5667 was my bus on thursday afternoon. Its got that new bus smell. Manufactured by NewFlyer about 5 weeks ago, this bus had 176 miles on the speedometer....thus the 2nd operator to drive this bus. The windows, drivers dashboard was extremely dirty....Lucky I keep windex and paper towels in my bag

It takes about 10 minutes to pre-trip the bus before pulling out to do your run. On the pre-trip, you'd check the exterior of the bus top to bottom for body damages, air or fluid leakes, no loose lugnuts, wheelchair lift/ramp works, all switches/gauges work, fire extinguisher is charged, clean interior, air brakes test. Those are amongst the things one would check on the pre-trip. If everything is ok. we're good to go. If theres a problem before pull-out, then we go get a mechanic. If the problem can be fixed in a timely manner, then usually you keep the same bus... if not, then u'd get another bus.

Since theres no problems found...everything is ok and its time to pull out.

Several hours later. The bus starts to act up. When I apply pressure to the gas, the bus would not move at all. While some passenger at the rear of the bus is shouting " TAKE THE BUS OUT OF NEUTRAL" , I actually recycled the bus. Recycling the bus basically is securing the bus ( Neutral, Parking brake ), shut off the bus, wait 10 seconds before starting so that the CNG fuel system and computer sensors can restart properly. After that. We're on our way. It did this a couple times on my route. Get back into the yard a few hours later.... the bus doesnt wanna move at all. I had to recycle the bus at least 4 times to get the darn thing to move again. Park it, sign off.

Sign on again for my second route. The other bus would be 5366. This would be 5366s last day at my yard. A few hours after Im done with my assignment. I earned some overtime. I had to take 5366 to her new home at the yard in Garden Grove. From there I got a ride back to my home yard and went home afterwards.


5

5666 and 5667








No skittles coming from this rainbow  













5366 on the day. Taken at SNA Airport Terminal.

5366s last day at S.N.A. yard
While my yard is getting the newest buses, the other 2 yards will get the older hand-me down diesel buses. Needless to say the Gilligs are being retired slowly but surely

I've seen an Octa slinky bus by Disney Land once.

How many different manufactures are there for buses? Up in Vancouver, we seem to be getting quite a few new, similar looking buses as well.

LFRs still look a bit weird to me.... I like them because they are unique, but I'm not liking them all the way yet..

Quoting MD90fan (Reply 1): slinky bus

No offense to you, I just really hate that term... It makes me cringe every time I see it.

I've taken up driving for transit in Vancouver in addition to having the tour company and I've started with public transport at precisely the right time. New equipment everywhere....

Those New Flyer models are really smooth, aren't they... While I don't actually know what the diesel version is like yet we do have a number of them in the fleet at other depots.... along with articulated ones running on suburban routes. It's nice to see some styling in the New Flyers. I really didn't like the boxy B-U-S shape of the older low-floor models.

The reason I don't know about the diesel models yet is because the version of the New Flyer I drive is an electric trolley. Everything is virtually the same as the diesel ones except propulsion is a Vossloh-Keipe electric system.

Quoting ZBBYLW (Reply 2): How many different manufactures are there for buses? Up in Vancouver, we seem to be getting quite a few new, similar looking buses as well.

In the Vancouver region, we are being supplied with New Flyer 40 foot diesel and electric, as well as 60 foot articulated diesel and electric in addition to 40 foot Nova buses that are designed and built in Montreal.

But there are many others, ZBBYLW. Gillig, and Orion come to mind in the North American market. In towns and cities across British Columbia BC Transit has also purchased Denis Dart single decker and Trident double decker buses. Diesel/Electric models are on their way too....

Glid4500, it's neat to see your passion come alive in your stories. Keep them coming!

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 3): I just really hate that term

Quoting MD90fan (Reply 1): slinky bus

slinky bus = articulated bus or just simply artic

Quoting ZBBYLW (Reply 2): How many different manufactures are there for buses? Up in Vancouver, we seem to be getting quite a few new, similar looking buses as well.

