A new driver was at the wheel of the northbound #44, with a trainer hovering at his side, giving tips on how to recognize the tree-shrouded stops along Barbur Boulevard. "You see that silver railing up ahead? Just beyond that is the stop." The trainer had a righteously inked-up left arm -- his tattoos looked like some crazy-quilt, pucey green TriMet route map. Buses would run everywhere except his elbow.
But his road knowledge was deep and wide.
"What's the most important thing for a TriMet driver to know?" I asked, envisioning my own layoff later this year, and thinking about another career.
He quickly answered, "Safety."
The new driver said, "No, payday is on Wednesday."
"Oh, that's right," the trainer agreed. "Payday is every Wednesday, then safety, and then nothing is personal."
But his road knowledge was deep and wide.
"What's the most important thing for a TriMet driver to know?" I asked, envisioning my own layoff later this year, and thinking about another career.
He quickly answered, "Safety."
The new driver said, "No, payday is on Wednesday."
"Oh, that's right," the trainer agreed. "Payday is every Wednesday, then safety, and then nothing is personal."
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2 comments:
yay!!! A blog about riding the bus. Portland has a good zine about bus riding, too (search on "constant rider".) Thanks, Amy & co.
Thanks Moe! You are the first person ever to post a comment on this blog. You should win a bus pass or something. I will check out the zine.
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