SoSpectacular

252, 254, 400, 660 spotted with readers

264, 265, 366, 369, 386, 402, 422, 484 with readers

255, 261, 358, 398, 403, 407, 420 visually confirmed to have readers installed, 250 is in the process of getting the base/reader installed

392 and 396 have readers installed

1 hour ago, Lawrence St said:

For as large as 's fleet is, their maintenence is great. Be happy you don't live in New Jersey, where equipment is breaking down every 3 minutes.

Indeed, those maintenance guys put in the work to keep our buses going. Very appreciative of them!

42 minutes ago, WestFarms36 said:

Any Rear door bases on JG's C40LF's yet or just the Front, because 216 so far is the only one I've spotted with a base in the rear.

Haven't noticed any bases at the rear but I'm sure they'll get to them, the last bus I drove (488) didn't have bases yet

As of last weekend some of our C40s at Gleason have gotten bases installed. Haven't seen anything on the Xcelsiors yet...

One thing I will always find remarkable is how quickly they got those speed cameras out after that expansion last year.

From my experiences on the road, there is recklessness on all sides. We got drivers going through red lights when lights are too short for traffic flow, Going ahead on delayed greens (unfairly punishes drivers who aren't turning in my opinion) and speeding up to make lights where there aren't any cameras.

On the other hand, we got cyclists who like to go down roads the wrong way, or don't use the specifically-marked bike lanes where they're actually painted because it's out of their way or not where they want to go, and on tight streets where passing them is impossible bringing traffic to a crawl. 

And then there's the pedestrians. Whatever happened to looking both ways before crossing an intersection? Crossing against the light? While it's okay when traffic is light, it's NOT okay when there's active traffic coming down the street 15+ feet from the intersection. Walking in the middle of the street or alongside parked cars is also pretty dangerous, especially with the many narrowed lanes that now exist.

This is definitely not working out.

22 hours ago, Cactus683 said:

Hey all made my year yesterday,clean off probation now.When I popped that brake last night and got to the yard it was just a weird source of pressure and anxiety that left my body .If any of you new folks need any help or any advice with anything don't be afraid to reach out to me.I was here bothering @+Young+ last year and he was the biggest help through alot it stuff.Thanks again for all that help .

Feels great, don't it? My last day on probation was the day before my RDOs, haha I had a little night out with friends!

On 11/14/2020 at 10:50 PM, AM GALEM said:

Can your probation be extended from a customer complaint?

As far as I have seen/from stories I've heard, it's all up to your immediate supervisor. Although, repeating the same mistake twice is VERY likely to grant you an extension.

23 hours ago, +Young+ said:

Speaking of Eastchester, does anybody have any of the "handouts" that they give to prepare you folks for the road test? I would love to add them to the "handouts" that I posted in this thread/topic...let me know.

Can a portion of the road test route be seen in the videos in this thread/topic? One of the things which helped me pass my CDL road tests back in 2014 and 2015 was that, after the instructor took me to the old road test site in Maspeth at least twice, I must have done that route at least ten times with my car, trying to "memorize" what to say, what to look out for, etc. Therefore, depending on where you live and/or your circumstances, if you're able to do it, from my perspective, it'll do nothing but help you on your road test!!

I still have all the handouts from my training days, I'll see about scanning the pages from them if you'd like.

And yes, that video is almost the exact same route (shortened) you take on the road test in Co-op City. MTA has a unique road test location in the Bronx since it begins and ends within the depot. You do the pre-trip and the maneuvers in the depot then head out for the road portion. People sometimes bomb their first attempt clipping the curb making the left out of Eastchester.

3 hours ago, RailBus63 said:

How often do they practice the skills test (backup, offset and parallel parking)?  If you're not doing that every working day in the week or two leading up to the road test, I could see why people fail it.  I found the backup and offset to be pretty easy once you got the hang of it, but parallel parking a 40-foot bus in a 55-foot 'box' takes time to get it down so you can do it consistently. 

Let me explain how it works at Eastchester.

You get about a week or two to practice doing the pre-trips, straight backing, offset backing, parallel parking and straight line stuff. They do about 5 road tests a day give or take at the same time. You usually get your road test date the first day you report to Eastchester. Those that pass day 7 are usually the first to test while the day 9 people go right after. Day 10 folks usually follow after. 

If you're waiting to road test, practice as many times as you need while there are buses available. Sometimes you will be taken out on the road to go over the actual road test route, including the shortened version when traffic may become problematic.

265 is here at Gleason in exchange for the above mentioned buses 348-350

On 10/14/2020 at 2:01 PM, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Some of the new drivers are simply not cut out to handle the job or don't use common sense, and so they keep getting written up and are eventually fired.  There are definitely some that have to deal with things like unruly passengers, etc., but plenty that have been driving for years and do fine.  There are a number of reasons that drivers are on and off. Some are injured during the every day grind. The streets with all of the potholes, etc. take a toll on your back. You also have to pass yearly physicals, etc. There is a lot behind the scenes as to why some leave, and it's not all due to the public either.

I know some drivers that have left Bus and moved over to NYCT.  Some prefer to work closer to where they live, etc. The reasons are substantial.

 

Of course, we're powerless when it comes to enforcing the fare. We're not even allowed to say anything about it other than stating what the fare is. That's it.

Some will let the stress get to them, other simply won't care and move on as I do... But, I'm not going to make it easy for would-be farebeaters, so I make them all come through the front. This ain't the SBS.

49 minutes ago, Mtaguy86 said:

Is my  question not valid ???

They will get to your number. They have five years to get to it. Patience!