Yes vancouver are getting similar ones as well. I like the transit vehicles up there.

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 4): But there are many others, ZBBYLW. Gillig, and Orion come to mind in the North American market.

You forgot a couple too. Lets not forget about North American Bus Industries ( NABI ), El Dorado National, and NovaBus, MCI, Prevost, and VanHool.

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 4): The reason I don't know about the diesel models yet is because the version of the New Flyer I drive is an electric trolley. Everything is virtually the same as the diesel ones except propulsion is a Vossloh-Keipe electric system.

The new NewFlyer design looks pretty good. Up in Vancouver, the diesel units and the ones converted from CNG to Diesel are very intresting and nice sounding  

Quoting Glid4500 (Thread starter): this bus had 176 miles on the speedometer

Christ, that thing goes like a BMW M5!   

However if you mean odometer then....

Do not forget about Thomas/ Freightliner and International.

Hunter

Quoting Myt332 (Reply 6): if you mean odometer then....

OOPS {smack in the head }

Quoting MCOflyer (Reply 7): Do not forget about Thomas/ Freightliner and International.

oh yeah thats right

Quoting MD90fan (Reply 1): I've seen an Octa slinky bus by Disney Land once

yes we run those on the 43 line past Disneyland. Its the busiest line in our system.

Quoting Glid4500 (Thread starter): air brakes test.

You have air brakes?...Now that is cool!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say for some reason that I really do enjoy what you write. Maybe its because the style or maybe its because of the words you use. But a big part of me says its because your an enthusiastic individual when it comes to your job.

The world needs more people like you, people who are enthusiastic about their job, if we did then we would get alot more work done in the world.

I pray you stay safe.

Regards!

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 5): slinky bus = articulated bus or just simply artic

Yea, I know, that's why I hate that term. Artics are kind of degraded when called that... I don't know, I can't help it...

What are those bars on the front, some kind of bumper?

And here in Argentina the buses are a little more colourfull  


See
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7752/dscn0051to9.jpg

Great photos Eddie.

Ever get around Disneyland while working?

Quoting LV-ARG (Reply 12): What are those bars on the front, some kind of bumper?

Retractable bike racks.

What a coincedence. ABQ RIDE recently got some New Flyer DE40LFR buses. They are similar to the buses that you are talking about, except they are diesel-electric hybrids rather than CNG-powered. ABQ RIDE's buses though feature frameless windows.

Its good to see we're getting more and more people on here with interest in buses, as well as those who work for transit services. I remember being one of a small handful for the longest time.

As for those new C40LFRs... beautiful! I wish my company would buy them but we're committed to NovaBus for the next 5 years. Novas LFS buses are great from a driver's point of view. Very comfortable to drive as the driver's area is very spacious and well thought out. All of the switches are within easy reach and the turning radius can not be beat by any other 40' bus are two other highlights that come to mind.

I also enjoy the new bus smell. Recently this week I've had the priveledge of driving some buses that were just delivered to our system. Sometimes though, I find its better driving a bus thats been around for a while because everything has been worked in and all the kinks have been worked out.







-Mark

Quoting EmiratesA345 (Reply 16): Its good to see we're getting more and more people on here with interest in buses, as well as those who work for transit services. I remember being one of a small handful for the longest time. As for those new C40LFRs... beautiful! I wish my company would buy them but we're committed to NovaBus for the next 5 years. Novas LFS buses are great from a driver's point of view. Very comfortable to drive as the driver's area is very spacious and well thought out. All of the switches are within easy reach and the turning radius can not be beat by any other 40' bus are two other highlights that come to mind. I also enjoy the new bus smell. Recently this week I've had the priveledge of driving some buses that were just delivered to our system. Sometimes though, I find its better driving a bus thats been around for a while because everything has been worked in and all the kinks have been worked out.

