2010 - A Year In Review

From a Driver's point of view, my job is extremely entertaining and always an adventure.
If any of you think that it's boring or that we just sit there and Drive back and forth all day...
Well, you're just wrong.

And just recently I've come to learn that many of the Passengers notice everything that goes on and watch the roads in front of us.
Those front windows are actually pretty big and I hadn't considered that y'all can see at least as much as I can of what is going on with traffic.

So here's some of what made my 2010 both exciting and an adventure:

Driving folks back from a Bronco game, we hit a huge bump and everybody on the bus gasped!
I hopped on the mic and just let them know that we hit a fan of the opposing team and that they'd feel at least one more bump and I rolled back n forth over him again!
That got cheers from the whole bus...

Another trip back from The Game we came up to an intersection where the lights were controlled by a police officer sitting on the corner at the box.
He changed the light to yellow then red just as we came up to the cross walk.
I had to make the decision on the spot as to the safety of the passengers:
Stopping on the dime or continuing through the intersection.
Both had risks but I weighed the stopping on the dime from 25mph as far more dangerous.
As I rolled through the intersection, I waved at the police officer standing on the corner with his jaw on the ground and he waved back. I was actually waving an apology.
The passengers didn't know this and they all cheered and at least one hollered, "You're my hero, Driver!"

It's Christmas Eve night, all the regulars are piling out the front door and I'm returning greetings and farewells of Merry Christmas and thank yous.
I'd missed the Gentleman standing at the back door wanting out.
What brought him to my attention was him screaming across the whole bus, "Yeah Yeah Yeah, Merry Eff You Christmas, now open this effing back door and let me outta here!"
Reflexively and without thinking, as I opened the back door I responded, "Same to you, Sir - thank you."
As the whole bus burst out into laughter and applause, I embarrassedly realized what I'd just said.

We all know those "special" passengers, many of whom are regulars. And you regular passengers know who those special passengers are and what makes them so special.
One of these regulars has a really short fuse and while he can usually make his entire trip without event, it doesn't take much to set him off.
Let's just say that he says what you and I are thinking but know better than to say out loud.
One day, a passenger gets on board and she's not having a good day. She's on the phone, crying and is very loud about both. She sits next to this particular special passenger and after doing his best to tolerate this extreme new passenger, he blows up, "Shut the Eff up Lady!"
She immediately sheds her demure manner and shouts back, "Are you effing talking to me?"
"Yes, you're being extremely loud and annoying all of us."
She goes on to explain her circumstance and he tells her how little he cares and explains that she should take it off the bus until she's resolved her issues.
Of course it was far more colourful and less sedate than my description.
She starts crying even more loudly but minds her own business and remains seated next to him.
He leaves her alone for the rest of the ride and they go on in silence next to one another.

Speaking of phones on the bus, we had a Passenger get on the bus while she was on the phone.
She really didn't care that we heard her side of the entire conversation.
I actually don't even think she knew we were listening - or that we couldn't NOT listen!
But during her conversation with her friend, she explained her disgust with her boyfriend for his poor behaviour, the fact that he was a 12 year old in a 30something's body and how poorly he conducted himself with her.
There were points during the conversation that the rest of us (yes me too!) were chanting and encouraging her very loudly to leave him, that he was a bum, etc etc etc.
She never noticed!

OH, and speaking of couples...I'll end for now with this story:
During the summer I had the opportunity to do an overnight route on a Saturady night.
The other Drivers called it the Party Bus.
I came to understand why - it ran as all the bars and clubs were closing and all the drunks hopped on board to head home rather than drive in their conditions.
They were always in a cheery mood.
One couple, the last passengers on the bus, decided to ingore me in the front of the bus as they shed their clothing and began to practice making kiddos.
I considered turning the lights off for them and tried my best not to watch...
My best wasn't good enough, needless to say.

Some of the highlights of my first year and of 2010.
Happy New Year folks.

As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"

Happy New Year!

So 2010 is coming to a close.
The New Year is upon us.

These last two weeks mixed in with Christmas have been a mad house.

It's the end of my first year and I've beaten the odds, the statistics and the will of both the Senior Drivers and the Union - by not quitting and loving my job.
WOOT
I love you Passengers and I love Driving the bus.