17 hours ago, Biggington said:

my class is the most recent to finish and day 6 was in the same area as day 7. Days 1-3 aren’t in the same area for everyone. 

Did you train in Manhattan almost entirely?

7 hours ago, hh1a said:

Hi everyone

I was notified as well to send paperwork by next Thursday my list is 2*

 

was wondering if they are hiring from three different lists doesn't it mess up seniority?

In my initial class of four, only one of us was hired off the previous TA exam (4600) so he has slightly more seniority than I. I scored the highest of the three remaining people (hired off 7612) so I have seniority over those classmates. That's how it'll work pretty much.

On 9/21/2020 at 1:40 PM, mertd93 said:

On 9/11/2020 at 1:03 PM, Natalie said:

It’s been quiet here lately, everyone is busy on their driving looks like. 
 

I just finished day 6 here and things are going very good for me. Looking forward to day 7 tomorrow. 
 

I wonder if we will do the same route as we did today in Manhattan starting from 34 and Lexington ave. Can anyone chime in?

If my training serves any indication day 7 should roughly be in the same areas you probably did your days 1-3 in- just without any instructions other than turns and servicing bus stops

On 9/24/2020 at 6:35 PM, hh1a said:

Hi everyone

I live in Queens and want to know if I could go to a DMV in Nassau County and apply to get a cdl permit?

Nassau has a few slots in early October.

The DMV website recommends doing business in the county that you live in, just wondering if there would be any problems in a different county like Nassau?

thanks

It doesn't matter what DMV office you go to as they are all run by the state- I usually go to the Garden City location since it's pretty easy to go in and out

On 9/20/2020 at 1:03 PM, B35 via Church said:

 

Yeah, CTtransit, generally speaking, makes no secret of which trips interline, and not just on the schedules.... I've taken the (then) route #11 & route #41 in Stamford, where b/o's would flat out state that "if you need the 11, stay on the bus" (if it's a WB #41, in this case) upon reaching McKinney.... I've been told that NICE is basically doing the exact opposite with the n22 & n24, kicking people off the bus, full knowing that same bus & b/o is going to do the other segment of the route.... Not tryna be funny, but sometimes I would CTFU when I used to wait for the LIRR coming home, to hear pax. cursing out n22 drivers that short turned at Mineola..... B/o's of those late n40/41's in the afternoon used to get cursed out too.... Loud enough for you to clearly hear them across the tracks....

I dislike getting turned short when I have a moderate load and my follower is lagging behind, even though I clearly make an announcement after a call I'll still get the angry/pissed off riders.

"This shit happens every time!"
*Teeth sucking*
"Can I get a transfer??"

1 hour ago, Br00klynHappiness said:

Oh wow that was fast for you but glad you made it through.  Good luck on your training!!

Oh, I meant last year when I got called up. I don't know about now and the whole pandemic issue but it should be within the week you go in for pre-processing. 17 months and going at this point!

4 hours ago, SevenEleven said:

If you are next to the curb when making a right turn, you must hook it or it's going to be a pivot turn. You turn regular and you will be on the curb.

This is what trips up a LOT of students.

When I had to go to Zerega for a refresher earlier this year we were taken through the "Day 10" course that they use for those who get that far- one such turn is even referred to as the "Day 10 Turn" from the superintendent that was evaluating us. There is a bus stop at this corner and it's a pretty tight right. You have to hook that bus to keep from hitting that curb. 

12 hours ago, Br00klynHappiness said:

I had my appointment this morning for the drug test and I was only there an hour.  It was fast and very little people.  Hopefully get a call back soon for medical...... 

The drug test results usually come back within 3-4 days, they'll be calling you back up soon. I spent a few hours that day doing the medical then finally getting sworn in. Imagine my surprise when they threw me right into the next class that was only three days away from starting.

2 hours ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

as far as I've heard, local 100 (all sides) had been bitching to management about the lack of privacy, exposing B/O's full run paddles... myself being one of them. i wrote a simple inquiry as to what were they hoping to accomplish by potentially putting B/O's in harms way (the general public being more savvy than one may assume)

what i currently know is that they're not available online, and depots like CP, BP & LG have taken further steps to encrypt their online pick run boards which used to be accessible to the general public. I'd have to ask around to find out for absolute certain if there are any other avenues where run work could potentially float into the wrong hands 

Not something the public should be able to see... That's what bus schedules are for... Bus operators and dispatchers can only pull those up as needed (I usually print mine at home every pick)

But how are regular people getting access to BusTrek? Isn't that for the dispatchers??

17 hours ago, Gotham Bus Co. said:

So buses can be bunched on the Q46 just because one driver did his first half on the Q2?

No.

As mentioned above, bunching is always going to happen but dispatch won't always put us in place if we start our second halves late because we missed the initial lunch break/and or late relief. It seems that we are much less likely to be put in place when headways between buses are large, 20+ minutes or so I would put it, because what ends up happening, a 20 minute headway is going to become a 40+ minute headway due to the missing bus, and the bus that comes after is now going to have to deal with that much bigger crowd and practically delay the entire line. Best to let the buses continue as they are.

Best example I can think of was this past summer pick on the B68. When the headway becomes 20 minutes on Sunday nights, there's still quite a bit of people waiting for the bus (especially when the rides were free). My leader would get her bus late because the operator she relieved was usually behind schedule. No instructions from dispatch but to continue as is. By the time I get my bus she's probably a few minutes ahead of me or we're going down Coney Island Avenue together for the next 3-4 trips tag-teaming stops because there's so many people, plus if HER leader is missing, that's two jam-packed buses going down at the same time.

It was messy, but we got it done.