Speaking of this, I wonder why the Nova LFS wasn't very successful in the United States. Poor sales of the LFS and declining sales of the RTS bus led Nova to close their U.S. factories and exit the U.S. market.

In the U.S. market, we are only left with four major manufacturers (New Flyer, Gillig, Orion, and NABI), with some other smaller manufacturers such as ElDorado and Millennium Transit Services (the current maker of the RTS). Neoplan USA closed its doors in 2006. There is only one public transit authority that purchases buses from overseas, that would be AC Transit of Alameda, California, who purchases buses from Van Hool of Belgium.

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 15): What a coincedence. ABQ RIDE recently got some New Flyer DE40LFR buses. They are similar to the buses that you are talking about, except they are diesel-electric hybrids rather than CNG-powered. ABQ RIDE's buses though feature frameless windows.

That Flyer looks mean. I think it has something to do with the colour. I really like the frameless windows, they look very sharp however I think any bus with A/C should not have the "tip-in" windows. They should be solid panes that only swing out in the event of an emergency, just like on a highway motorcoach.

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 17): Speaking of this, I wonder why the Nova LFS wasn't very successful in the United States. Poor sales of the LFS and declining sales of the RTS bus led Nova to close their U.S. factories and exit the U.S. market. In the U.S. market, we are only left with four major manufacturers (New Flyer, Gillig, Orion, and NABI), with some other smaller manufacturers such as ElDorado and Millennium Transit Services (the current maker of the RTS). Neoplan USA closed its doors in 2006. There is only one public transit authority that purchases buses from overseas, that would be AC Transit of Alameda, California, who purchases buses from Van Hool of Belgium.

I'm not sure why they were not successful but it will be hard for them to get a strong hold of the US market. If I'm not mistaken, many states have a "Buy American" policy which would prohibit transit systems from purchasing this 100% made in Canada, bus. Similarily, you'd likely never see a NABI in Canada. This isn't always true however as we do one company in particular "VIVA" from York Region Transit who also purchase Van Hools from Belgium. Companies such as New Flyer and Orion have plants in both Canada and the US so they can say that the bus was assembled 50% here and 50% there.

-Mark

Quoting EmiratesA345 (Reply 18): I'm not sure why they were not successful but it will be hard for them to get a strong hold of the US market. If I'm not mistaken, many states have a "Buy American" policy which would prohibit transit systems from purchasing this 100% made in Canada, bus. Similarily, you'd likely never see a NABI in Canada. This isn't always true however as we do one company in particular "VIVA" from York Region Transit who also purchase Van Hools from Belgium. Companies such as New Flyer and Orion have plants in both Canada and the US so they can say that the bus was assembled 50% here and 50% there.

The Buy America law is in fact nationwide. The only way for Nova to re-enter the U.S. market is to open a new factory in the United States. As I stated, poor sales of the LFS and declining sales of the RTS is the reason why Nova exitied the U.S. market. However, if Nova did re-enter the U.S. market, maybe the LFS could have a second chance, as it is now being offered in diesel-electric hybrid and articulated versions. Currently in the U.S. market, only New Flyer and NABI produce artics. Neoplan also produced artics but they closed their doors in 2006. Maybe the Nova LFS artic could be a viable alternative to the New Flyer D(E)60LF(R) and the NABI 60-LFW/60-BRT.

Quoting RacingGreen07 (Reply 10): I just wanted to take this opportunity to say for some reason that I really do enjoy what you write. Maybe its because the style or maybe its because of the words you use. But a big part of me says its because your an enthusiastic individual when it comes to your job. The world needs more people like you, people who are enthusiastic about their job, if we did then we would get alot more work done in the world.

      

A great thread. I wanted to check out the Dennis Trident buses as I suspected Dennis to be Brtish, and came across this site about Victoria transport history. An enjoyable read!

http://www.transitworkers.novatone.n...LIC/a_brief_history_of_transit.htm

Whilst I am not into buses much personally, I use London buses three or four times each day on my way to work etc.

