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Quest (198.29.191.148)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 05, 2002 - 6:31 am: | |
Gentlemen and Ladies.
I caught a thread sometime ago discussing all virtues of driving a bus, up hills, down hills, turning corners, backing up, parking, idling driving in snow, wet weather, oh etc, etc, and I can't find it.
I want to make a record as does others I have spoken to. Does anyone have that thread saved OR how about your inputs. I have driven, err, towed boats behind trucks, backed them up with no problem, but the bus does give a chill to the new driver. If you don't have the thread, can you offer advice, much thanks, quest
I have made some headers to help with the topics but if you have one to add, please do. I bow to your knowledge and will be ever grateful.
Threads
Up, Down hills:
Turning corners:
Backing up:
Parking:
Idling:
Driving in Weather, Rain/Snow/Wind: |
John (206.191.131.120)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 05, 2002 - 1:29 pm: | |
Up, Down hills: Depends on the drivetrain. A good running start helps going up!! Prudence helps going down, but a jake, or retarder helps a lot more.
Turning corners: Right turn off your shoulder. When the front bumper hits the curb of the lane you're turning into, nose a little left. When the curb hits your shoulder, crank it. The back wheels will track right around the curb, tight as a tick. Power steer, always. Slow down before a corner, accelerate through.
Backing up: Know what's back there! Exactly. Unquestionably. If you don't know, STOP.
Parking: Rotsa ruck. Plan on walking some distance.
Idling: Unless your engine needs to cool off a bit, don't idle. If it's REALLY hot, give it a couple of minutes.
Driving in Weather, Rain/Snow/Wind: Buses are great in weather, or at least as good as the tires. One huge caveat. Downhill. That's a hell of a big sled.
Know your vehicle. Study the mirrors. They teach you how big the bus is. It takes about a year to get really used to something that big, but once you do, it's just driving. Until you do, be oh so careful in traffic. When it's safe to do so, drive it hard, and test yourself where there's lots of spare asphalt. It's nice to know exactly what you have, if you ever need it.
Know your envelope. Keep it as big as possible. This especially includes behind you. Lots of impatient danger back there. Try to stay out of their way. I favor the left side of the lane, because most of the danger comes from the right shoulder. Pedestrians, bicycles, cars popping out of driveways. When traffic comes at me, I ease right, and watch right. This is a big-ass vehicle. Use the lane.
The key thing to driving a bus is the key thing to driving a car. Know where the danger is, requiring your full attention, and know where the safety is, so you can relax a bit. When it's time to pay attention, pay attention. Cross streets, driveways, narrow shoulders, oncoming cars, passing cars, anything that moves, basically. When that's passed, relax and enjoy. Just don't get the two mixed up, and relax when you should be attentive... |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 05, 2002 - 4:47 pm: | |
Drive slow, enjoy the view, be kind, have fun and practice, practice, practice backing up, but never, never do so unless you absolutely have too. Thanks. |
joe shelton (Littlewind) (67.241.228.94)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 05, 2002 - 11:44 pm: | |
Here is some input that came from RJ Long, when I asked him "Short of shifting & dbl clutching, can you tell me what the difference is between driving & aiming?"
Well, Joe, it's really a lot of "little things" that separate the real pros from the aimers, regardless of whether or not someone's being compen$ated to drive. Here are some examples:
~ The pro does a complete and thorough pre-trip inspection before pulling out of the yard, and understands the reasons behind each item being checked and what he's looking for. . .
~ The pro constantly scans his mirrors to keep abreast of what's around him at all times. . .
~ The pro keeps his eyes moving, scanning the road ahead approximately 12-15 seconds to avoid any "surprises". . .
~ The pro constantly checks his instruments and gauges for any changes, he's "in touch" with his vehicle. . .
~ The real pros avoid tailgating and being boxed into situations where visibility is diminished or stopping distances are compromised. . .
~ The pro understands operating all the controls as smoothly and as gently as possible provides a better "ride" for all on board. . .
~ In a tight situation, the pro will stop his vehicle, and let others figure out how to avoid him. . .
~ A pro will always jump out of the driver's seat and check behind his vehicle before backing up, not only looking around, but looking up, also, to make sure it is safe to proceed.
~ The pro stands by the front door and assists his passengers on/off his coach (linehaul & charter only). . .
This is just a sample. I'm sure my industry colleague "buswarrior" can jump in here and add some more, but hopefully you get the idea. |
FAST FRED (65.58.186.86)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 7:23 am: | |
One point for GM V drive stick folks is that reverse is NOT geared as low as first.
So to be sure that you can get out of a place , Back in , if its at all steep.
