Skip to main content

Autumn's Hidden Toll: Squirrels vs. Buses in the Battle of the Busy Streets!

Squirrels vs. Buses

Hey there, leaf lovers and city dwellers! 🍂 Buckle up because it's that time of year again—when the air gets a bit crisper, the trees start flaunting their fiery reds and golds, and—oh no!—our furry little friends, the squirrels, get a tad too frenzied! Yep, I’m talking about the annual showdown of Squirrels vs. Buses! And let me tell ya, it’s not pretty, folks!

The Squirrely Situation

So here’s the scoop: Autumn isn't just about pumpkin spice lattes and cozy jumpers (though, we all know those are super important!). For squirrels, it's time to get their game faces on and hustle for winter. They’re in what we call the "fall frenzy," zipping and zooming all over the place, gathering acorns like they’re prepping for the nutty Olympics. 🥜🏃‍♂️ But there’s one teeny tiny problem—they’re so busy with their treasure hunts that they don’t always look both ways before crossing the street! Yikes!

Big Buses and Little Squirrels: A Recipe for Disaster?

Now, let’s talk about the big guys—our city buses! We love 'em, right? They get us where we need to go, play some tunes, and keep things moving. But here’s the kicker: buses are like the lumbering giants of the road. They’re huge, hard to steer on a pound coin, and guess what? They’re often on the roads at exactly the wrong times—early morning and late afternoon—right when our squirrelly pals are on their acorn adventures! It’s like having a dance party where half the guests are wearing blindfolds!

Squirrel + Bus = Uh-Oh!

Picture this: A squirrel, mid-dash, acorn in tow, sees a bus coming. The bus driver sees the squirrel. But unlike a car that can swerve or slam the brakes, the bus… well, it’s not so nimble! And let’s not even get started on those sad little squirrelly road bumps that pop up afterward. It’s a real downer for everyone, from the wee cuties themselves to the commuters! And have you ever tried dodging a squirrel carcass on your morning drive? Not fun!

What Can We Do? Time to Get Creative!

Alright, we’ve got a problem, but hey, we’re smart cookies! 🍪 Here’s where things get fun: Imagine this—squirrel bridges! Little paths in the sky where our furry friends can safely cross over busy streets. Or maybe underpasses, like VIP tunnels just for squirrels. And, of course, we can get our bus routes to be a little more squirrel-friendly during these high-risk times. A little tweak here and there, and voilà! Safer streets for all!

The Grand Finale

So there you have it! A little awareness, a sprinkle of clever urban planning, and a dash of love for our wild neighbours, and we can all share this beautiful city together. Next time you’re cruising down a leafy lane and spot a squirrel, give it a wave (but keep your eyes on the road)! And maybe, just maybe, we can turn this squirrel vs. bus drama into a peaceful coexistence where everyone wins. 🌰🚌

Stay safe out there, friends! And remember, life’s a little brighter when we all look out for each other—humans, squirrels, and everyone in between! ✨


---


Lisa "Lulu" Rivera,
Bus Driver on Route 101

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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 conf...

Route Learning Log: Service 21 – Clovenstone to Royal Infirmary

I’ve never driven the 21, but I already know its rhythm: the sharp inhale before a narrow turn, the lull of wide suburban streets, the murmur of students crossing in Sighthill, and the quiet expectation of reaching the Royal Infirmary.  Today, it exists only in my notebook, in imagined brake lights and familiar smells of the city, as I try to memorise six sections of Edinburgh one careful corner at a time. Clovenstone to Sighthill – The Estate Escape Clovenstone’s your starting pistol, low-rise flats, stairwells, and the sound of doors shutting just as you pull up. Wester Hailes Park and Hailesland Place blend into each other with that west Edinburgh rhythm: plenty of crossing points, kids darting across the grass shortcuts, and the odd shopping trolley that’s somehow migrated half a mile from the supermarket. Murrayburn Park brings more of the same before Westside Plaza appears, part shopping centre, part social hub, part clock you can set your watch by. From there, Calder Drive s...

Homework Run: Scouting Service 4 from Queen Margaret University to Snowsports Centre

From coastline breezes to hilltop views, I’m plotting the perfect route, before I’ve even touched the steering wheel. Crossing Edinburgh without leaving my chair: A homework journey on Service 4. A desk-chair journey across Edinburgh, from campus calm to Pentland peaks, undertaken with nothing but a stop list, an overactive imagination, and the faint hope that the live version won’t involve too much swearing. Section 1: The Academic Warm-Up We start at Queen Margaret University, a place where the roads are wide, the air is fresh, and the biggest hazard is probably a student wandering out mid-scroll on their phone. From Queen Margaret Drive to Milton Link, it’s all fairly civilised, the sort of stretch where you think, I could do this all day. Then comes Corbiewynd and Parrotshot. According to Street View, these are perfectly normal residential turns. But I’ve driven enough “normal” turns to know they can become “hold-my-coffee” moments once real-life Edinburgh drivers get involved. By ...

Archive

Show more