This is the bus that I often get when I need groceries in Camden. It's the Metroline new style bus number 24 from Pimlico to Hampstead Heath.



Also, I often take the Mercedes Benz 'bendy bus' Number 452 (Marylebone to Deptford) from Marylebone where I work to Oxford Street or Trafalgar Square.

This is the number 18 bendy bus.



I'll take some shots today and post them on here...

... Perhaps I am into buses after all!  

Kieron

EDIT: http://www.londonbuspage.com/031221.htm

When a bendy bus and car collide, Tragic event.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7166724.stm

Check out London's bus network.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/

Here's an example for Camden...



[Edited 2008-02-03 00:35:51]

I can't stand to look at Nova buses... We really need more 40 footers here.. I just don't want the Series 50 engine to go away like it is...

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 17): In the U.S. market, we are only left with four major manufacturers (New Flyer, Gillig, Orion, and NABI), with some other smaller manufacturers such as ElDorado and Millennium Transit Services (the current maker of the RTS).

Don't forget Thomas!

Quoting Kieron747 (Reply 20): 'bendy bus

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 11): Yea, I know, that's why I hate that term. Artics are kind of degraded when called that... I don't know, I can't help it...

Quoting Kieron747 (Reply 20): I'll take some shots today and post them on here...

Citaro G?

Quoting EmiratesA345 (Reply 18): That Flyer looks mean.

I think it's because of the location and style the headlights and turn signals are...and the wheel well and that black thing over the wheel..

Quoting EmiratesA345 (Reply 18): I really like the frameless windows, they look very sharp

I've noticed that Gillig is taking after New Flyer's design of frameless windows....

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 21): Quoting Kieron747 (Reply 20): 'bendy bus Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 11): Yea, I know, that's why I hate that term. Artics are kind of degraded when called that... I don't know, I can't help it...

LOL! Hey, that's an official term used by TFL (Transport for London)! Each on has a sticker inside entitled, "Your guide to using bendy buses"

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 21): Citaro G?

I will get a shot of the number 73. That's a Citaro G I think.

Kieron

Quoting Kieron747 (Reply 22): LOL! Hey, that's an official term used by TFL (Transport for London)! Each on has a sticker inside entitled, "Your guide to using bendy buses

I used to call them something along the lines of "stacked"...... 

Glid, great post! Thanks for sharing.

We have buses like this in NYC but the high rear makes it difficult as we tend to use the bus for very short trips here. They do save time however as they are low-floored. New Yorkers also don't like to get out at the rear and insist on holding up pax trying to enter. The slinkies are bone-rattling as the suspension is not tuned for our roads - the RTS was really smooth.

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 21): Don't forget Thomas!

While Thomas has made some transit buses, they are primarily a school bus manufacturer. ABQ RIDE's Thomas SLF200s were actually designed by Alexander Dennis of the United Kingdom, but were built by Thomas for the U.S. market.

Blue Bird also produces some transit buses as well, including a low-floor transit bus, the Ultra LF. There is also Optima, who produces the Opus medium-duty transit bus. Both Blue Bird and Optima are now owned by NABI.

Quoting Kieron747 (Reply 20): When a bendy bus and car collide, Tragic event.

That is eerily similar to a crash that happened recently here in Ottawa. Bus and a car. Common spot for accident. 3 deaths, 2 injuries, bus driver unharmed.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...ash_080123/20080123?hub=TopStories

I had gone to university that morning and noticed the flags were at half staff but didn't give it much thought until leaving I noticed a reporter from the French language, 24-hour news channel RDI. Being an English university, we don't feature very often on the radar of the French language media here so I checked it out when I got home only to see, well, that.

LH423

OK I'm gonna hog some bandwidth but here's the pictures as promised for all the bus enthusiasts!



Side view of the bus schedule on York Way. London.



The bus stop sign at York Way.



