We're Aucklanders. We know what a bus is. It's a big vehicle that goes twice as fast when you're running after it as it does when you're in it. It's the one that's always 'Due in 2min' on those nifty electronic signs - until 2min passes and the sign changes to 'Delay'. It's the 267 that comes just after the last 267 and right before the next 267 when what you want is the 258, except when it's raining and none of them come. It's a big vehicle that always has free seats - when it's going the other way from where you want to go. No matter how many office water-cooler stories we swap, fact is, more of us are getting on the bus. The Auckland Regional Transport Authority claimed earlier this month that public transport use has reached its highest level since 1989, with almost 55 million journeys in the year to May. Maybe it's the petrol prices, maybe it's a green thing, but bus riders are up 2 per cent this year. According to NZ Bus (formerly Stagecoach) some North Shore express routes are up almost 60 per cent. Western Bays routes have 15-20 per cent increases and Orakei routes, which service Sylvia Park, 20 per cent. Link buses are picking up 10 per cent more passengers. So, who's driving this success story? You might say hello and swap opinions about the weather with him or her each morning, but how well do you really know your local bus driver? We met four of them...
ALAN RAINBOW Central Auckland
When I was a kid, I always wanted to drive one of those trolleys (trams), but unfortunately as I came into the driving industry, they went out. I came to this job through passion. I was in a management role in the building industry and then self-employed in construction for 12 years. But I always wanted to drive, so I decided to do it. I began in 2001 at the City depot and trained at Swanson (depot) and I went to Roskill depot where I am now. I came here because I love to drive, not for the money.
Those Who CAN Do, Also Teach
As well as driving routes, I also do in-house training as a driving instructor. I train all the new drivers, and assess them. The new drivers all need to understand and have a knowledge of the law, they need to have the ability to drive these heavy vehicles and to be people-focused, because (passengers) are our people, and most importantly they need patience and understanding. There is a lot more traffic and road rage, we have to incorporate that into our training, but the bulk of our drivers are very good at handling the traffic. They have that ability to be patient.
A Passion For The Job
I try to drive every day if I can, mainly the central-eastern suburbs, and that's by choice, not by circumstance. I love it, the people, the customers, the comradeship between the drivers. There are some interesting, unique and wonderful people who catch our buses. It's high and low economic areas that we service and the people come from a diverse range. If a person is lost or has gone off route, I get them somewhere safe or get them to another person it's just common sense. I have my regulars, they say hi to me and tell me about their trips and the stuff they are doing for the day. They are honest about it. I've even had coffee with some of them, I've made friends and had social contact with some of our people.
What Would People Be Surprised About?
How much we love our jobs. About 70 per cent of the drivers have been here a very long time. Normally you would suffer burnout from that, but there is a culture here that prevents that sort of thing. We do things to help the drivers deal with it. We have weekly sessions where the drivers get together over some food and soft drinks and listen to stories, compare experiences and give each other advice. You just have to try and not take yesterday into tomorrow. You don't take it home with you.
Night Shift Collections
I still do a regular night shift. I think it's OK for happy drunks to travel on the bus, they will probably just fall asleep anyway. If they do get a bit angry or argumentative, I usually offer to call a taxi for them. It's about public safety at the end of the day. I can't tell them they can't bring that slab (of beer) on to the bus, so I keep them up the front with me and offer to give it back to them. They usually don't want it anyway, so I have a collection at home.
Love Is In The Air - And On The Bus
I met my wife, Julie, on the bus. A few years ago, I was doing the night run and she worked late nights at a restaurant in Ponsonby. She caught the night service home, we communicated maybe two or three times before I gave her my phone number. We've been married now five years. She is a wonderful lady, the diamond that rocks my world.
SHARON COLQUHOUN West Auckland
Leaving The Chickens Behind
Before this I was the manager of a KFC. I could see the big vehicles go past our store and the ones that would drop produce off to us and I'd think, 'Why can't I do that?' So one day I thought, why not? I've been driving a bus now for nine years, out west. As a child I always wanted to drive a big vehicle. My family had an Austin Cambridge station wagon and I thought that was big. Later I inquired into the trucking industry, but it was the bus company that gave me my first chance.
Whatever You Do, Don't Panic!
You never know what's going to happen with Auckland traffic so attention to the road is vital. I never answer a phone call or a text on my cellphone when I am driving, my friends know not to call or text me when I'm on the road. You have to be patient, absolutely, sit quietly, never, ever panic. On the road things can go wrong in a big city like Auckland, things like heavy traffic, road works, maneuvering around cones. But if you stay patient, cool, calm and collected you will be OK. If anything does go wrong, you have support from control at the end of the line.
The Sisterhood
There are more women (drivers) than I thought there would be. I always thought it would not be a lot of women's cup of tea. A lot of women say to me, 'Why would you want to do that?' I think it's a good job for women; we tend to be a little more patient and people-orientated than men. It makes no difference to the physical aspect at all - all the buses have power steering now.
DAVE PEACOCK South Auckland
Call Him Captain
I get called 'Captain' by my colleagues because I used to work at Air New Zealand as a ground steward, driving all the luggage and food on to the planes. My regular passengers, they all know me as captain, they say: 'Good afternoon, captain!' I've been eight years as a bus driver, all of them at the Manukau depot, I live close by in Mangere Bridge. I heard from a mate who was a bus driver, he said it was an easy semi-retirement job with no heavy lifting or jumping on and and off trucks, so I went down to the depot and asked for a job - and here I am.
Friend, Confidant, Counsellor
I do have regulars, some of them get worried if I'm not there! I get boxes of chocolates from some of them at Christmas. I help older passengers get on and off the bus, help the new immigrants with language barriers, I have to show them on a map where the stages go to. It feels good in yourself that you've done something for someone else. And I love mixing with people, every day is different. Sometimes I have people get on, they are a bit unhappy, they get off a bit happier. You've got to have a sense of humour.
Going Up
The traffic in Auckland has really gone up in volume, it's a real battle getting through and getting the run done on time. I don't think bus patronage has increased on my run, but we have had some new people on other runs.
What To Remember When Riding The Bus Please don't give $20 notes! They are very hard to change.
DAVE ROMAINE North Shore
An 'Eggcellent' Start To A Career
I bought a house in Glenfield and I was with an egg distribution company, delivering eggs around town for about five years. I had a young family at the time and I needed more money so I popped into the depot to find some weekend work and shift work. I really liked it and eventually I went to work full-time on the buses. I just enjoy meeting people. The shift work is good because I can go home during the day between shifts, it breaks the day up nicely and it's a nice, friendly depot here. I've worked at this depot for 20 years, on and off. It's been through quite a few company changes. It started as North Shore Transport and was run by the council. I went to Sydney in 1976, but I didn't like it so I came back to this depot. It was run by ARC for a few years. In 1985 I had a two-year break to look after my family and I've been back since 1987. In 1990 it was Yellow Bus, then Stagecoach, and now NorthStar.
The Changing Times
The volume of traffic has increased, so you've got to be more skilful in your driving, but the busway here is great. I have noticed an increase (in people using the bus). I think petrol prices might be a factor, and also more people are aware about public transport now, especially about the Northern Busway. As long as it's reliable, people will use it.
Oops
This guy got on in the city and said to me, 'Does this bus go to Taka?' I said yes, so he got on. We got over the bridge, got to Takapuna. He looks up and says, 'This isn't Takanini!'
Wheel life stories
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.