FAST FRED |
Stan (216.95.238.84)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 9:52 am: | |
On one of my first trips in the south-west, driving the Houston belt-line in a light rain I turned the wheel just enough to keep from hitting a pothole with the front wheel. My MC-5 and tow car were immediately cross ways on the three lanes. I had lots of experience driving trucks on ice and had good tires and recovered control very quickly but I had never been on anything as slippery. That evening a fellow camper explained that during periods of hot dry weather, oil rises to the surface of the asphalt and until enough rain falls to wash it off it was exactly what I had hit. In later years, I saw someone else getting their lesson on a curve on a two lane road under similar conditions. A car was coming cross ways in my lane. I left the road to avoid a collision and have no idea how far he went on that water slide as I had my own problems to deal with. |
FAST FRED (65.58.187.89)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 12:38 pm: | |
Guess you never dove a motorcycle , the first thing you learn is oil floats on water.
The second is that it never rains hard enough at a toll booth to EVER get the dripped oil off.
If you watch at a toll booth , you will see every bike rider taking off very slowly , and very carefully!!
Don't know if a coach has enough power to fishtale out of the extortion booth , but it might even wake the toll taker!
FAST FRED |
Doug Dickinson (Dougd470) (206.71.103.144)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 6:44 pm: | |
This is good stuff! I am about to take my wife out on her first BUS driving experience and needed some info to start her with. A refresher is always good, but these particular rules are magnified in a bus.
Thank you all. |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 3:18 pm: | |
Perhaps an important thing is to not be overwhelmed by what you are going to do. Go for it with the idea of learning a new skill and having FUN while learning.
Just take the old girl (the coach!) and lady out onto some deserted road or Sunday parking lot and just practice starting, turning and backing and stuff.
Also learn to have fun crawling up, over, under and around your pride and joy learning all you can about where stuff is located and how it works.
With a little time and some smiles you will amaze yourself as how much can be learned about a coach. And....you can do it yourself. Enjoy! |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.215.195)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 9:51 pm: | |
And here's the rest I wrote over on the GM board to follow up Joe's copy of RJ's post here:
Rj's got a great list of things here! I'll add a bit, if I may?
~ The pro has nothing to prove through the use of the coach. The
type of behaviour that males usually think is impressive to others
in a driving environment are not enjoyable at all to those who have
to suffer the ride that "spirited" driving creates. And doesn't it
usually work out that she has to suffer silently....
~ The pro has no insecurity hang ups and does not associate his
manhood with the operation of the coach. Who is the fool? The one
who refuses to get out of the driver's seat to check and then almost
hits it, or the one who stops, gets out to look and decides that
he'd rather try another way. And this doesn't just apply to backing
up. You can foolishly hit things going forward too. He who fights
and runs away, lives to fight another day? This is a problem that
rarely manifests itself in the fairer sex. They just get out and
look because it makes sence.
~ Watch the pro's hands on the controls. An aimer will grip with the
hand. A pro rests the fingers, and only just enough effort is used
to accomplish the desired control input. Driving down the highway in
a straight line, the steering is ever so lightly leaned on to
correct course, never turned. Every movement of gearshift, clutch
and accelerator is light, purposeful, deliberate, fluid and boring
to watch. Hollywood should not be planning an action movie around
your wildly flailing appendages. Make romantic love to the machine,
this is no place for that aggressive hard core stuff!
~ The pro does whatever the circumstances call for to avoid surprise
and the need for sudden movement. Back off, go slower and stop are
the defaults. In these modern times with the advent of carlike power
in coaches, there are a few times when pour on the coals is an
option, if you have coals to pour! Slow down isn't the only tool in
the hold! You usually can see a bad traffic situation developing, if
you are watching for it. A pro prefers to be a voyeur, not a
participant, when things get exciting!
FWIW, I've spent the last 10 years, full time, 5 days a week, driver
training for transit, and fooling around driving on the side out on
the highway doing line and charter work.
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 12:02 am: | |
Quest -
Might I suggest, if you haven't already, that you log onto the main BNO site, and check out the "Articles of Interest" section. I've written two different things you might find very helpful.
HTH,
RJ Long
PD4106-2784
"The Giant Greenbrier"
Fresno CA
(Retired school, charter and transit bus driver trainer) |
Mike Eades (Mike4905) (206.148.164.150)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 04, 2002 - 9:02 am: | |
I think one item a lot of people over look is the front over hang distance in tight places. Every bus that is of a rear engine design has a front axle overhang. This is helpful when moving in tight areas. I drive for Disney and we use this a lot to get around guests auto's and in the resort areas. RJ knows what I mean and can address the subject better that I can , when you stop at Walmart you can get out. Mike4905 |
CoryDaneRTSIIIL (4.17.253.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 16, 2002 - 6:41 pm: | |
Hey Mike
Gonna be in Orlando first half of December, staying at Disneys' Fort Wilderness Camp Ground.
If ya have some time, would enjoy chatting and hear about how you like the RTS (seems to be Disneys Favorite) and how it handles. - cd |
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