York Way. My street is adjacent to this one.



The 390 (Archway to Notting Hill Gate) is here.



On the lower deck of the 390.



Gower Street. If you get a bendy bus you gotta pay before boarding, here.



This is Warren Street station on the Tottenham Court Road and Euston Road. Plenty of buses here, and the Tube.



Turn your head left, this is Warren Street Tube Station.



A Bendy Bus!



The 73 on it's way to Euston.



Another bendy bus... (rear view)



The 205 (Mile End to Paddington) the bus I get every day to work.



The Number 14 terminates at Warren Street Tube Station...



And again.



On the Number 73 (articulated or bendy   or slinky!) at the back.




Euston Bus Station...



Bus map...



Sunny day 1.



Check the hot female bus driver...




Euston underground, bus, and train station.



Some buses...









Bus Stop Sign... I get the 390 from Euston.




The 390!



Bottom deck on an empty bus.



The British Library from the 390.



The top deck!



St Pancras Station...





King's Cross Station, possibly the ugliest station on this Earth.  



The back of King's Cross (from the bus).





Regent's Canal (from the bus) near my house.






Hope you enjoyed the pics!!!!!!!!!

Kieron

Quoting Kieron747 (Reply 27): Hope you enjoyed the pics!

I did!

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 25): they are primarily a school bus manufacturer.

That, I knew.. I must say that Thomas makes some exceptional school buses i.e. the HDX models.. However, the 2008 model came up short so to say.. Have you seen it?

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 25): Thomas SLF200s were actually designed by Alexander Dennis of the United Kingdom, but were built by Thomas for the U.S. market.

Why weren't they just built in Vancouver?

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 25): Blue Bird also produces some transit buses as well

That, I knew..

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 25): Both Blue Bird and Optima are now owned by NABI.

Now that, I didn't know.. Thanks for your info.

Quoting FXramper (Reply 13): Great photos Eddie. Ever get around Disneyland while working?

Yes. Sometimes I get around the Disneyland area. We bid in a month, so Im still debating if I wanna drive the route that go near the area.

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 21): I can't stand to look at Nova buses... We really need more 40 footers here.. I just don't want the Series 50 engine to go away like it is...

That was a really neat sounding engine.

Quoting EmiratesA345 (Reply 18): If I'm not mistaken, many states have a "Buy American" policy which would prohibit transit systems from purchasing this 100% made in Canada, bus. Similarily, you'd likely never see a NABI in Canada.

Stupid Buy American Policy... thats 1 of 2 reasons why NABI discontinued their 45ft CompoBus.

Quoting LH423 (Reply 26): That is eerily similar to a crash that happened recently here in Ottawa. Bus and a car. Common spot for accident. 3 deaths, 2 injuries, bus driver unharmed.

Ah yes. That was all over the newspapers in Ottawa when I was there last week. I'm not sure how many times people need to die and how much money needs to be spent before people finally get it; "Don't drink and drive." Its just unfortunate that this kid took other people with him and possibly put the driver out of a job.

-Mark

[Edited 2008-02-03 12:05:42]

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 28): Why weren't they just built in Vancouver?

Because if the bus is built entirely in Canada, it still doesn't satisfy Buy America laws. New Flyer, even though they are headquartered in Winnipeg, does their final assembly of buses in either the Crookston or St. Cloud factories in Minnesota for the US market, and thus qualifies for federal FTA funding. A similar case goes with Orion, as final assembly for their buses for the US market are done in the US. Since NovaBus has closed all their US factories in 2002, they no longer satisfy Buy America laws, and have thus exited the US market.

For the SLF200, they were built in the Greensboro area in North Carolina. After Orion Bus Industries was acquired by DaimlerChrysler (now Daimler AG), the partnership with Dennis ended, and the SLF200 was discontinued in 2005.

Quoting Glid4500 (Thread starter):

Are you restricted to the number of hours you can work without a break, a bit like a pilot?


