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I like the voice on the older Clever Devices better. I'm not too crazy about the voice on the 3Gs.

This was already posted in the random thoughts thread. Nothing major, so new topic was created.

Was driving on Northern Blvd and saw this. Looks like something happened on 1740 today. Look closely, and you can see somebody on the stretcher:

 

My folks will be working on complaints and everything. They deserve everything they get, especially the detectives.

Do not make the same mistake I did when I got stopped by the NCPD by doing nothing afterwards. File as many complaints as you can, take it up to the higher authority in the police department and maybe even file a lawsuit. Unfortunately, they may say they had "probable cause" and the judge may take that since photography isn't allowed on airport grounds, but it always worth a try if you know what you're doing.

 

Let me ask you this though, did they ever once mention 9/11? If they did, they can go to hell, because that excuse is bullshit.

Until you get into an accident. 

 

 

 

Says the guy who decided to focus some of his concentration getting a video while he passed a bus, knowing the driver was also distracted.

 

LOL no offense but talk about how great of a professional driver you will be before you're trained and actually start driving buses  What you do in your car is nothing like driving a bus.  Just focus on learning not how good you are before you even do it, that's how people get cocky and get into minor accidents.  I've had friends who tell me how easy the written test is (who never took it).  I tell them to study the CDL manual twice, no need to pay a school to help you get your permit (passing the written test).  They tell me how easy the test is going to be, and how dumb you'd have to be to fail it.  I see them little down the road, ask if they got their permit, they tell me they failed and my reply is like "that''s awkward."

 

BTW, Brett how is your driving record now?  Keep it clean!  I cannot stress that to ANYONE!  I know people who wanted get their CDL to either driver a bus or a truck (especially when the economy went bad!).  They get their mind made up that is going to be their new career and they quickly realize that no one is going to hire them bc they messed up their driving record being young and dumb.  

You don't need to tell me that. Driving a bus is nothing like driving a car, but you do need basic driving skills of a car in order to drive a bus if you think about it. I'm prepared to study to get my CDL, I know there's things to learn.

 

I come from a family whose parents were speeders and got several tickets in their lifetime, as well as one accident. My driving record is clean. No tickets, no accidents, no violations, nothing. A clean CDL license, good driving skills and good social skills is key to being a good bus operator. I'm not looking to get a career at NICE, just a little experience there.

I'm not posting any of this to be a dick, just want to point out how dangerous it is and keep you safe  Get dash mounted holder for your camera, I bought a holder that fits everything, that sticks to my windshield for under $20 in chinatown...  Just a suggestion.  

It's so much better to have my iPhone in my hand recording because I can face it in any direction quickly in case anything happens immediately.

 

How old are you?  How much longer until you can work for NICE?  

 

I'd strongly suggest having experience otherwise you'll have Pine and Yuki to ruin your day, critiquing your driving skills.

18. To be a NICE driver, you have to be 21. I plan on going for my CDL the summer before I turn 21 when I'll apply to NICE. They can critique all they want, but I am a good driver when it comes to being on the road. Pinepower doesn't get on the driver's nerves when it comes to NICE, he just talks about it here and Yuki is 28 and doesn't have a job, so who's the more responsible one here...

 

Don't all drivers have a camera on them?  Couldn't you call in with the time and the bus number?  I'm sure these are kept for a long time because of legal purposes?

Yes,  the 3Gs have cameras on them, and NICE only looks at the footage if there is an incident or accident involving the bus or the B/O. I could call it in, but like I said above, I'm not gonna report him because it wouldn't be right.

You have the license plate and bus number. Shouldn't be too hard to find....

Those won't help NICE know who was driving the bus that day a couple of months of now when they see the photo. Their records may not go back so far. And who knows how often somebody currently working in administration for NICE checks this forum....