We've had no snow storms yet and other than Light Rail delays and a few buses breaking down here and there, we've really had no major problems that have caused me (a Driver) or you (a Passenger) any real stress.

So here's to a successful 2010 and to an even more successful 2011.

Some of the other Drivers suggested that I toss up a "Highlights of 2010" post.

I may, we'll see.
You KNOW we have some great stories.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas, remembered in FellowshipThe Reason for this season and enjoyed your loved ones.
I wish you all a great, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Remember:
From 7pm on New Year's Eve until 6am on New Year's Day - RTD is FREE
FREE
FREE
Use it - I command you!
LOL

As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"

Over The Hills & Through The Woods..

Oh My God, Becky....


I drive daily in rush hour traffic.
Both morning and night.

And I drive on the weekends, which is usually a breeze - unless there is a Sporting event or something fun like Labour Day Weekend!

But lately, because of all the Christmas shopping the roads are becoming packed.
And when I say packed I mean freaking jammed.
Rush hour traffic is nothing compared to Weekend Christmas traffic.

Rush Hour traffic is all the usual suspects, knowing all the usual jams, knowing all the usual procedures for letting people in, over and around.
We wave at each other and nobody honks.
We have patience and understanding.
Of course we're all stressed and wanna get to work or get home but we do this daily so we're used to it.

Weekend Christmas traffic is none of that.
Oh, y'all wave at me constantly but it's the "I love you, you're number one" hand signal y'all are waving.
And honking seems to be the rule, not the exception.
Patience? Understanding?
ha ha ha ha ha
Yeah right!
Heck - I was "laying over" for three minutes at a bus stop.
Four Way flashers on.
Engine off.
And some lady was sitting behind me the whole time, honking.
Hooooooooooooonnkkkiiiinnnnnnnggggggggg
Seriously?
You are the only car on the road besides me.
Go around.
But she had to honk and wait for me to start the bus back up before she decided to slowly go around so that she could roll down her passenger window and give me a very vulgar Christmas greeting!
While I was impressed with her creativity and projection, I don't think the families already on the bus were as impressed or thrilled that their kiddos learned some new phrases.
o_O

My job has become even more exciting, even more adventurous.
I appreciate the 100 tiny heart attacks and all the love y'all share with me over the weekends.
I appreciate keeping my job new and different, especially during this Season.

Thank you.

As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"

Baby It's Cold Outside...

It's that time of the year again so it needs to be said all over again:
Bring a light!
Stay Warm!
Come Early!


I've said all these before but I wanna say it all again.

So here are some updated tips:

- Don't eat snow, whether it's yellow or white. With so much pollution & acid in the precipitation it'll make you sick, at least.

- If you see a bus, whether school bus or RTD with its flashers on (4-ways) - don't dart around just because you're way too busy and important to sit and wait for the passengers to disembark the bus and walk around and possibly across the street into your path!

- Don't threaten somebody while talking on your cell phone on the bus. Heck, don't threaten anybody while on the bus. We have cameras that record audio and video and there are other passengers usually calling authorities while you're still making the threats.

- If you don't have the fare, don't tell me or ask me for a free ride. That leaves me two options: 1) I have to be the jerk who tells you no or 2) I have to be the accomplice who just broke the law with you and I get fined as well (or at least written up when other passengers call and complain and my bosses watch the videos and show me the evidence against me)

- If you're waiting at the bus stop and you're not sure whether I'm going to stop, that's because I'm not sure whether you're waiting on the bus to stop. Take your hands out of your pockets, wipe that dumb look off your face and start waving at me while walking towards the bus stop sign so I know you need me.

- If I can't see you, I ain't stopping. Don't sit or stand in the shadows, behind trees or signs or newspaper dispensers, etc. And bring a flashlight or break out the cell phone and turn it on so I can see your light.

- It's dark out now, I can't see you running for the stop. Leave earlier, arrive earlier. So many people are being late that I'm starting to run on time these days because there's nobody to pick up at the stops!

And this one has gotta be the most important lately because as the temps drop, the heaters come on and the windows close: bring lysol of you know you're gonna be gassy. Just man up and fess up. The rest of us would rather be breathing lysol than your racing stripes. Nobody's gonna be offended if you break out the air freshener.
I may even thank you over the sound system!

So these may be a little random but hey - It took me and four other Drivers to come up with these for y'all.
Enjoy...

As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats - Let's Roll!"