Kieron

Quoting EmiratesA345 (Reply 16):

When I was doing my undergrad in Waterloo, our student card doubled as a bus pass at a discount rate...I have ridden GRT many a time.  It was perfect for getting down King Street on a Saturday night.

Quoting LH423 (Reply 26):

I didn't hear anything about that...very sad, what a waste.

Quoting Kieron747 (Reply 32): Are you restricted to the number of hours you can work without a break, a bit like a pilot?

Yes. Each jurisdiction is different. Some don't actually require a break, but rather a rest period of X number of hours between finishing and starting work. You're also only allowed to work X number of hours behind the wheel. At my company, breaks are mandated by the union which states you need to have a break after X number of hours. I imagine other companies are the same.

Quoting SKYSERVICE_330 (Reply 33): When I was doing my undergrad in Waterloo, our student card doubled as a bus pass at a discount rate...I have ridden GRT many a time. It was perfect for getting down King Street on a Saturday night.

Today, both Laurier's OneCard and Waterloo's WatCard can be used as payment to board any GRT bus. Each student pays $40 per term which gives them full acces to the entire GRT system. This fee is non-negotiable. There's been a huge increase in ridership since we've taken on the University of Waterloo. I've heard the next plan is to include Conestoga College on a similar deal. One part of the deal is that we purchased 4 extra buses and use them on new and existing routes in and around the university, obviously for the benefit of the students. Its quite nice.

-Mark

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 29): Yes. Sometimes I get around the Disneyland area. We bid in a month, so Im still debating if I wanna drive the route that go near the area.

You drive the route that goes near SNA, right? Which route is smoother (pax loads, frequent stops) ? I'd go with the smoother one..


Another question, when is everyone's annual Bus Roadeo? Glid4500, I'm especially wanting to know when OCTA's roadeo because it's really only a 6-hour drive from Vegas.. I don't know when the roadeo here is..

Very good read!

Quoting Glid4500 (Thread starter): It takes about 10 minutes to pre-trip the bus before pulling out to do your run. On the pre-trip, you'd check the exterior of the bus top to bottom for body damages, air or fluid leakes, no loose lugnuts, wheelchair lift/ramp works, all switches/gauges work, fire extinguisher is charged, clean interior, air brakes test. Those are amongst the things one would check on the pre-trip. If everything is ok. we're good to go. If theres a problem before pull-out, then we go get a mechanic. If the problem can be fixed in a timely manner, then usually you keep the same bus... if not, then u'd get another bus.

Our pre trips are pretty well the same, however, since we only have two spare buses (which are usually broken as well), problems such as the ramp not working are not enough to not take out the bus. Also, since we are a rather small operation, when we get there in the morning, the first (of two) mechanics don't arrive for another 1.5 hours after we leave for our run, so if we can't get a bus to start or if there is a major problem with one, we have to start up one of the spares (if available) and if they don't work, we have to take one of the small Ford Polar buses.

Quoting ZBBYLW (Reply 2): How many different manufactures are there for buses? Up in Vancouver, we seem to be getting quite a few new, similar looking buses as well.

Kelowna received a whole fleet of new Nova busses this past summer, with many more on the way for them. Fortunately, we're now owned by the same company as Kelowna, which is owned by FirstBus Canada, which is owned by FirstBus UK, and they seem much more aggressive in expansion and working with the City, so maybe we'll see some in Vernon too.

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 4): BC Transit has also purchased Denis Dart single decker

Those are the ones I drive, extremely unreliable and have no power to them. We were one of the first cities in BC to get them, so 4 of our buses are the actual BC Transit prototypes. Sadly, our current city council doesn't see transit as a priority, so for any expansion we have, we just end up getting used Dart's from other cities. But, as I stated above, our new management seems more capable then our previous management so maybe we'll get some new buses as well.

Quoting Kieron747 (Reply 32): Are you restricted to the number of hours you can work without a break, a bit like a pilot?

