" constantly text us or call us while we're Driving?
Every time a text comes over the radio, I gotta pull over and read the text.
One time, the Bus was packed - Standing Room Only.
Major traffic downtown, I was turning into a really busy stop.
The vehicle & Passenger traffic had us WAY behind schedule.
And "They" had the nerve to call me on the phone.
When I was unable to answer right away, I could hear them hollering at me,
"Bus XXXX, pick up the phone!"
LOL
Really?
Really?
Anywho - it's one of those "Why don't we park on the parkway and driver on the driveway?" type of questions.
The question that when I ask I'm told it's my job to answer their texts and calls but nobody else's texts or calls.
Too Funny
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
And when I ask my supers, they give me a look like, "Shut up, Kid!"
It's the Law here in Colorado.
We're not allowed to Text & Drive.
And as CDL & RTD Drivers, we're not allowed to text or to be on the phones while Driving.
Not even hands free.
Anything that distracts from our attention is a huge "No No"
So why do "they" constantly text us or call us while we're Driving?
Every time a text comes over the radio, I gotta pull over and read the text.
One time, the Bus was packed - Standing Room Only.
Major traffic downtown, I was turning into a really busy stop.
The vehicle & Passenger traffic had us WAY behind schedule.
And "They" had the nerve to call me on the phone.
When I was unable to answer right away, I could hear them hollering at me,
"Bus XXXX, pick up the phone!"
LOL
Really?
Really?
Anywho - it's one of those "Why don't we park on the parkway and driver on the driveway?" type of questions.
The question that when I ask I'm told it's my job to answer their texts and calls but nobody else's texts or calls.
Too Funny
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
Friday, October 15, 2010
Cough Cough Cough...
Super busy run today.
Had at least four moms with their strollers and with at least 3 kiddos each packed in the front part of the bus and standing room only further back.
Nobody on the bus was talking.
Everybody was afraid to take a deep breath.
You could tell when somebody did because you could hear the random coughing, choking and gagging.
One of the moms closest to me was on the phone, very loudly and she said, "You too? It must be something in the air. I took a deep breath and felt like I was going to pass out!"
And I thought, "You and the other 60 of us here on the bus. Maybe changing that kid's diaper would make us all feel better!"
It was really bad.
I KNOW y'all have had to endure this as well.
It took two hours and an entire can of Lysol to air out that bus after she landed on her stop.
Phew...
I actually felt badly for the moms because you just know they knew but there was nothing they could do until they got their kiddos home.
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats, hold your nose - Let's Roll!"
Had at least four moms with their strollers and with at least 3 kiddos each packed in the front part of the bus and standing room only further back.
Nobody on the bus was talking.
Everybody was afraid to take a deep breath.
You could tell when somebody did because you could hear the random coughing, choking and gagging.
One of the moms closest to me was on the phone, very loudly and she said, "You too? It must be something in the air. I took a deep breath and felt like I was going to pass out!"
And I thought, "You and the other 60 of us here on the bus. Maybe changing that kid's diaper would make us all feel better!"
It was really bad.
I KNOW y'all have had to endure this as well.
It took two hours and an entire can of Lysol to air out that bus after she landed on her stop.
Phew...
I actually felt badly for the moms because you just know they knew but there was nothing they could do until they got their kiddos home.
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats, hold your nose - Let's Roll!"
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Three Men I Admire The Most...
Ok, there are a few topics you just don't talk about at work.
They include religion & politics.
And that's exactly what a portion of your Taxes & Fares pay for - religious & political propaganda!
Let me back up here.
As an RTD Driver, I'm forced to be a member of the AT Union.
I say forced because if I want the job, I have to pay their extorion fee.
If I don't want to pay, I give up the job.
The Union deducts (steals) around $50 a month from my paycheck.
There are literally thousands of RTD Drivers (including RTD & the contractors who drive RTD buses).
That's a ton of money in their pockets.
That money (from YOUR Fares & Taxes) goes to support religious and political agenda that I'm sure not everybody agrees with.
I know I don't agree with a single bit of it.
