"About Operator's Reaction Time"

                  

A discussion about bus operator reaction time will no doubt bring many different opinions on its definition. There are formulas to come up with reaction time and, maybe I'm the lone wolf on this subject, but breaking down the science of reaction time for bus operators is something I did not spend much time doing. Allow me to share with you something that I feel is of greater importance, the "Adverse Reaction Tip Off!" 

As training professionals, we don't believe that collisions, knockdowns and on-board injuries just happen. For every incident on the road, there is usually a warning or a tip-off. Identifying this tip-off comes with experience. There are many of them, but let's look at a few:

1) A vehicle stopped at the intersection to the left of the bus with front tires pointed a bit to the right and/or the driver of that vehicle looking to the right at the cross street.

2) A pedestrian walking right-side same direction of bus wearing headphones or talking on the cell phone.

3) A curbside pedestrian waving his or her hand in the direction of the bus.

4) A ball rolling into the street.

5) Visible exhaust, brake lights, or a front tire moving left or right from a parked vehicle.
These are just a few that student/veteran operators must identify. Why not add to this list and compile them into a nice handout for distribution to your operators.

Case #1: The operator failed to read the tip-off and accelerated with the auto rather than pause two seconds to allow the vehicle to turn from left to right across the path of the bus. Avoid the abrupt braking and on-board injuries, and expect the left-to-right move by the vehicle whenever in this position.

Case #2:  If the operator has not created a space cushion between the curb and his/her bus and fails to cover the brake in anticipation of a 'step out' into the roadway by a pedestrian, he or she has not identified the tip-off. Sounding the horn is not the solution; it won't reduce the speed of the bus. Sounding the horn can have purpose as a communication tool after you have removed your foot from the accelerator and placed it over the brake pedal should a stop be necessary.

Case #3: The person waving his or her hand may be hailing a taxi that may be not yet be visible to the operator. Read this waving hand by the pedestrian as a tip-off alert that momentarily there may be a vehicle making an abrupt stop in the bus path. The immediate actions that should occur include
taking the foot off the accelerator, placing it over the brake and checking the mirrors.

Case #4: The easiest of all to identify — a ball rolling into the street, possibly being followed by a child.

Case #5: There can be several 'parked' vehicle-related tip-offs to identify. Increased 'eye lead' time will make this possible and give the operator the edge to see it early, and then react early.
What do you think? Am I a lone wolf, or do you share my views? Let me know. Share your own tip-offs here in the Comments section and we will see if we get enough for you to copy and paste as a student handout.

           Published by Wyatt Olsen

The Greyhound Group

Five Easy Steps to Stay in Shape

 

 

When it comes to exercise, it’s hard to know where exactly to start. Should I focus on my diet? Should I exercise more often? Just what exactly should I be doing. Those are all great questions, but the answer is fairly easy. I made a list of 5 easy to follow steps to help you get in shape and stay in shape. With this list, managing your weight and staying in shape will be easy as 1,2,3….4, and 5.

1. Drink Water

Consuming water throughout the day will keep you feeling refreshed. Our bodies are mainly made up of water, so in order to go about our day we need to make sure we are properly hydrated. Water has been shown to increase our metabolism, which helps us lose weight. Start by carrying a water bottle (20-24 oz.) with you throughout the day and be sure to fill up at nearby water fountains.

2. Eat to satisfy

Here is one of the main culprits to weight gain: overeating. Generally, your average individual will eat 2-3 times a day. Most, if not all, of those meals are huge in portion size and eaten as though it’s our last meal. The best weight loss diet includes the key to staying in shape which is eating the main course (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and snacks (2-3 per day) only till your satisfied. Eating only to the point where you say, “that was really satisfying.” This is the point at which your body is telling you that it’s refueled for the rest of the day. Enjoy your food and take your time eating as it takes the body about 20 minutes to realize its full!

