Here in NYC, we CAN open the rear doors to allow the passengers to get off but we are not allowed to activate the switch to let the rear doors open automatically (without the passengers having to touch the bars). That's all there is to it. The media blew this wayyyy out of proportion making it seem like the rear doors are completely off limits.
We have a 5 position door switch. It trip's up new operators at times, one back opens the rear door two back opens the front door as well vice verses when moving the handle forward.
In San Francisco, you can board through the rear door if you have a Clipper Card or a valid transfer. The fare inspectors can tell which passenger misused the rear door while boarding the bus.
Man, you need a rear only position that way you can unload passengers while preventing someone from getting on that you don’t want on. It also works great when your layover is at transit station and everybody bum rushes you when you arrive. Just unload everyone from the back without anyone getting on so you can take your break in solitude.
I loved when they would body slam the door to get out. That activates a safety mechanism preventing the door from opening because it could be someone leaning against it or had fallen on it.
Had my interview for our transit system here where I live yesterday (smaller operation, no fares), only another 13 years of doing my other work that pays into social security to not have the pension from the bus job take a bite out of SS.
When I drove a university shuttle service, we had both doors available, same layout, closed, front, front and rear. Now the interlock (if it had one) and the door speeds, varied wildly, so I’d open the doors, but they wouldn’t actually open until the bus got to the stop, and the interlock was very light, so was slowing the bus as much as I was. Then we’d swap buses, and have a fast acting interlock, which stopped with some considerable enthusiasm. No more of that.
That story about that guy who yelled to open the rear door while the bus was in motion is probably why the Orions often had an annoucement that went off if someone was standing near the rear door, they had a sensor that would detect it.
The transit agency in my city just got a bunch of new NF Xcelsiors and they have that announcement too. Unfortunately they also have a super annoying "Doors Opening" and "Doors Closing" announcement that plays every time the doors open and close. Every. Single. Time. It gets really annoying on longer bus rides and I can't imagine how annoying it is to the driver who has to hear it for 8+ hours a day.
Would you do a video on what kind of dangers bus drivers face? I saw that a bus drivers was shot in Charlotte on February 11, 2022. Thanks for doing a difficult job and having a great attitude.
Out here in upstate New York we drive those same buses and I got to say I love those gilligs.... About a year ago we got the electric hybrid gilligs took us by surprise because in certain geographical areas the engine shuts down altogether and runs purely electric... Speaking of which they added electric steering also so the steering wheel is the same size as a car so easy to steer amazing
for the ENC axess brt's, and the new flyers that my city runs, we have a handle like yours, except it also can go backwards, the first backwards position opens the rear only, and the second opens both doors.
I drive for TriMet in Portland Oregon. The majority of our buses do not have the ability for driver to open rear doors. So many times a day I have to explain that the passenger needs to just touch the bars, or the yellow tape for doors to open. I always want to give a demonstration of how easy it is, that you barely have to touch it with your pinky , but I don't. I just say sorry can't open doors, can only unlock them, have a nice day
On BCRTA we can swing the handle clockwise or counterclockwise (like shown in the video). Clockwise goes rear then front, and counterclockwise is like on the video. Thing is, our doors open automatically on the rear, no need for a rear door switch. Still, good to know how transit buses used to open the rear door
Hi! New subscriber here and I'm loving the content of your videos. Super informative and yet hilarious. I have a strong passion for driving busses..I started over a year ago and now I couldn't imagine doing anything else for a living. But anywho, continue being great!😉
I used to drive old Gillig Phantoms in the early 90s and they had similar open door interlocks. However some of them had been wired to not function. Those were the buses high seniority drivers chose during bidding (like me). If you accidently activated a door while in motion ... the bus was coming to a quick stop like it or not. I'm pretty sure modern units sense motion and won't allow the door to open until stopped. I drove them in Austin TX and if it was summertime and the A/C wasn't running it's best ... I had no problem opening the door (while driving full speed) to get some airflow inside. :)
Lol did you drive for Capital Metro? I'm unfortunately not old enough to remember their Phantoms very well but I do appreciate the fact that they seem to keep the A/C on all of their buses now in pretty good working order. I can't recall a time when I've been on a CapMetro bus in the summer and the A/C wasn't gloriously blasting...