For example, I'm a "Christian" and within my beliefs is the opposition to what we're taught are sins such as abortion & homosexuality.
The Union just sent out a mass mailing (using your Tax & Fare dollars!) to "recommend" to all the Drivers to vote for Candidates who support these issues.
And whether you agree with them or not - makes no difference.
Public tax dollars, public funds should not be used to supports ANY religious or political agendas.
The Union allows Drivers to "opt out" of paying what they say is a very tiny portion of the monthly extortion that supports this political and religious agenda.
And I've "opted out" according to their instructions, three times so far.
And they still take out the same amount.
Many other Drivers have told me the same - we all have the same amount extorted from us, regardless of our attempts to curtail this behaviour.
Again, whether you agree with the opinions & beliefs of the Union, your money should not be supporting this behaviour.
And trust me, it NEVER becomes "my" money before the Union steals it.
They "deduct it" straight from RTD - long before it gets deposited into my account.
They do that because they know most of us would NEVER pay otherwise.
If you disagree with my beliefs look at it from another point of view:
Would you like your Taxes and Fares supporting the Union sending out mass mailings to all the Drivers, mailings that recommend we all vote for candidates who support the Personhood Amendment, or who are against the new healthcare Bill?
Wouldn't that grate your cheese and get you all fired up?
That's the point of my post.
This mass mailing offended me.
Not just as a Christian but as an employee.
As a Tax Payer and as a Passenger who has paid a Fare or two over the years.
To know that my money, your money goes to support this is both offensive and upsetting.
When I voiced this to the Union, they said they'd remove me from the mailing list.
I asked if they'd removed ALL Drivers and cut the mailings out and he said no.
The mailing would still go out to others, I'd just be removed.
Kinda like sticking my head in the sand for me!
And RTD just pulled out the big guns and talked The Front Range into a Fare increase because they were millions in the hole.
If we took the 100s of thousands of dollars each month that RTD pays the Union and put that back into the system, we'd have newer buses, more Drivers, more routes, cleaner and more stops.
Stops that have lights that work, etc etc etc etc etc.
Instead, our Taxes & Fares are applied to the religious & political agenda being pushed on Drivers by the Union.
Again - I want you to remember that this is MY blog, filled with MY thoughts & opinions.
Not RTD's.
They neither support nor endorse this blog.
And I'm not trying to convert anybody to my beliefs by telling y'all this.
I'm trying to point out some MAJOR waste.
Some inappropriate spending - giving money to the Union so they can use it to promote their religious & political agendas, regardless of what those agendas are.
I hope y'all see that.
I don't know what the "fix" is.
Personally & professionally, I'd like to be rid of the Union.
Mostly because I feel RTD could deliver better product & service without the Union.
All the Union does is guarantee that the grumpy, mean and angry Drivers are kept around.
That the wages are kept low.
And that your taxes and fares are spent pushing a religious & political agenda.
Hey, that's my two cents (or in this case, $50!)
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
They include religion & politics.
And that's exactly what a portion of your Taxes & Fares pay for - religious & political propaganda!
Let me back up here.
As an RTD Driver, I'm forced to be a member of the AT Union.
I say forced because if I want the job, I have to pay their extorion fee.
If I don't want to pay, I give up the job.
The Union deducts (steals) around $50 a month from my paycheck.
There are literally thousands of RTD Drivers (including RTD & the contractors who drive RTD buses).
That's a ton of money in their pockets.
That money (from YOUR Fares & Taxes) goes to support religious and political agenda that I'm sure not everybody agrees with.
I know I don't agree with a single bit of it.
For example, I'm a "Christian" and within my beliefs is the opposition to what we're taught are sins such as abortion & homosexuality.
The Union just sent out a mass mailing (using your Tax & Fare dollars!) to "recommend" to all the Drivers to vote for Candidates who support these issues.
And whether you agree with them or not - makes no difference.
Public tax dollars, public funds should not be used to supports ANY religious or political agendas.
The Union allows Drivers to "opt out" of paying what they say is a very tiny portion of the monthly extortion that supports this political and religious agenda.
And I've "opted out" according to their instructions, three times so far.
And they still take out the same amount.
