In Front of the Yellow Line
I'm a Rockstar
By Shawn Wells
One thing I enjoy about being a bus driver is that special feeling you can get. Not from the passengers or from my co-workers, but simply from driving. Because as a bus driver, there are some rules on the road that apply only to me.Some of the are official, some of them aren’t, but all of them make me feel like I’m getting away with something.
The majority of the time,when faced with a left turn that has 2 turning lanes to choose from, we will be turning from the outside turning lane rather than the inside. This is partially for safety because the dimensions of the bus and how it moves around corners. If we make the turn from the inside lane, the back end of the bus can kick out into the other lane making it difficult for other turning vehicles to get past. But the other (and possibly more obvious reason) is because we simply need the right hand lane to drive in because of the stops. Even when we make a left turn in from a single turn lane to a double lane road, we are going to turn into the curb lane instead of the inside lane. Mostly because we need to be ready to pull into a stop, which quite often will be immediately following a turn. Most people coming at me from the other side don't realize this fact and definitely don’t expect it because it isn’t the way you learn to make turns normally. So, if you are another motorist on the road making a right turn while facing a left turning bus, you need to be aware of this. If I have a flashing arrow, I’m going to be making my turn, I’m going to be taking that lane and you are being dangerous trying to sneak in your right hand turn. I must say, this is a hard habit to break when I’m driving in my own vehicle.
You may also have been driving and seen one of those black right turn or left turn signs but underneath they say “Except Transit” or something to that effect. This means that regular motorists are expected to turn there, but a bus can go straight through the intersection. On the flipside you may see one of those black straight ahead arrow signs that also says “Except Transit”. This means a bus may turn at this intersection from that lane. You may come across a “No Turn” sign that also says “Transit exempt”. Or sections of road that say “No entrance except busses”. And so on. All these things make me smile. Like I’m getting away with something.
But if my own traffic signs weren’t enough, I also get my own traffic lights! Some high traffic intersections are equipped to give me a head start so I can get ahead of traffic. I get a special “I light” which acts as a personal green light for a bus and allows me to move while everyone else still has a red, just a couple extra seconds. Mostly because we are in a lane that is about to end, or in an area notorious for busses having to get across multiple lanes. It saves us the hassle of trying to convince inconsiderate motorists to allow us to make a lane change. This does however throw some of those motorists off, thats for sure. They start to move too, before realizing they still have a red.
I specifically remember one guy I once pulled up next to. You could tell he was the type of impatient guy who was “too good” to be stuck behind a bus. So, me pulling up to him in a lane that was about to end was clearly a declaration of war. There was no way he was going to let me in front of him, you could tell by the way he kept inching forward, ready to gun it at the green. I chuckled to myself because I knew about my little cheat light. We both watched the flashing pedestrian hand count down until it was a solid hand. Watched the lights facing the other way switch from yellow to red. Here comes my light… I start to move and this guy floored it to make sure he stayed in front of me. He didn’t notice that this meant he was going through a solid red light. Ridiculous. I only wish this had been done in front of a cop.
I also get these same special lights to cross some intersections. Often pedestrian lights along a bus route will also have a road sensor connected with them that only vehicles like a bus are large enough to activate. You know how in your own car when you get to these intersections, you usually hop out to push the button? That’s what I get all the time and don’t have to get out of my seat; the light turns red and allows me to cross the road. I only get about 5 seconds worth of red, but it’s enough for me to get across. But I get so frustrated when there is a car already at that corner trying to cross the same intersection who doesn’t take the cue from the oncoming traffic stopping and just sits there. Well, sits there until the last second, then crosses I should say. So, I’ve activated the red light but because it’s short and the other driver is unobservant, I end up stuck trying to cross the road. Knowing this now, I urge all of you to keep an eye out at these intersections. If you are at a corner that fits the criteria of one of these lights and you see a bus drive up behind you, keep a closer eye on the light for the possibility of it changing. You’ll be doing yourself and the bus behind you a favor.
And then there are bus lanes, oh boy do I love these things. Nothing makes me feel more like a rockstar than bus lanes. A whole lane that only I’m allowed to use. That doesn’t stop people from blocking them on occasion but legally, they’re made for us. It’s a great feeling to drive down a freeway where all the other traffic is at a standstill and pass them all. This must be what it feels like to drive an emergency vehicle with it’s siren going. A real feeling of power. And yes, as I’m driving past you I am in fact thinking “ha ha… suckers.”
Then there’s all the small things too. Private washrooms at the transit centers that need a keycard to enter. The “Please Yield” signs on the back of my bus (and everybody that does listen to these signs is definitely appreciated) Or the fact that in a world cracking down on distracted driving with handheld cell phones, I’m still allowed to use my handheld radio.
It may not seem like the biggest deal. All these perks may seem trivial. But to me, they make me feel like a stud. Maybe I’m just funny that way.
From in front of the yellow line, that’s how I see it