@@OliversElevators I started driving busses with Laidlaw and the UT Shuttles (late 80s/early 90s).. originally with standard Bluebird school busses (no A/C but openable windows). Eventually Capitol Metro got involved in the contract, which sent 60+ Phantoms our way to replace them. At that point I was driving the Far West (FW) route and eventually transitioned to Leander Express, which was great because the route was so long and time consuming, before Research Blvd became an expressway/highway. One lap took almost 2 hours, which meant 4 laps in an 8 hour shift. It was a great job for a student, and enabled a driver to meet lots of girls. College girls, for some reason, really like their drivers.
I see you have the short handle. Our Gilligs have the short and long handles as well as the new black knob dial switch with the the lift and raise/lower buttons right at your fingertips. Do you also have the levers that you can detach? On some routes, people know how to slide open the window, open the door, and steal transfers from the fare box. I take the lever with me on layovers.
Lmao I would've just told the guy simply the bus won't let me open doors till the brake is set buuut knowing the general public you'd still probably receive the f bomb anyway
Interestingly, the city buses where I live have a 5-position door switch, with the 3 positions that the bus in this video has, plus a REAR-only and another FRONT-REAR position. The buses in my city are also Gillig BRT models, but I assume they have different specs than the Sacramento buses to include a 5-position door switch instead of a 3-position switch?
Here in Baltimore we have a 5 position switch also.. the rear only is to the left of the closed option and to the left of that is the rear front option where the rear door opens first before the front and it also closes first before the front
I've been watching your videos for few weeks now I start my bus driving career on Monday,during probation what should I expect and what the things I need to learn early on
Our new buses are electric. I find the door controls annoying. When someone runs up at the last second and you think they're gonna try and jump in, instinctively I re-open the doors so they don't get pinched, only these doors pause and don't open again. So they get stuck and the person will stand there flailing their arms like "why aren't you opening the dooorrrrrr??" Uuuh they're stuck....because of you......
I drove a customized Thomas c2 with a front door and rear door. They built in a rear door interlock but not a front door interlock. I liked being able to open and close the door while still moving
@@yankeesforlife24 Thanks for the data point! I drive C2's and IC CE's, I do appreciate being able to open the door on the C2 as I roll up to a stop. The CE's with electric doors require you to be stationary before opening the door.
Hey Bus Driver Life! Question, I’m trying to become a bus operator in NYC.. I currently have my class A. I went to the dmv and added on the passenger endorsement. But I have a N2 restriction (I can’t drive more than 7 people I believe) … would you know how to get the removed? Would I need to redo my road test in a bus or something?
I thought all buses had 5 positions for the door control switch? Is it a Gillig thing where you can't open the rear door only and leave the front closed?
@@joshalex93 SEPTA had push-button door controls on their Neoplans, NABIs, and Volvo articulateds, but went back to the conventional handle door control on their New Flyers and Novas.
The same job,, but different 😂 we just have the open/close button here in the uk! P.s I have come across plenty of the 'go f**k yourself' passengers before😁
We have a separate switch we can use for the rear door..but my agency didn’t order the 5 position door control that has rear only on it. I wish they did!
I was going to just smile and nod but then you came out with this video.... So if you flip the switch to open, the door opens... okay soooooooo let's scratch out "open" and scribble "make a hamburger".....
Here in NYC, we CAN open the rear doors to allow the passengers to get off but we are not allowed to activate the switch to let the rear doors open automatically (without the passengers having to touch the bars). That's all there is to it. The media blew this wayyyy out of proportion making it seem like the rear doors are completely off limits.