Many other Drivers have told me the same - we all have the same amount extorted from us, regardless of our attempts to curtail this behaviour.
Again, whether you agree with the opinions & beliefs of the Union, your money should not be supporting this behaviour.
And trust me, it NEVER becomes "my" money before the Union steals it.
They "deduct it" straight from RTD - long before it gets deposited into my account.
They do that because they know most of us would NEVER pay otherwise.
If you disagree with my beliefs look at it from another point of view:
Would you like your Taxes and Fares supporting the Union sending out mass mailings to all the Drivers, mailings that recommend we all vote for candidates who support the Personhood Amendment, or who are against the new healthcare Bill?
Wouldn't that grate your cheese and get you all fired up?
That's the point of my post.
This mass mailing offended me.
Not just as a Christian but as an employee.
As a Tax Payer and as a Passenger who has paid a Fare or two over the years.
To know that my money, your money goes to support this is both offensive and upsetting.
When I voiced this to the Union, they said they'd remove me from the mailing list.
I asked if they'd removed ALL Drivers and cut the mailings out and he said no.
The mailing would still go out to others, I'd just be removed.
Kinda like sticking my head in the sand for me!
And RTD just pulled out the big guns and talked The Front Range into a Fare increase because they were millions in the hole.
If we took the 100s of thousands of dollars each month that RTD pays the Union and put that back into the system, we'd have newer buses, more Drivers, more routes, cleaner and more stops.
Stops that have lights that work, etc etc etc etc etc.
Instead, our Taxes & Fares are applied to the religious & political agenda being pushed on Drivers by the Union.
Again - I want you to remember that this is MY blog, filled with MY thoughts & opinions.
Not RTD's.
They neither support nor endorse this blog.
And I'm not trying to convert anybody to my beliefs by telling y'all this.
I'm trying to point out some MAJOR waste.
Some inappropriate spending - giving money to the Union so they can use it to promote their religious & political agendas, regardless of what those agendas are.
I hope y'all see that.
I don't know what the "fix" is.
Personally & professionally, I'd like to be rid of the Union.
Mostly because I feel RTD could deliver better product & service without the Union.
All the Union does is guarantee that the grumpy, mean and angry Drivers are kept around.
That the wages are kept low.
And that your taxes and fares are spent pushing a religious & political agenda.
Hey, that's my two cents (or in this case, $50!)
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Let's Give 'Em Something To Talk About!
I almost had a heart attack.
I was talking to a Passenger and she mentioned that she'd read something online about "blah blah blah" but the blah blah blah was what I'd posted here on my blog!
You wanna bet I tried to change the subject and get away from that one.
But of course she took my side of the discussion and well...
Do I really need to tell you my heart almost jumped outta my throat and off the bus?
So it's good to know y'all are reading this.
I appreciate it.
I do want to remind y'all that this is just me.
Joe Bus Driver.
Not RTD.
While I do work there, EVERYTHING posted in this blog is my opinion, my idea, my feelings, thoughts and actions about customer service, safety, etc.
RTD neither supports nor endorses this blog or anything in it.
Ok, that outta the way.
I noticed that this Passenger seemed to be talking about ideas I'd posted across several posts, not just one or two.
The thing about my posts...
The way I feel about my job, my responsibilities, my Passengers, customer service, etc etc etc...
The way I feel is PASSIONATE.
If y'all haven't noticed!
Seriously.
I'm not just some worker drone who gives lip service to what I post.
I practice this stuff daily.
Hourly and by the minute, by the customer.
By the opportunity.
You may think I'm just a slacker in reality and I'm some blow hard for RTD.
I'm not.
When you ride my bus, you'll know you've bumped into the Driver who writes this.
I don't work hard for the pay (although it's nice to pay the bills and keep my home!)
I don't work hard for the compliments or the praise.
I work hard because I truly believe that's what I'm ALREADY PAID TO DO.
Every minute I'm on the clock and even many when I'm off - is a chance to do something right, well and extra ordinary for the Passenger.
RTD didn't ask me to write this.
