The Rolling Chronicles: Life, Lanes, and Lessons from the Driver’s Seat

As a city bus driver, I'm not just steering through traffic, I'm navigating a sea of stories, personalities, and unexpected moments. From heartfelt conversations to the chaos of the commute, every ride is an unscripted adventure. So, join me behind the wheel as we dive into the life and lanes of public transport, where every journey has a tale to tell.

Navigating the City Through Stories: The Bus Driver’s Perspective on Life and Lanes

Public transit isn’t just about getting from point A to B, it’s a living, breathing network of people, stories, and unexpected moments. This blog is where bus drivers, transport pros, and curious passengers come together, sharing experiences from behind the wheel and beyond.

As a city bus driver, I’m more than just a navigator, I’m a storyteller, a streetwise sage, and sometimes even an impromptu therapist. Every shift is an unscripted adventure, filled with colourful characters, urban rhythms, and the occasional bit of chaos. From late-night confessions to heart-warming encounters, no two rides are ever the same.

While my stories come from real-life experiences, AI helps weave them into a broader narrative, blending reality with a touch of digital finesse. Together, we’ll explore the highs and hiccups of transit life, offering insights, humour, and a sense of community for those who keep our cities moving.

So, buckle up, tap your fare card, and join me on this ride, because every bus journey has a story waiting to be told.

Comments

The Hidden Risk Behind That Extra Shift You’re Asked to Take

Once you’ve clocked 9 hours in uniform, even the vending machine starts judging you. It’s not just driving time that drags, it’s everything in between. Here’s why I stick to 39 hours and refuse overtime, no matter the pressure. Introduction I’m three months into a 12-month rethink of my overtime habits. After a steady drip of minor incidents, not enough to make headlines, but enough to make me think twice, I’ve realised piling on extra hours isn’t just about padding the pay packet. It’s about keeping my focus sharp, my sanity intact, and most importantly, everyone on the road safe. I know the desk staff might be throwing me the occasional side-eye, wondering why I’m not jumping at every chance to work overtime. If only money grew on trees, I’d be first in line. But unfortunately, it doesn’t. What does grow (or at least what I’m fiercely guarding) is my peace of mind, and a scrap of sanity after years of long shifts and minimal downtime. I’m at that point in life where I’d rather enjoy ...

The Shadow on the Seat: When a Split-Second Decision Becomes a Public Story

It started, as these things often do, with something small. A mark. A smell. A hesitation no louder than a breath. The kind of moment you barely register, until it turns into something else entirely. By the time the bus pulled away, the story had already begun to write itself. Just not the one anyone meant to tell. Three seconds. One shadow. A hundred headlines. There are moments on this job that last no longer than a blink, but echo for weeks. A pensioner's awkward glance. A hesitation at the step. A mark on the seat that might be nothing, or might be something. You weigh it. In real time. With forty people behind you. No script. No time to consult the manual (because there isn’t one). Just a quiet flicker of dread and the question no driver wants to ask: If I’m wrong, what happens next? I wasn’t there. But I’ve been there. I’ve seen shadows that looked like stains, and stains that looked like shadows. I’ve had the smell of spilled cider haunt a bus for a whole shift, only ...

How to Herd Tourists Without a Stick (and Other Summer Bus Survival Tips)

The weather’s warm, the schools are out, and everyone’s forgotten how doors work. Here’s how to keep your bus moving (mostly) forward. Top Tips for Managing Summer Crowds on the Bus Summer brings out the best in people, by which I mean their full volume, their worst planning, and their complete inability to stand behind a yellow line. If winter is for head-down commuting, summer is a circus, and the bus is the main tent. Here's how I survive the season without combusting or being mistaken for a tour guide. 1. Open the doors like you mean it, but only when you’ve assessed the species outside Approach the stop with caution. Not for traffic, for what’s waiting. You've got the dad who's already pointing where everyone should sit. The kid who's mid-meltdown about a dropped Calippo. The teenager pretending not to know the rest of them. And hovering off to one side, the wild card: the preboarder. You know the one. Does a wee side-step shuffle as if they're going to let oth...

City Bus Driver

Search This Blog