MaBSTOARTS

Miss Elizabeth,

        If you look at my prior posts in this thread, you should find the answers to 90% of your questions.  Otherwise let me know what you need and i'll see to it

@MaBSTOARTS How do you edit the map?

 

I downloaded a PNG bus map and used MS Paint.

In return, How did you make the destination sign?

Ok, here's something a little more down to earth than my last sugestion...

How about a Bx43 which goes from Riverdale - Woodlawn??

Bx43: Riverdale W 256 St & Mosholu Av - Woodlawn, E 242 St

Eastbound Route:

(Starting at Mosholu Av & Liebig Av.)

R- W 256 St

L- Riverdale Av

Continue to Henry Hudson Pkwy S

L- W 239 St

L- Henry Hudson Pkwy N

R- Manhattan College Pkwy

R- W 242 St

R- Broadway

L- W 240 St

Continue Van Cortlandt Av West

L- Sedgwick Av

L- Dickenson Av

R- W Gun Hill Rd

L- Jerome Av

R- E 233 St

L- Van Cortlandt Park E

L- Katonah Av

L- into "Turnabout" and layover

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Westbound Route:

R - Van Cortlandt Park E

R- E 233 St

L- Jerome Av

R- W Gun Hill Rd

L- Dickenson Av

R- Sedgwick Av

R- Van Cortlandt Av W

Continue onto Van Cortlandt Park South - W 240 St

R- Broadway

L- Manhattan College Parkway

R- Henry Hudson Pkwy North

R- W 253 St

L- Fieldston Rd

L- Mosholu Av

**Layover at Mosholu Av & Liebig Av**

Justice09, the best advice I can give you for the DMV Road test: Do a complete PRE-TRIP on your bus, but most of all concentrate on your Airbrake "ALSAPS" (Air Leakage, Low Air Warning, Spring Brake, Air Compressor Cutoff, Parking Brake Test, Service Brake)

Remember, you have to explain EVERYTHING you do to the examiner... DON'T assume they know what you are doing and yes they take points off for not sounding off.

ie: "I am conducting my airbrake air leakage rate, the current pressure reading is (what ever the gauge reads) psi." "I am now going to depress my service brake pedal. I see an initial loss of (whatever the difference from the initial psi reading) psi." "I am going to hold the pedal down for an additional 1 minute to make sure I don't experience a loss greater than 2psi per 1 minute."

"I am conducting my low air warning system check." (Put the Master Switch to **RUN* but DON'T start the bus). "I am going to depress the service brake til the low air warning buzzer or beep sounds." (fan the brakes). "The low air warning signal activated at (60-70) PSI."

"I am now going to conduct my Spring Brake Check" (continue to fan the brakes) "The spring brake popped at (30-40) PSI."

(Start the bus and turn the high idle switch **ON*) "I am conducting my Air Compressor Cutoff Test" (While the compressor is building the pressure you do your wrap-around inspection) "While the compressor is building pressure I am going to do my wrap-around inspection and test all switches and devices" (air compressor cuts off) "The air compressor cut off at (120-130) PSI".

"I will now conduct my Parking Brake test" (put the bud in drive but DO NOT release the parking brake. Press the accelerator treddle down fr 3 to 5 seconds, the bus SHOULD NOT move) "Parking Brake is holding, bus did not move."

"I am now going to conduct my Service Brake Check" (release the parking brake and let the bus roll 10 - 50 Feet and depress the pedal) "Service brakes are functioning properly, bus is stopping straight; no pulling to the left or right; long or short brakes"

Justice09, are you going to be at Zerega tomorrow?

Justice09, You're doing the 7 day training with the Hybrids? I thought Hybrid training was on day 7 (if you get cursed with being thrown into 9 and 10) after you qualified on a rickety old RTS? Anyway, How do you like it so far? Do you feel like it's the "Parris Island" of the MTA like everyone else?

Also, where is Supt Sharrocks taking you guy to drive around and service your bus stops?