Would probably ask me not to as soon as they figure out who I am - if they didn't fire me first.
o_O
I write this because I want to share with y'all what I learn, what I love and what I run into daily.
My tips, tricks and adventures.
I also want you to see that there are Drivers out here who care.
Who are trying to make a difference.
Drivers who are trying to give y'all a better impression than what I've been reading out here on the net.
And I admit, it's an uphill battle.
But I am dedicated to winning that battle, one Passenger at a time.
One minute at a time.
Stay with me.
Don't give up and head to the contractors over in the private sector.
Stick with us, your RTD Drivers.
Keep giving me something to talk about and I'll give y'all something worth hearing.
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
I was talking to a Passenger and she mentioned that she'd read something online about "blah blah blah" but the blah blah blah was what I'd posted here on my blog!
You wanna bet I tried to change the subject and get away from that one.
But of course she took my side of the discussion and well...
Do I really need to tell you my heart almost jumped outta my throat and off the bus?
So it's good to know y'all are reading this.
I appreciate it.
I do want to remind y'all that this is just me.
Joe Bus Driver.
Not RTD.
While I do work there, EVERYTHING posted in this blog is my opinion, my idea, my feelings, thoughts and actions about customer service, safety, etc.
RTD neither supports nor endorses this blog or anything in it.
Ok, that outta the way.
I noticed that this Passenger seemed to be talking about ideas I'd posted across several posts, not just one or two.
The thing about my posts...
The way I feel about my job, my responsibilities, my Passengers, customer service, etc etc etc...
The way I feel is PASSIONATE.
If y'all haven't noticed!
Seriously.
I'm not just some worker drone who gives lip service to what I post.
I practice this stuff daily.
Hourly and by the minute, by the customer.
By the opportunity.
You may think I'm just a slacker in reality and I'm some blow hard for RTD.
I'm not.
When you ride my bus, you'll know you've bumped into the Driver who writes this.
I don't work hard for the pay (although it's nice to pay the bills and keep my home!)
I don't work hard for the compliments or the praise.
I work hard because I truly believe that's what I'm ALREADY PAID TO DO.
Every minute I'm on the clock and even many when I'm off - is a chance to do something right, well and extra ordinary for the Passenger.
RTD didn't ask me to write this.
Would probably ask me not to as soon as they figure out who I am - if they didn't fire me first.
o_O
I write this because I want to share with y'all what I learn, what I love and what I run into daily.
My tips, tricks and adventures.
I also want you to see that there are Drivers out here who care.
Who are trying to make a difference.
Drivers who are trying to give y'all a better impression than what I've been reading out here on the net.
And I admit, it's an uphill battle.
But I am dedicated to winning that battle, one Passenger at a time.
One minute at a time.
Stay with me.
Don't give up and head to the contractors over in the private sector.
Stick with us, your RTD Drivers.
Keep giving me something to talk about and I'll give y'all something worth hearing.
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
Speak Out - Lift Up Your Voice
I've said this before (as I do alot!) but I want to remind y'all.
If you want to see improvement - say something.
We have numbers behind each Driver.
Little clear plastic boxes on the walls behind us, grab that slip of paper.
That and the time/date is all you need to say something about that exact Driver.
If we're doing something you like, compliment us.
That reinforces good behaviour and encourages more of it.
If we're doing something you don't like, complain.
That encourages improvement.
The more complaints, the more we get rid of bad Drivers.
The more compliments, the more the good (and bad) Drivers do more good to get more compliments.
I know that you shouldn't need to do all this because we're professionals and all.
You pay your fare and expect that professionalism in return.
I agree with you totally.
I get it.
But like all humans, like all worker bees - these guys could use some motivation.
Whether it's the continued employement or the threat of losing that job, they need motiviation to improve.
So motivate your Drivers with your voice.
Say something to make a difference.
After-all, you want the most outta your Fare, right?
If they are going to raise that Fare, they'd better start providing your money's worth for a change, right?
Start picking up those phones and speaking out.
Thanks y'all.
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
If you want to see improvement - say something.
We have numbers behind each Driver.
Little clear plastic boxes on the walls behind us, grab that slip of paper.
That and the time/date is all you need to say something about that exact Driver.