Ok that makes sense!! Thanks for clearing that up!
@@BusDriverLife no problem and we also have a 5 position door switch:
R/F
R
CLOSED
F
F/R
@@josephnyy86 That is a lot of options lol!
@@BusDriverLife yep and I use them all lol
All bus transit agencies should do like NYC. like why open the rear door if nobody is getting off.
We have a 5 position door switch. It trip's up new operators at times, one back opens the rear door two back opens the front door as well vice verses when moving the handle forward.
It would trip me up too since I’m used to 3 position door control. Lol.
In San Francisco, you can board through the rear door if you have a Clipper Card or a valid transfer. The fare inspectors can tell which passenger misused the rear door while boarding the bus.
Man, you need a rear only position that way you can unload passengers while preventing someone from getting on that you don’t want on.
It also works great when your layover is at transit station and everybody bum rushes you when you arrive. Just unload everyone from the back without anyone getting on so you can take your break in solitude.
Yeah I can definitely see that as a positive but they don’t order the rear only control unfortunately.
Thanks, Keywan (sp?). I'm writing a story in which the main character is a bus driver, and this information is great!
I turn 21 in august and I’m ready.
I turn 19 in august you lucky 🥲
Nice! Go for it!!
I loved when they would body slam the door to get out. That activates a safety mechanism preventing the door from opening because it could be someone leaning against it or had fallen on it.
Here in Rochester NY older buses have both doors open. While newer busses can just open only the back door
Had my interview for our transit system here where I live yesterday (smaller operation, no fares), only another 13 years of doing my other work that pays into social security to not have the pension from the bus job take a bite out of SS.
I’ve never seen a door handle that has only 3 positions instead of 5. Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Passengers do this same thing in New Jersey also I commend bus drivers as they have to put up with a lot of people in all situations
Keewan your videos are informational and amusing! Keep posting!
Thank you!!
@@BusDriverLife You are welcome!
When I drove a university shuttle service, we had both doors available, same layout, closed, front, front and rear. Now the interlock (if it had one) and the door speeds, varied wildly, so I’d open the doors, but they wouldn’t actually open until the bus got to the stop, and the interlock was very light, so was slowing the bus as much as I was. Then we’d swap buses, and have a fast acting interlock, which stopped with some considerable enthusiasm. No more of that.
If you ever come back to the Midwest, Moline, IL please look us up! I have told my driver's about you!! Got them watching!!
That’s awesome! I appreciate that!
In poland most busses have button for each doors, button to open/close all doors and button to open every doors by pressing button by passenger.
That story about that guy who yelled to open the rear door while the bus was in motion is probably why the Orions often had an annoucement that went off if someone was standing near the rear door, they had a sensor that would detect it.
the ENC access brt's also do that.
The transit agency in my city just got a bunch of new NF Xcelsiors and they have that announcement too. Unfortunately they also have a super annoying "Doors Opening" and "Doors Closing" announcement that plays every time the doors open and close. Every. Single. Time. It gets really annoying on longer bus rides and I can't imagine how annoying it is to the driver who has to hear it for 8+ hours a day.
Damn I really wish my buses had the kneeler on the side console instead of on the dash. It would be so much more convenient
Yes, and save my back from reaching. Also don't like having it on the dash, due to you having to take your eyes off the interior mirrors.
Would you do a video on what kind of dangers bus drivers face? I saw that a bus drivers was shot in Charlotte on February 11, 2022. Thanks for doing a difficult job and having a great attitude.
It's Reads like Sunday comic Title "How The Bus Driver Controls The Doors"
Ooo new video How the bus driver really opens the door.. BTW BACKDOORRR
Out here in upstate New York we drive those same buses and I got to say I love those gilligs.... About a year ago we got the electric hybrid gilligs took us by surprise because in certain geographical areas the engine shuts down altogether and runs purely electric... Speaking of which they added electric steering also so the steering wheel is the same size as a car so easy to steer amazing
Where do you drive?
for the ENC axess brt's, and the new flyers that my city runs, we have a handle like yours, except it also can go backwards, the first backwards position opens the rear only, and the second opens both doors.
