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Staring Down The Path Tour. Day 10 | blackswanlane.com

Cushioning non-Greyhound Routes

Submitted By: William Donley

There's most likely far less cushioning now-a-days on non-Greyhound routes, but I have to relate a story. At Bonanza, it was common to carry hound drivers on the 50 mile trip to Boston, their work reporting location. Or to anyplace. They would park at Providence and jump on the Boston Express. Most were absolute gentlemen, but in the 90s, Greyhound was not drawing the same caliber of driver as they did in the 60s-50s-40s etc. 

 

One Friday Evening, I was the 9:30PM NYC-PABT Gate 17 to Providence. I was about the leave when a man dressed in what I knew was Greyhound Training Uniform ran up to the bus and said loudly and rudely "Providence Please" and proceeded to his seat. I asked him if he had a ticket, and he said, Greyhound Pass. I said I needed to see it so I could mark my envelope, just the union card would be fine.

 

 "Union Card?????" Yeah the Union Card. He said "I have a voucher from my training school in Richmond." Oh, I told him that his bus was just down the driveway in the next building. 

 

He said that bus would not stop in Providence, that it went NYC-Hfd-Bos. And it would take him more than 8 hours to get to Providence. No Problem, but step outside a moment. I explained to him... Pal, there's a way to go about this, and 1st you ought to introduce yourself and ask if you might get a lift. I'm glad to take you, even though I'm just about solid, but you've got to learn how to get a free lift the right way or you're gonna learn how to get your butt kicked off the bus. He sat behind me and gave me a 4 hour lesson on what Greyhound was doing wrong. 

 

He asked me to run the 52 passengers down a road closer to his home so he could walk home, but I told him that we had one stop, at the station. 

 

A couple of weeks later, he again appeared at the PABT at 9:30 PM for the ride to Providence. I gladly put him aboard, he was in the Greys this time, and I was not going to hassle him. This time he sat behind me and proceeded to tell me that he had broken the all-time speed record on a Boston to Buffalo run, and had run 80 MPH nearly all the way. He was hoping for the run again and was going to make the 500 or so mile trip in even less time. Of course after the run, he had to cushion to the PABT. 

 

 I thought, Oh this is a great driver. But it'll take him longer than average to get to the Million Mile award. What I did not tell him was that 2 days later, I was taking over as Safety Director at Bonanza.

As I said, Greyhound drivers are carried every day on Bonanza, mostly to Boston, but actually anywhere, and while I was in management, it continued. 

 

Now Bonanza had several ex-Greyhound drivers who left during the various labor troubles and some were VERY bitter about it. One we'll call Wally, a fine driver, but VERY VERY bitter, considered every Greyhound driver who worked for the company after Wally left to be a scab, but he did not make waves normally. His driving was exemplary. But all one had to do was hiccup and Wally was ready to erupt big time. 

 

He winds up with Mr. New Greyhound Rocketass cushioning with him. The GH driver sits halfway back. 5 minutes into the trip, Mr GH rocketass shouts from his seat "Hey driver, don't you know how to set the heat? I'm cold. Bitter Wally ignored him. Soon, Rocketass shouts "you know at Greyhound, we know how to set our heater switches." No answer from Wally. 

 

But at Boston, bitter Wally takes him aside and in no uncertain terms tells him he will not be cushioning with Wally in the future. No problem. Mr. GH Rocketass writes a letter of complaint to CoachUSA HQ in TX. The letter winds up on my desk. Oh boy. Who better to give Mr. GH R/Ass some common sense lessons than his fellow Greyhound Boston drivers. I instruct our dispatcher in Boston to hang the letter of complaint in the Greyhound drivers room. Attached was a company-wide bulletin from me forbidding any Greyhound driver to cushion on Bonanza Bus lines without a ticket. 

 

Well, it wasn't very long before he received his well deserved instructions from Greyhounds union reps and normal minded drivers at Boston about how to conduct himself was receiving a free ride, and of course I quickly rescinded the bulletin. 

 

Months later he applied at Bonanza, informing me that he would be a real driver, and could make up time on any run, whereas most Bonanza Drivers (many with 40 years) did not know what the hell they were doing. No, Bonanza did not hire him while I was there. He went on to driver for a small charter outfit in Rhode Island, and left the day he had 3 accidents in the same day in NYC with a Vanhool. He had chased a car through Times Sq which somehow had offended him with 57 people aboard, sideswiping cars and truck to catch his prey. 

 

I last saw him in a state park on a school bus charter making kissyface to a woman on the nose of the school bus he was driving. Jon, I know you must have had your share of dillys in your day, but they are still out there! Sorry for the cushioning story going on so long.

Bill.

 

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Advoiding "The Right Turn Squeeze"

Right turns are a frequent problem for buses. Accidents can occur when other vehicles squeeze into the area along the right side of your vehicle. The other vehicle may beat tempting to pass on the right or make a right turn. While the other vehicle may be at fault, defensive drivers must anticipate the errors of other drivers.

 Recognize that automobile drivers are constantly looking for ways to get around your buses. Assume they will make mistakes.

What is right turn squeeze?

Collisions with a vehicle attempting to pass on your right side while you are attempting a right turn maneuver.Why is this a problem to be concerned about According to many insurance carriers, in 
over 90% of right turn squeeze situations either the bus driver is cited for unsafe turning or without 
a citation issued the bus company still must pay for the damage to the other vehicle.

What causes the problem?

Setting up wide or swinging too wide when making a right turn?

Failure to signal turn?

Other motorists not recognizing turn signals or setup for right turns of trucks?
Other motorists in too big of a hurry to pass the truck?  How can it be prevented?

Anticipate the turn. Set up for the turn, blocking the right side of your vehicle,so that cars cannot enter that area.

Check behind you. Monitor your mirrors as you approach your turn, so that you know what traffic is behind you.

Get in the proper lane as quickly and safely as you can before you turn. At least 10 feet before the turn. It is important to establish your position.

Use your turn signal and slow down. Communicate your intent to turn.

Keep the rear of the vehicle close enough to the right curb to keep vehicles out. Don’t allow the option to cut inside you, block the curb with your rear tires.

Stay within four feet of the curb, but avoid scraping or climbing the curb. Check your right mirror prior to and during your turn to make sure there are no small vehicles in the way. Wide shoulders and parking lanes may provide an opportunity for automobiles to sneak in. Beware of Sharp right turns around poles or into narrow drives that may cause you to swing wider than normal and give up your lane.

Make your turn slowly. Travel at a speed that allows you to monitor your mirrors and stop, if necessary.

Make your turn without crossing the center line of the street you are leaving and, if possible, not into the opposing traffic lanes of the road you are entering.

Where are some specific areas that may open up the possibility of accidents with right
hand squeeze?

Wide streets or streets with wide shoulders where cars try to cheat to get around us ?

Sharp right turns (possibly around poles when we have to cheat to the left prior to making the hard right turn) ?

Bike paths ?

Question for discussion -

1) Are there particular locations in our service area that present right turn squeeze hazards?

2) Where will our next accident occur?

Right turn squeeze or otherwise?

3) How can it be prevented?

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