If we're doing something you like, compliment us.
That reinforces good behaviour and encourages more of it.
If we're doing something you don't like, complain.
That encourages improvement.
The more complaints, the more we get rid of bad Drivers.
The more compliments, the more the good (and bad) Drivers do more good to get more compliments.
I know that you shouldn't need to do all this because we're professionals and all.
You pay your fare and expect that professionalism in return.
I agree with you totally.
I get it.
But like all humans, like all worker bees - these guys could use some motivation.
Whether it's the continued employement or the threat of losing that job, they need motiviation to improve.
So motivate your Drivers with your voice.
Say something to make a difference.
After-all, you want the most outta your Fare, right?
If they are going to raise that Fare, they'd better start providing your money's worth for a change, right?
Start picking up those phones and speaking out.
Thanks y'all.
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
A Clean Bus Is Next To Godliness....
I've been kinda fighting back lately.
Let me start from the beginning.
Some of you may have seen this, many not.
Right in the middle of your trip, your Driver gets off the bus and another sits down and takes over.
We call that making relief.
The Driver who leaves is being relieved and the one taking over is relieving him.
When I pull a bus outta the garage and get relieved, I'm the Driver who makes sure all the windows are spotless clean, the bus has been kept clean and everything is organized and uncluttered.
I'll even punch an extra book of transfers so that in the middle of the next run, your new Driver doesn't need to stop, panick and take time out (putting everybody behind) to punch more transfers.
But when I'm the new Driver taking over, all the other Drivers for whom I'm taking over have been giving me the shaft!
Dirty butt buses, no transfers, mirrors and glass so dirty that half the time I can't see out through all the spots, glare and shadows.
I got on one of the Drivers once and he had the nerve to tell me that he's an operator, not service & cleaning (the guys who pretend to be cleaning buses all night for us) so he's not responsible for cleaning the bus.
I asked him if that doesn't reflect poorly on him, the Driver, when Passengers get on a bus that is filled to the hilt with trash.
He replied that it reflects poorly on the dumpy passengers, then he went on to trash and dump all over his slobby Passengers, etc.
That's the attitude of the guys I'm relieving!
I've been reminding them recently that they are supposed to walk the bus at the end of each run to look for lost items left on the bus.
In that process, they need to clean.
If they, in their negligence leave a broken bottle, something tiny, something poisonous, etc that a new passenger, his kiddo or whomever gets in their mouth or cuts themselves on - it's that Driver's responsiblity for allowing harm to come to his Passengers.
And that we're one big company, helping each other out all day long.
If service and cleaning needs to spend twice as long cleaning his bus, that means they don't have the time to clean my bus and I get screwed the next morning, thanks to him.
So yeah, I've been spoiling the guys who relieve me and the guys I relieve have been treating me like crap.
I know I'm still "the new guy" to many of them but I'm going to start fighting back.
Drivers need to start treating customers like customers, like Gold.
None of this, "The customer is the bad guy" here.
Sorry - I'm still in my First Year but I'm getting soo sick of these Senior Drivers who are all grumpy and ticked off at the Passenger as if y'all are the enemy.
That bus is the whole means of taking care of the Customer/Passenger.
The Service we provide is on that Bus.
Clean it, Driver it and provide the best possible service to our Customers/Passengers.
I shouldn't have to be the guy telling or reminding y'all.
I should be the guy learning from y'all but all I'm learning is that if I ever get to be a manager or boss, y'all are fired!
I've read too many complaints by the Passengers about you nutters and you're making us look bad.
LOL
Ok, rant over.
Sorry folks.
Please don't judge us all by the bad apples surrounding us.
You know the good Drivers when you meet them.
We are the true heart of RTD.
And speaking of RTD, remember - these posts are solely my thoughts and opinions.
RTD neither supports nor endorses...etc yada yada yada....
Y'all know the drill by now.
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your CLEAN seats - Let's Roll!"
Let me start from the beginning.
Some of you may have seen this, many not.
Right in the middle of your trip, your Driver gets off the bus and another sits down and takes over.
We call that making relief.