I was told by my classmates who had him that Supt Sharrocks is a fair man, I only knew him from the Admin day prior to training. Grand Av Depot? Hey, it's better than where I was in Queens Village. You will probably be taken to Spring Creek Depot on Flatlands Av in Brooklyn for the Simulator training.. But, Just wait til Day 4 where you have to work that RTS (which in my book stands for Rolling Ton of S**t) into really tight spaces and maneuver around the Subway Pillars (possibly on Westchester Av in the Bronx). Day 4 scared the ever-living s**t out of me. Days 5 & 6 are in Manhattan: heads up, just in case you have to make that turn from E 106 St and the FDR Drive Service Rd, Swing out early otherwise you'll have to back-up and if that happens, mounting the curb is inevitable. and the left turn from E 14 St to 4 Av in Union Sq is another pain in the A$$ WATCH OUT FOR DUMB SCHMUCKS ON BIKES and when you turn from Park Av South to E 26 st, swing out to right a bit so you dont mount curb (just a heads up from my mistakes)

Another heads up: for the 2 times they put you in "the simulator"- You will be warned by your instructor that the simulator can make you nauseous or bring on an episode of "Vertigo". A very important lesson I learned from a mistake I made the first time: If you start feeling like the room is spinning or you're off balance STOP THE SIMULATOR and TELL YOUR INSTRUCTOR. They cannot penalize you for this as they know this is a common occurrence with students

Hey Justice09, where did they assign you for days 1-7 and who's your instructor?

Here's a few key points to remember: Mirrors: Here's how to set your mirrors..... LEFT: you need to see just the surface of the bus and behind/to the left of you. RIGHT: Center Marker Light should be in the LOWER LEFT-HAND CORNER. They want you to have your head "on a swivel" (continuously scanning your mirrors) when they tell you to "service the bus stop" pull as close as you can to the curb and keep your bus straight (unobstructed bus stops) or pull parallel to the stop if it's a "blocked bus stop" but ALWAYS- I repeat ALWAYS COVER YOUR RIGHT. ALWAYS LOOK BEFORE you move that bus. Remember- 4 feet of clearance on your right so in case some dumb schmuck opens up their car door, you don't take it off. Remember- when setting up turns: **RIGHT** pole right behind front door to the curb (or to the outer mark of a parked car). **LEFT** shoulder to the Double Yellow Line. also. if space is limited on a right turn you can use the "S-Hook" method.. steer your front left away from the curb and when your left bumper touches the Double Yellow Line, you work into your right turn. Another point: You MUST CALL OUT EVERYTHING you see (ie: School Crossing, Biker (left or right), car approaching / stopped (L or R), Pedestrian (where ever they are), Underpass (You would say " ** if not marked** is 14' or greater, THIS BUS is 10'6. We have clearance" or call out what it's clearance is)

I just miss the OLD Bx24, I wish that were still around.... That would be the one thing I would pick in a heartbeat

How about a Bx37 going from RIVERDALE to WESTCHESTER SQ?

Southbound Theoretical Route:

Mosholu Av & Liebig Av (Same Top as the old Bx24 **Riverdale - Fordham Plaza**)

Right - W 256 St

Left - Riverdale Av,

Continue on to - H Hudson Pkwy Service Rd

Left - W 246 St

Right - Fieldston Rd

Left - Manhattan College Pkwy

Lean Right - W 242 St

Right - Broadway

Left - W 240 St / Van Cortlandt Pk South

Lean Right - Van Cortlandt Av West

Left - Sedgwick Av

Left - Dickenson Av

Right - W Gun Hill Rd

Right - Webster Av

Left - Bedford Park Blvd

Left - Dr Theodore Kazmiroff Blvd / Southern Blvd

Right - Bronx Park E

Left - Waring Av

Right - Williamsbridge Rd

Merge onto E Tremont Av

(Last Stop: Westchester Sq)

***Layover on Westchester Av (Same as Bx21)***

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Theoretical Northbound Route:

Right - Lane Av

Left - E Tremont Av

Lean Right - Williamsbridge Rd

Left - Waring Av

Right - White Plains Rd

Left - Allerton Av

Continue on to - Dr Kazmiroff Blvd / Southern Blvd

Right - Bedford Park Blvd

Right - Webster Av

Left - E Gun Hill Rd

Left - Dickenson Av

Right - Sedgwick Av

Right - Van Cortlandt Av West

Lean Right - Van Cortlandt Park South

Right - Broadway

Left - Manhattan College Pkwy

Right - Fieldston Rd

Left - W 246 St

Right - Henry Hudson Pkwy Service Rd

Bear Right at Fork - W 253 St

Left - Fieldston Rd

Left - Mosholu Av

(Last Stop: Mosholu Av - *Just Past* Liebig Av)

I Graduated Today, got my shiny new badge, a customer service class and a "Get out there and do your job as you were taught to"

I meant that sarcastically. I'd rather have the 1 / 2

Fun Fun Fun, I'm just itching with anticipation of having a run the Bx55

You call your depot for tomorrow's assignment and continue line training until your graduation day when you'll be going back to Zerega to hang out with the rest of your classmates with a few more talks from Superintendents, then mostly chillin. Once you graduate, the next day you're on your own. Your graduation day should be on a Wednesday, and that Thursday should be your first day alone.

I was told that Monday & Tuesday (4/30 & 5/1) are Artic Training Days, What pointers can be given on that subject??

I PASSED MY DMV TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder what happens now.

My DMV Road Test is tomorrow morning at Zerega, can anyone offer any pointers?

As much as I once loved the RTS, I wish they would put us on an Orion or a Hybrid which are both easier to handle than an RTS (as my instructing operators referred to it as "RTS" being an abbreviation for "Rolling Ton of S**t"

btw, I just called my depot crew dispatcher... and he told me to report to Zerega at 08:00 tomorrow morning

What does the DMV road test encompass? What class of bus will zerega provide for my road test? How long is the road test? and what happens next (provided a favorable outcome)?

I made it on day 10, and I was able to pick into my depot of choice and today was my first day of passenger service to which my instructing operator was like "Dude, you're good. Are you sure you never drove a bus before?"

Day 7, this rattle-brain had the previous student secure the bus on the shoulder of the L I Expwy and I had to hastily set my mirrors to remove us from the danger of having 25% of RTS width sticking out into traffic, I then exited onto Queens Blvd where I mounted the curb at Elliot Av because my pass side mirror was mal-adjusted. (got trolly-braked) and this rattlebrain claims I "made contact" with a road sign on Queens Blvd just west of the Van Wyck. I saw I had sufficient clearance from the sign but you can't reason with these instructors, they're like kids. they want what they want and how they want it.

Day 9, I got jammed up because I forgot to honk the bus I was passing at 125, then I got trolly braked at 96 & bway because I didnt see some assh**le who doesn't know the hand flashing translates to "get your dumb ass off the road". then the icing on the cake, I didn't kneel the bus before I opened the doors.

I'm so ready to say F*k it.. MTA wants too much from people (if I wanted to nurture the reflexes of a fighter pilot I would've joined the navy), but yet they forget who the real problem children are... not the new operators, but the operators who have been off probation for some time

Right lane obstruction. and the worst is that I was ordered to Day 10 on Monday, which there's only 2 outcomes "Qualified" or "Curtains"

I managed to Back and Parallel park the RTS.... I even made it thru the El Pillars... but then I screwed myself bumping the curb making the turn from Bell Blvd to the Clearview Expwy and once again at the end of the Clearview where I made a left onto Hillside av into the center lane. after I turned into the center lane, a car came around me on my right, cut me off, stopped short, pulled over and opened his door..... My instructor (Mr Siegel) started asking me if my head was screwed on straight. Sometimes I wonder if I'll make it. and one debate I had with one of my classmates is the fact that the Road Instruction should be twice or 3 times what it is.... for someone like me who's never driven anything that big- 7 days seems hardly enough time to Deprogram all of one's (to quote my instructor) "Bad Habits"

I started my 7 day training yesterday, got trolly braked twice, I was being told I have "tunnel vision"