 

I don't want to turn this into a big thing but everyone thinks they're safe until one time they're not, yea you only had one hand off the wheel but I feel it is the distraction that is more dangerous.. Yes the NICE driver had passengers on board, but as I pointed out professional drivers have more training and way more time maneuvering the vehicle than you do. Yes stupid on part of the NICE driver, but I feel professional drivers might use the phone, but stop the bad action at times they know will be dangerous. Your average driver will do something dangerous at a dangerous time, let try to record a bus while passing a bus, while he knows the driver of that vehicle is distracted. You see my point, right?

By the way, did you know this incident could jeopardize your future with NICE, Brett?

 

And thats exactly why I posted the incident here instead of reporting it directly to NICE, which I'm not going to do. I am, however, gonna leave the photo and video online and posted here because I want to. For all we know, NICE may never look here. And if they do, it may be too late because you can't see the driver's face clearly in the photo and they may not know who was driving that day anymore...

 

And I do not think this hurts my chances for a summer job at NICE because they're desperate for drivers. Every few days now (more often than ever), NICE posts on their Facebook page that they're looking for drivers.

Alright yes, what I did was a bit unsafe by having one hand on the wheel and the other recording a video. But I had done it before and knew how to do it safely (for the most part). Two wrongs don't make a right, but that NICE driver had passengers in his bus that he was putting at risk by doing other things whereas I was the only one in my car.

I saw 1622 being towed by all county towing on Monday in island park.Does nice even have tow trucks for their buses

They have a few, and if they don't have enough, they hire other private tow companies.

Unbelievable.

 

Not that it matters but was the bus moving or standing in traffic?  These photos need to find their way to NICE's safety department ASAP!  The only who deserves any sort of shit over this is the driver bc he obviously doesn't value his job.  The ironic part is that when this guy is canned I'm sure he'll find his way to this forum and complain how awful NICE is.

It was like 5 mph slow moving traffic. And you know what the even better part is... the traffic backup was being caused by Orion V #1613 being broken down on a part of Northern Blvd that is only two lanes, causing one of the lanes to be closed. I got video:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE0xVigf9lM

He could've been reading the NICE driver route book as he may not have known the route.

 

That is what I was wondering, as far I know it isn't illegal to read directions (I don't know about NICE policy).

Nope, he was switching between the New York Post and a novel. Both of which, I don't think the photo shows, that he had next to the driver side window.

And piss off the driver and plenty of folks on this forum... just sayin.

The driver would only be pissed off because he was caught in the act. As for members of this forum, if you get pissed off at me for posting a picture of that, you have bigger problems.

 

Yeah, it'll sure get the driver in trouble when Brett doesn't even specify the time. [/sarcasm]

Btw, it's his own fault. He reads a book while driving so he's at fault and I don't see why you should keep that from NICE. If he was driving properly Brett wouldn't have taken that picture.

Time? Well, according to the EXIF data of the photo:

 

Mr. I don't drive a Prius huh?

 

Just saying, I wouldn't have taken that pic. You could potentially get that guy in trouble, thankfully there's no more run boxes but they still might try to find out who he is.

It's a 2010 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport (not a damn Prius).

 

And is it a bad thing to get a driver in trouble who is supposed to be watching the road instead of reading a book? I don't think so. For all we know, if NICE sees this photo and terminates the driver, it may prevent an accident.

Looks like NICE is looking for some laptop computers:

 

RFQ V-1252

Request for Quotation
 

Title: Laptops
Category: Technology
Organization: Veolia Transportation Services, Inc.
Location: Garden City, New York
Closing Date: June 20, 2013, 01:00 PM (Eastern)

Veolia Transportation Services, Inc. is soliciting quotations from qualified vendors to provide firm, fixed pricing for a quantity of ten (10) laptops. Contract term shall be for one month from date of contract award. A contract will be awarded to the lowest, responsive and responsible bidder and prices shall remain firm throughout contract term. DBE Participation Goal for this procurement is 0%.