The Driver who leaves is being relieved and the one taking over is relieving him.
When I pull a bus outta the garage and get relieved, I'm the Driver who makes sure all the windows are spotless clean, the bus has been kept clean and everything is organized and uncluttered.
I'll even punch an extra book of transfers so that in the middle of the next run, your new Driver doesn't need to stop, panick and take time out (putting everybody behind) to punch more transfers.
But when I'm the new Driver taking over, all the other Drivers for whom I'm taking over have been giving me the shaft!
Dirty butt buses, no transfers, mirrors and glass so dirty that half the time I can't see out through all the spots, glare and shadows.
I got on one of the Drivers once and he had the nerve to tell me that he's an operator, not service & cleaning (the guys who pretend to be cleaning buses all night for us) so he's not responsible for cleaning the bus.
I asked him if that doesn't reflect poorly on him, the Driver, when Passengers get on a bus that is filled to the hilt with trash.
He replied that it reflects poorly on the dumpy passengers, then he went on to trash and dump all over his slobby Passengers, etc.
That's the attitude of the guys I'm relieving!
I've been reminding them recently that they are supposed to walk the bus at the end of each run to look for lost items left on the bus.
In that process, they need to clean.
If they, in their negligence leave a broken bottle, something tiny, something poisonous, etc that a new passenger, his kiddo or whomever gets in their mouth or cuts themselves on - it's that Driver's responsiblity for allowing harm to come to his Passengers.
And that we're one big company, helping each other out all day long.
If service and cleaning needs to spend twice as long cleaning his bus, that means they don't have the time to clean my bus and I get screwed the next morning, thanks to him.
So yeah, I've been spoiling the guys who relieve me and the guys I relieve have been treating me like crap.
I know I'm still "the new guy" to many of them but I'm going to start fighting back.
Drivers need to start treating customers like customers, like Gold.
None of this, "The customer is the bad guy" here.
Sorry - I'm still in my First Year but I'm getting soo sick of these Senior Drivers who are all grumpy and ticked off at the Passenger as if y'all are the enemy.
That bus is the whole means of taking care of the Customer/Passenger.
The Service we provide is on that Bus.
Clean it, Driver it and provide the best possible service to our Customers/Passengers.
I shouldn't have to be the guy telling or reminding y'all.
I should be the guy learning from y'all but all I'm learning is that if I ever get to be a manager or boss, y'all are fired!
I've read too many complaints by the Passengers about you nutters and you're making us look bad.
LOL
Ok, rant over.
Sorry folks.
Please don't judge us all by the bad apples surrounding us.
You know the good Drivers when you meet them.
We are the true heart of RTD.
And speaking of RTD, remember - these posts are solely my thoughts and opinions.
RTD neither supports nor endorses...etc yada yada yada....
Y'all know the drill by now.
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your CLEAN seats - Let's Roll!"
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Get Up, Stand Up - Stand Up For Your Rights!
I want y'all to open your FaceBook and add RTD's page:
http://www.facebook.com/RideRTD
Why?
Well, they do put out updates and keep us informed.
One of those updates just mentioned that the public meetings for the proposed January service changes start tomorrow with 4 meetings in Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Longmont & Park Hill.
You, the Passenger and Public, those who pay our bills with your taxes and fares - you ALL need to exercise your right/obligation to have a voice in how we spend your money.
ESPECIALLY if RTD is going to raise the Fares next year - you really need to have a say in how we spend that money.
Whether it's a new route, an additional run early in the morning or late at night on a particular route.
Etc etc etc.
Come speak, come listen, come and get involved in how we spend your money.
Come and get involved in how we affect your community.
Come and make a difference.
http://www.facebook.com/RideRTD
Why?
Well, they do put out updates and keep us informed.
One of those updates just mentioned that the public meetings for the proposed January service changes start tomorrow with 4 meetings in Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Longmont & Park Hill.
You, the Passenger and Public, those who pay our bills with your taxes and fares - you ALL need to exercise your right/obligation to have a voice in how we spend your money.
ESPECIALLY if RTD is going to raise the Fares next year - you really need to have a say in how we spend that money.