Oooh would you do one on articulated buses?
We don’t have any in our fleet in Sacramento unfortunately! I want to drive one though!!
Found out about your channel a couple of hours ago. Love the channel and can't wait for more content to be released 🙌
I appreciate you!! Lots of videos on the way!!
@@BusDriverLife Can't wait to watch them 😀
@2:35 Me must of had to use the restroom that day.
Another awesome video Keywan! Thanks for the content!
I drive for TriMet in Portland Oregon. The majority of our buses do not have the ability for driver to open rear doors. So many times a day I have to explain that the passenger needs to just touch the bars, or the yellow tape for doors to open. I always want to give a demonstration of how easy it is, that you barely have to touch it with your pinky , but I don't. I just say sorry can't open doors, can only unlock them, have a nice day
Best moment at 1:31 😂😂
On BCRTA we can swing the handle clockwise or counterclockwise (like shown in the video). Clockwise goes rear then front, and counterclockwise is like on the video.
Thing is, our doors open automatically on the rear, no need for a rear door switch. Still, good to know how transit buses used to open the rear door
Arriva in the Netherlands, uses buttons, love the content!
Thanks!! I definitely like the idea of buttons!
Hi! New subscriber here and I'm loving the content of your videos. Super informative and yet hilarious. I have a strong passion for driving busses..I started over a year ago and now I couldn't imagine doing anything else for a living. But anywho, continue being great!😉
I used to drive old Gillig Phantoms in the early 90s and they had similar open door interlocks. However some of them had been wired to not function. Those were the buses high seniority drivers chose during bidding (like me). If you accidently activated a door while in motion ... the bus was coming to a quick stop like it or not. I'm pretty sure modern units sense motion and won't allow the door to open until stopped.
I drove them in Austin TX and if it was summertime and the A/C wasn't running it's best ... I had no problem opening the door (while driving full speed) to get some airflow inside. :)
Lol did you drive for Capital Metro? I'm unfortunately not old enough to remember their Phantoms very well but I do appreciate the fact that they seem to keep the A/C on all of their buses now in pretty good working order. I can't recall a time when I've been on a CapMetro bus in the summer and the A/C wasn't gloriously blasting...
@@OliversElevators I started driving busses with Laidlaw and the UT Shuttles (late 80s/early 90s).. originally with standard Bluebird school busses (no A/C but openable windows). Eventually Capitol Metro got involved in the contract, which sent 60+ Phantoms our way to replace them.
At that point I was driving the Far West (FW) route and eventually transitioned to Leander Express, which was great because the route was so long and time consuming, before Research Blvd became an expressway/highway. One lap took almost 2 hours, which meant 4 laps in an 8 hour shift.
It was a great job for a student, and enabled a driver to meet lots of girls. College girls, for some reason, really like their drivers.
I see you have the short handle. Our Gilligs have the short and long handles as well as the new black knob dial switch with the the lift and raise/lower buttons right at your fingertips. Do you also have the levers that you can detach? On some routes, people know how to slide open the window, open the door, and steal transfers from the fare box. I take the lever with me on layovers.
I also take my handle
Ok it should be mandatory to take a Keewan class before EVER riding the bus
I agree 😆
Thanks! Love the content man. Keep doin good!
1:29 lol XD
Lmao I would've just told the guy simply the bus won't let me open doors till the brake is set buuut knowing the general public you'd still probably receive the f bomb anyway
Interestingly, the city buses where I live have a 5-position door switch, with the 3 positions that the bus in this video has, plus a REAR-only and another FRONT-REAR position. The buses in my city are also Gillig BRT models, but I assume they have different specs than the Sacramento buses to include a 5-position door switch instead of a 3-position switch?