3. Get moving

Just get out there and move! One of the best things you can do for your health is be proactive. In whatever you enjoy doing, walking, dancing, or bike riding, just keep moving. High activity is related to a healthy body. Find a hobby or outdoor activity that gets you moving. Not only will you be enjoying gardening or shooting hoops, but you will actually be helping yourself in staying in shape.

4. Find a partner

Having someone there to help support and walk through the same battle with you is one of the biggest motivators. Grab a buddy at your next neighborhood meeting or a co-worker that goes to the same gym as you. Having a partner has shown to improve your health and keeps you accountable to one another. There’s nothing better than looking forward to going walking with Amy and talk about fashion!

5. Take notes

Lastly, take notes everyday in a journal or diary. Record your daily eating, thoughts, emotions, or whatever is on your mind. This can be one of the best tools that can help keep you focused such as, what got you moving today or did you drink enough water. Keeping a journal of what you ate or how you felt when you ate allows you to reflect on how you are keeping with your goal of staying in shape.

As you can see, staying in shape isn’t rocket science. The key to staying in shape is you! Not your coworker. Not your boyfriend. Not the free samples at the grocery store. Just you. With the five easy to follow steps, you will be well on your way of staying in shape and maybe even some else’s.

The Greyhound Group

Should Bus Passengers have seat belts

Wyatt Olsen asked: Should Buses have seat belts for all passengers

Yes

No

Universal Coach Lines New J4500

Universal Coach Lines woos demanding Chinese market with three new MCI® J4500s

SCHAUMBURG, IL — June 6, 2013 —

 When Canada won China's Approved Destination Status in 2010, Universal Coach Lines knew business might boom — after all, the Vancouver-area company had been ably serving the Asian market since 1996. Nearly three years later, business from China is indeed up about 200 percent. And to meet the demand, the company has taken delivery of three 2013 MCI J4500s.

"The Chinese market has been a real bright spot for us," said Lindsay Moir, Universal Coach Lines vice president. "It's a very demanding market. They demand the best, and they're always looking for the newest. These coaches allow us to put our best foot forward."

The new MCI J4500s feature many model-year improvements, including dramatic new LED headlights, a taller appearance and a host of performance updates, including a more fuel-efficient, clean-diesel powertrain. Universal Coach Lines additionally opted for a Wi-Fi hub and 110-volt outlets to meet market expectations.

Moir, who values uniformity in the fleet, says the new MCI J4500s fit in well with the rest of the company's nearly 100 coaches — many of which are earlier-model J4500s. The company has turned to the J4500 time again because of its combination of curb appeal, reliability and relatively low operating cost — and because of MCI's after-sale support network.

"We've received fantastic service at every level, from the sales executives to the technicians," said Moir. "MCI is just an amazing organization."

Universal Coach Lines is the third-largest privately owned coach operator in Canada. It maintains coaches in its main facilities in Vancouver, Calgary and Los Angeles, plus it runs satellite offices in Victoria, British Columbia; Edmonton, Alberta; and Seattle. The company employs about 200 people and logs about five million miles a year, with about half of its business in serving passenger groups from Asia. It was also the second-largest provider of coaches to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and supplied transportation to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as well.

The company prides itself on its customer service. "If a client that used us in 1996 is still in business, they're still using us," said Moir. "It's one of the joys of our business and one of the reasons we buy this type of equipment. We want the best for our clients, so we reinvest."

About MCI

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is the leading intercity coach manufacturer in the United States and Canada, with sales, service and repair facilities in both countries. MCI's D-Series is the best-selling line of coaches in industry history, with more than 13,000 units built. Its J4500 coach model has been the industry's best-selling intercity coach for nine consecutive years. MCI is also the distributor of the Setra S 417, Setra S 407 and Setra parts in the U.S. and Canada. The company offers 24-hour technical support and industry-leading technician training along with the market's most extensive aftermarket parts and repair service.

A Romantic Greyhound Bus Tour

1940s - A romantic Greyhound bus tour through America in the 1940s. - 3998869 | Shutterstock Footage