Whether it's a new route, an additional run early in the morning or late at night on a particular route.
Etc etc etc.
Come speak, come listen, come and get involved in how we spend your money.
Come and get involved in how we affect your community.
Come and make a difference.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Sunrise, Sunset!
You know, it's been a long while since I've said this so I need to remind y'all...
As we've all noticed by now, by this the first day of October, 2010 - it's getting darker earlier and staying dark later every day.
And as many of you have probably already noticed, your Driver (or the guy filling in for your regular if you're lucky enough to have a regular Driver!) keeps passing you by in the mornings.
Well, hopefully he hasn't but I've met a few passengers who've been passed the mornings before.
How do we prevent this?
First and foremost: MOVE AROUND and stay next to the bus stop sign.
The first thing we see in the dark is movement.
Our bus headlights don't really shine further than ten feet in front of us so I'm straining to keep on time but also to see each stop so that I've got time to stop without slamming on the brakes, sending all your fellow passengers up to the front door to greet you when you come aboard!
Most of our stops are dark so I'm eyeballing the bus stop sign and looking for shadows.
When you move, blamo - you got my attention.
That's saved me and many passengers these last couple of weeks.
That and those little handy flashlights.
And if you don't have a flashlight, but you see me coming...
Break out the cell phone and pop on the light.
I've seen so many passengers do this the last week or so - it's a great idea and it's worked so far.
This last note I need to stress the most because as it gets darker, I can't see more than a few feet to either side of the stop.
Come Early.
Many of my regulars are "runners" meaning they arrive at the last second and much of the time I scan all around and catch them running down the block towards me.
I've learned to look for them running and I wait for them to arrive.
Now that it's dark, I can't see y'all running down the street and y'all know I can't hear you screaming, yelling or whistling over the heaters, the engine, the air brakes, the talking and all the rattles and creaks y'all have heard on the bus.
So come early, stay close to the bus stop sign/pole, move around when you see me and pop on the flash light or cell phone and wave it at me.
It sounds like going out of your way just to get a ride but that little extra effort gets you noticed, picked up and taken to work.
You won't be left behind and I won't get written up for missing you.
It's really a win win situation!
LOL
Enjoy Fall, folks.
And as always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
As we've all noticed by now, by this the first day of October, 2010 - it's getting darker earlier and staying dark later every day.
And as many of you have probably already noticed, your Driver (or the guy filling in for your regular if you're lucky enough to have a regular Driver!) keeps passing you by in the mornings.
Well, hopefully he hasn't but I've met a few passengers who've been passed the mornings before.
How do we prevent this?
First and foremost: MOVE AROUND and stay next to the bus stop sign.
The first thing we see in the dark is movement.
Our bus headlights don't really shine further than ten feet in front of us so I'm straining to keep on time but also to see each stop so that I've got time to stop without slamming on the brakes, sending all your fellow passengers up to the front door to greet you when you come aboard!
Most of our stops are dark so I'm eyeballing the bus stop sign and looking for shadows.
When you move, blamo - you got my attention.
That's saved me and many passengers these last couple of weeks.
That and those little handy flashlights.
And if you don't have a flashlight, but you see me coming...
Break out the cell phone and pop on the light.
I've seen so many passengers do this the last week or so - it's a great idea and it's worked so far.
This last note I need to stress the most because as it gets darker, I can't see more than a few feet to either side of the stop.
Come Early.
Many of my regulars are "runners" meaning they arrive at the last second and much of the time I scan all around and catch them running down the block towards me.
I've learned to look for them running and I wait for them to arrive.
Now that it's dark, I can't see y'all running down the street and y'all know I can't hear you screaming, yelling or whistling over the heaters, the engine, the air brakes, the talking and all the rattles and creaks y'all have heard on the bus.
So come early, stay close to the bus stop sign/pole, move around when you see me and pop on the flash light or cell phone and wave it at me.
It sounds like going out of your way just to get a ride but that little extra effort gets you noticed, picked up and taken to work.
You won't be left behind and I won't get written up for missing you.
It's really a win win situation!
LOL
Enjoy Fall, folks.
And as always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"
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