Yup different specs indeed. I would be irritated with a 5 position door switch. 🤣
Here in Baltimore we have a 5 position switch also.. the rear only is to the left of the closed option and to the left of that is the rear front option where the rear door opens first before the front and it also closes first before the front
@@mycatleo Man I need to do a collaboration with one of y’all to show people the 5 position switch!!
Here in Minneapolis we have the five position switch on metro transit busses, both Gillig and New Flyier.
The 5 position switch is the most common.
W video
I appreciate that!
I already knew that of how it works from a passenger point of view
Your videos are so interesting keep up the good work👍
Thank you!!
judging from OMSI 2’s Chicago DLC. I find those door controls a bit complicated
I've been watching your videos for few weeks now I start my bus driving career on Monday,during probation what should I expect and what the things I need to learn early on
Just stay out of trouble and get to work on time!
Another great video Keywan! Out of curiosity is the safety vest that you wear required by your company or it is a personal choice?
We just have to wear it while in the yard..I just wear it in videos normally to cover my company logo on my shirt.
Thats happing in dc
Can you do a bus tour with the driving are please also what kind of bus do you have
Yes I’ll do a video on that soon. It was a gillig brt plus
Our new buses are electric. I find the door controls annoying. When someone runs up at the last second and you think they're gonna try and jump in, instinctively I re-open the doors so they don't get pinched, only these doors pause and don't open again. So they get stuck and the person will stand there flailing their arms like "why aren't you opening the dooorrrrrr??" Uuuh they're stuck....because of you......
What I want to know is... why don't school buses have a brake interlock?!
I drove a customized Thomas c2 with a front door and rear door. They built in a rear door interlock but not a front door interlock. I liked being able to open and close the door while still moving
@@yankeesforlife24 Thanks for the data point! I drive C2's and IC CE's, I do appreciate being able to open the door on the C2 as I roll up to a stop. The CE's with electric doors require you to be stationary before opening the door.
How do bus drivers use the kneel button
I work
For beach city bus
What is the relief point sir? Also what is group relief? Thank you
Hey Bus Driver Life!
Question, I’m trying to become a bus operator in NYC.. I currently have my class A. I went to the dmv and added on the passenger endorsement. But I have a N2 restriction (I can’t drive more than 7 people I believe) … would you know how to get the removed? Would I need to redo my road test in a bus or something?
I thought all buses had 5 positions for the door control switch? Is it a Gillig thing where you can't open the rear door only and leave the front closed?
That's a transit agency spec
On most buses you can flip it one back and it will only open the back door
@@yankeesforlife24 there's still agencies that order push button door controls
@@joshalex93 SEPTA had push-button door controls on their Neoplans, NABIs, and Volvo articulateds, but went back to the conventional handle door control on their New Flyers and Novas.
✌🏾
Is there a switch to just unlock the rear door and not open the front door with it?
We don’t have one in Sacramento.
@@BusDriverLife Ok thank you.
How much salary per hour you get ? How much hours you work ? , Im bus driver from israel and i wanna know how its going in usa
The same job,, but different 😂 we just have the open/close button here in the uk!
P.s I have come across plenty of the 'go f**k yourself' passengers before😁
I would definitely prefer the open/close button!! And I see we deal with the same stuff worldwide!! Lol
😂😂😂😂😂
On the orion ng vii cng and the orion vii cng is it the same thing?
Any cdl advise for me
What about just the rear?
We have a separate switch we can use for the rear door..but my agency didn’t order the 5 position door control that has rear only on it. I wish they did!
@Bus Driver Life So if a passenger wants to get off but nobody waiting at the bus stop, do you just open the front or you open both doors?
@@JonathanChan212 Yup!
I was going to just smile and nod but then you came out with this video.... So if you flip the switch to open, the door opens... okay soooooooo let's scratch out "open" and scribble "make a hamburger".....
Do you live in LA
Nope..I’m in Sacramento.
ok
because i live in CA LA
Swedish transit bus drivers. Give a like on this comment.