All questions must be submitted to Procurement Department’s point-of-contact by 12-noon EST on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Responses (answers) will be provided to all vendors receiving RFQ packets. Quotations must be received on or before Thursday, June 20, 2013, 01:00PM EST by via email, hard copy or fax. 

The Procurement Dept’s Point-of-Contact is Email: Andrea.Martinez@veoliatransdev.comor Fax to Attn: (RFQ No. V1252): 516-794-8670.

Interested bidders should request, in writing, a copy of the RFQ Documents from Ms. Andrea Martinez, Procurement Associate, at Email: Andrea.Martinez@veoliatransdev.com. She may be contacted at phone number: 516-542- 0100, x 4317.

Funding support for this project is provided through a financial grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). In accordance with 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 26, participation of Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBE) in all aspects of this federally funded contract will be encouraged and supported.

 

http://www.nicebus.com/About_NICE/Procurement/index.html

Its not such a great photo since I was trying to drive while taking this photo behind me, but if you look closely, notice this driver had a book in his hands while driving the n20 to Flushing two days ago:

 

Its funny looking back to some of the things I proposed to changing Long Island Bus back in 2011 that I see now were just plain dumb and not thought out: http://www.nyctransitforums.com/forums/topic/27493-my-propositon-to-reforming-long-island-bus-routes/

nice.com is down

NICE.com is something entirely different. But yes, nicebus.com is down.

When you get to those QB or NB lights, you sure as hell will get bored waiting for the light to change. Quite creative, lol.

So? That's no excuse for a B/O to have his eyes off the road, even if he is inching along the road. The bus is still in motion.

 

 

Most drivers does that, including MTA operators.

OH RIGHT! I forgot, because the does it, that its OK for the B/O to take his eyes off the road and catch up on the sports section.

WTF, a guy driving 1863 on the n20 to Flushing was reading the NY Post while sitting in traffic on Northern Blvd.

n2

 

 

 

 

n26 carries lots of passengers.

Every n26 bus I have seen is SRO.

That doesn't mean every passenger wants the time changed. If the bus is SRO or even no room, that means a majority of them would not want it changed to a later time because they're on that bus then anyway.

There's Great Neck Passengers complaining about last 5pm n26 Jamaica should leave at 5:15pm because people leave exhauting day of work at 5pm.

And I bet you're complaining for them on the NICE Facebook page, right!? No wonder NICE ignores alot of stuff you post on their page...

June 23rd schedule changes are up:

 

http://nicebus.com/Passenger_Information/June_23rd_Schedule_Changes/index.html

 

June 23rd Schedule Changes

NICE will make schedule changes on multiple routes on Sunday, June 23, 2013. The majority of these changes are very small timetable adjustments. Starting June 24th, the n2/8 will revert back to its 2012 route along Covert Avenue, and will no longer travel to Franklin Square along Hempstead Turnpike.

NOTE: The following schedules only take effect on June 23rd, 2013. Click any route below to download a timetable pdf.

Affected Weekday Routes:

  n1   n25   n51

  n2/8   n26   n57/58

  n15   n31/32   n70/71/72

  n19   n35   n78/79

  n22/A/L/X   n40/41
 

Affected Saturday Routes:

  n2/8   n15   n43

  n4   n23   n48/49

  n6   n33   n54/55
 

Affected Sunday Routes:

  n15   n33   n40/41

I haven't heard about the June 23rd schedule changes, but if its anything notable, it may be announced at the public meeting at NICE's Mitchel Field Depot on June 18th.

 

Also, I'm seeing less and less of the Orion V CNGs. I had to Port Washington today and going back and forth on Northern Blvd, all I saw were NGs and 3Gs, mostly 1700s and the 3Gs (Not many of the 1800 NGs).

THE FAB FIVE!

Service Quality Managers Ali G, Randy R, Ricky S, Jacques T, and Greg M posing at Mineola Terminal this afternoon!