Becoming a bus driver?

PH4NT0MBL4DE · 3 Jan 2014 at 09:18

Anyone done this or is currently a bus driver? How hard was the training? Any experience you could share with the training and how it all progresses would be very welcome. P.s do I need to wear a stab proof vest
Thanks all

MrMoonX · 3 Jan 2014 at 09:20

I can't remember the last time I got a bus, but it looks miserable

[FnG]magnolia · 3 Jan 2014 at 09:23

I'm getting major deja vu here.

e: 'Search' says no :confused:

Cosimo · 3 Jan 2014 at 09:27

They give out stab proof vests to the passengers.

Indie · 3 Jan 2014 at 09:42

Cosimo said:
They give out stab proof vests to the passengers.

They were late doing this on some buses in Birmingham

Freefaller · 3 Jan 2014 at 09:56

Where are you based? In London they can be well paid £24k+, and are always looking for new drivers (according to the adverts on them - but they're often out of date). Driving a bus in London or any other city would be hell in my opinion. However, good luck with it.

BigBoy · 3 Jan 2014 at 09:59

I'm a bus driver!

The job is what you make it, if your a gloomy grumpy person then you will get a hard time from the punters. If your a positive person with good people skills the job is easy!

If you like driving, don't act as if the road is your personal race track and have good spacial awareness you should get on fine.

What area do you live in? I work in and around Bath and Bristol but cover anywhere up to 35 miles away from my local start point. You are restricted to how many hours you can work per day and per week and also the distance you can travel in one journey.

Driving a bus is a lot easier than it looks, just remember you have no rear view mirror only your wing mirrors and using them is a must, for your test you will need to be checking your mirrors every 5 - 8 seconds! as for the length and width of the vehicle that all comes with practice and awareness of the vehicle.

Its a very easy job but your own attitude will determine if you let it be easy or if you make it hard for yourself.

Maccapacca · 3 Jan 2014 at 10:18

No need for stab vest they encase you in perspex so you don't have to interact with the GP.

Remeber to overtake cyclists just before your next stop then pull into the stop before you pass them to cut them off, seems a pretty common bit of training.

BigBoy · 3 Jan 2014 at 10:32

maccapacca said:
No need for stab vest they encase you in perspex so you don't have to interact with the GP.

Remeber to overtake cyclists just before your next stop then pull into the stop before you pass them to cut them off, seems a pretty common bit of training.

Just a small generalisation there

we are not all completely ignorant of other road users. As a cyclist and a bus driver I find its mostly car drivers that overtake too close and cut people up left right and centre!

Schlong&Stable · 3 Jan 2014 at 10:37

maccapacca said:
Remeber to overtake cyclists just before your next stop then pull into the stop before you pass them to cut them off, seems a pretty common bit of training.

Cyclists deserve it!

sports_brah · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:18

From every bus driver I've met, you've got to meet the qualifications of being:

Surly
Rude
Incredibly unhelpful

They're probably the worst "type of person" going imo.

Maccapacca · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:19

Thompson_NCL said:
Cyclists deserve it!

Deserve what? death? being confined to a wheelchair?

Nice

BigBoy · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:30

sports_brah said:
From every bus driver I've met, you've got to meet the qualifications of being:

Surly
Rude
Incredibly unhelpful

They're probably the worst "type of person" going imo.

As generalisations go that's a fantastic one.

Got to love all the bus driver hate around here!

dirtychinchilla · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:30

I vomited on the bus recently and have been wondering, does the bus driver care?

I was too embarrassed to tell him, btw, and ran off the bus! Not my finest hour.

tom_e · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:31

dirtychinchilla said:
I vomited on the bus recently and have been wondering, does the bus driver care?

I was too embarrassed to tell him, btw, and ran off the bus! Not my finest hour.

I'd imagine so because when it's found they've got to sod off back to a depot and clean it up.

dirtychinchilla · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:35

But do they actually clean it themselves? Otherwise, the bus driver doesn't have to sit in my seat so may not actually be that perturbed. I'm worried he'll recognise me hah, though I have no idea which driver it was, given the state I was in...

Cosimo · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:36

BigBoy said:
As generalisations go that's a fantastic one.

You've not travelled on London buses.

Kijcax · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:37

Thompson_NCL said:
Cyclists deserve it!

That's just lovely isn't it.

Terminal_Boy · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:38

sports_brah said:
From every bus driver I've met, you've got to meet the qualifications of being:

Surly
Rude
Incredibly unhelpful

They're probably the worst "type of person" going imo.

Judging by the London buses I use, TFL have additional skill requirements:

- Pretending not to speak English.
- Thinks he/she is driving an F1 car.
- No understanding of physics.

android guy · 3 Jan 2014 at 11:43

PH4NT0MBL4DE said:
Anyone done this or is currently a bus driver? How hard was the training? Any experience you could share with the training and how it all progresses would be very welcome. P.s do I need to wear a stab proof vest
Thanks all

You'll need to ignorant, arrogant & completely useless at answering any questions ask by a passenger. Constantly late, pull out when its suites you not giving a **** for any other road user.

Fat, smelly & basically the useless thing god put on this planet.

Apply here.....

Becoming a bus driver?

Tea Drinker

Thug

Tea Drinker