07 - Becoming a bus driver just became real
Training has started, driving is imminent. Watch out Wellington!
A lot has happened since my last post. I’m pretty sure I told you I’d be away for the month of April. Our family visited relatives in Liverpool, and at the same time, took the opportunity to drive around 2,200 kilometres from London, to Bournemouth, to Edinburgh, and many other wonderful locations.
While we were in London, I was naturally drawn to the buses. I didn’t go on one there, because, well, as a tourist who needs a bus when you have the Underground. But I did gawk at a few double-deckers and attempted to photograph some as well.
The Brits do public transport so well. The London Underground which dates from the 1860s should become the eighth wonder of the world. Now that they accept tap-and-go payments, there’s absolutely no friction involved in getting on a train.
Traveling on a bus in Edinburgh (I was determined to travel by bus at least once) there’s a fixed maximum fee paid per day. So, you tap on a bus, not off, and through the magic of computers and GPS and other jiggery-pokery, you are billed a maximum of £4.80 (or thereabouts) for a day’s worth of travel.
We traveled to Leith to see the Royal Yacht Brittania—and I couldn’t help giving a hearty “Thanks, driver” mainly to see what would happen. My thanks were accepted with much gratitude. I seemed to be the only passenger committed to expressing myself in this way. My boys were embarrassed. Why? I have no idea.
We arrived back on April 29. Only one full day to acclimatise to a new time zone before training started last Monday.
I’ve just completed two days of route familiarisation, and a day of classroom work learning about the technology on the bus.
Route familiarisation consisted of donning a high-vis vest, taking my route manual, wandering out to the hub near the Kilbirnie KFC, and hopping on any NZ Bus that took my fancy.
#2 to Karori and back to both Miramar and Seatoun
#34 up around Karori West to Sunshine Avenue (a challenging route)
#33 wandering around Karori South
#3 from Lyall Bay to the Railway Station
#14 from Kilbirnie to Wilton (narrow and winding)
There were many more.
By the end of Tuesday, I was exhausted. I’d been standing all day, right near the driver’s shoulder, to get as close to the action as possible. Trying to see and understand how the bus manoeuvered around corners; how best to approach bus stops; where to position the bus going through the Mount Victoria bus tunnel; and watching the tail swing as you exit bus stops or make tight turns through narrow streets.
Tail swing is the thing that I’ll have nightmares about. One of the rear axles turns, so when you pull out from a stop the rear of the bus, the tail, swings out and can, if you’re not careful, take out poles, rubbish bins, cars alongside, and in the very worst situation, pedestrians walking down the footpath!
I’ve already met some wonderful drivers. Wellington has been addressing the driver shortage by bringing in people from the Philippines and Fiji. The two Filipinos I traveled with on Tuesday have both made a huge sacrifice by leaving wives and children back home in order to earn decent money, with the hope of securing permanent residency after two years of work. One told me he’s earning the equivalent of a month’s salary in the Philippines by working just five days in NZ. While the economics stack up, the emotional stress of being away from the family must be hard to bear.
I’ve also been privy to some wonderful moments from the passengers. For privacy reasons, I can’t give detailed descriptions of events, or even tell you what bus route they occurred on. But…I heard a wonderful one-sided phone conversation that a young woman was having with her Mum. Mum had just secured a position doing something or other, and the daughter was so effusive in her love for her Mum, and in the pride, she felt, quite loudly, but so deeply. The conversation lasted for quite some time. “Oh, Mum…I’m so proud of you. You must be rapt!” Silence. “Oh Mum, that’s wonderful. You’ve done so well! I’m so proud of you. I love you.”
And on another journey I overheard, as did all other passengers, a wonderful conversation between a learned gentleman and a very famous NZ author, about a recent book the author had written. I’m going to need to find a way to share these little nuggets of conversation and interaction, but they are definitely going to be a source of amusement and joy—all while keeping a very close watch on where I’m driving.
Lastly, what sort of driver do I want to be? That’s easy. The first ride I took was with an older and experienced gentleman who engaged with everyone who hopped on his bus. And nine times out of ten, the passengers responded in kind.
The second driver I rode with said nothing to anyone. And, in turn, no one said anything to him.
I’m gonna be that first person. My aim is to make people’s journey a pleasure and a joy, and then by default, my role will also be pleasurable. Life’s too short to be a sad sack. You get out what you put in. Yadda yadda yadda.
Tomorrow, Thursday, I get to drive a bus. No passengers. Probably doing a few drives around a not-so-busy block in Miramar. Then, possibly, a little further afield. If you see me, don’t wave or toot. I’ll be concentrating hard, ensuring my tail doesn’t swing too much!
Oh, and before I go. Wellington drivers secured a pay rise while I was away. Our hourly rate is now $30. This is good news.
Woohoo!! Good luck for your first day of driving today - I can’t wait to hear how it goes :)
Glad to hear Wellington bus drivers have had a pay rise. It’s not an easy job.