Nope. It just depends on how the Scheduling Department writes the workruns and assignments for the operators. There are some assignments that dont give u enough time to take a leak. For example, my current assignment on the 76 line, they give u one minute recovery = break time at Huntington Beach. If we need to stretch out for a few minutes or have to go to the restroom, we may call central communications. We're guaranteed 12 minutes to do just that.

There are some assignments that have at least 1 hr recovery time at the layover. This is a copy of an old assignment from the Summer of 2007. Its no longer valid so im free to use this as a reference. The almost 90 minute recovery time was great at LGB ( 7th-Channel ). Eat a snack, use restroom, go to the back of the bus, take a nap....sweet.

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 35): You drive the route that goes near SNA, right? Which route is smoother (pax loads, frequent stops) ? I'd go with the smoother one..

Yes. It actually goes inside the Airport roadway. The 76 is a not-so busy route. You prolly pick up less than 20 on one trip during the day time. At night you pick up less than 10, and theyre usually airport workers going to/from work or people catching flights or work at the nearby hotels.

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 35): Another question, when is everyone's annual Bus Roadeo? Glid4500, I'm especially wanting to know when OCTA's roadeo because it's really only a 6-hour drive from Vegas.. I don't know when the roadeo here is..

Ours is usually around August or September. Every agency is different... most properties host theirs around the months

Quoting EmiratesA345 (Reply 34): Yes. Each jurisdiction is different. Some don't actually require a break, but rather a rest period of X number of hours between finishing and starting work.... Edit.... I imagine other companies are the same.

According to the training department at Translink in Vancouver, we fall under the Railway Act and so we technically don't get breaks.

We do get recovery time at the terminus for the line- and if we arrive on time or early then that time can be used like a break. Depending on the line, traffic, passenger loads, etc, breaks can be as long as 20 minutes in every 90, or as little as 3 minutes every 90. But even of you're running late and you have to stop for a few minutes to use the washroom then we are encouraged to do so.... Will the next driver appreciate being delayed though: that's the question of the day.

Translink operates under the National Safety Code, and so we cannot be on duty (On duty driving, On duty not-driving) for more than 14 hours and cannot be at work for more than 16 consecutive hours. We must have at least an 8-hour break. Our contract stipulates that we must have 2 consecutive days off per week but the NSC mandates one full 24-hour period off every 2 weeks.

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 37): There are some assignments that have at least 1 hr recovery time at the layover. This is a copy of an old assignment from the Summer of 2007. Its no longer valid so im free to use this as a reference. The almost 90 minute recovery time was great at LGB ( 7th-Channel ). Eat a snack, use restroom, go to the back of the bus, take a nap....sweet.

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 38): Ours is usually around August or September. Every agency is different... most properties host theirs around the months

I think ours are around..February, I think.. the contractors didn't tell the Transit Agency when the roadeo was and I ended up missing it.. I haven't been to one in years.. Have you ever participated in one? How'dya do if you did? Oh, and who is the OCTA's Transit Agency (the people who own OCTA and are the ones who are in scheduling) and who is the contractor (the people who run the system). Example of what I'm trying to say..

The system here, Citizens Area Transit (CAT, a name they are now trying to careen away from   is owned by the Regional Transportation Commission and they contract out to Veolia to hire drivers- they deal more with the bus drivers and buses.. Hopefully I got that correct..

[Edited 2008-02-04 07:53:30]

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 40): I think ours are around..February, I think..

that reminds me. I so happened to doublecheck the roadeo date. It will be the last weekend of July

Talking of new bus smells...I reckon this one will have a new smell now (this is the bus before the one I got home from work last night)   

Although how the hell it managed to crash into a ditch on the wrong side of the road baffles me  

http://www.annandaleobserver.co.uk/story.php?pheader=1&id=296"

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 41): It will be the last weekend of July

I could possibly be in NY... I don't know if I can try to make it..