A Day As A Bus Driver

We all use the campus shuttle at some point, whether we are heading to upper campus to go back to our apartments or to see a football game. We also use it to go to go either downtown because we live there or want to do some quick shopping. Some even go on the occasional trip to Walmart to pick up some much needed items.

Rick and Dave are two of Bloomsburg University’s eleven shuttle operators. They drive between upper and lower campus. Rick has worked on campus for seven years, Dave, a local from Catawissa, has driven the buses at Bloomsburg for nine years. “I drive [all of the routes]. I drive off campus and to special events, but mostly on campus,” Dave says.

            Rick makes note that it would be very appreciated if students would stay back from the curb when they are waiting for the bus. When students stand on the street and very close to the curb they put themselves in danger. Also, it slows the drivers down because they have to wait for the students to get back to a safe enough distance, which in turn makes the bus fall behind schedule.

            Dave adds, “Don’t slow the bus down by trying to look cool while walking. If students walk quickly and sit down, everything gets along quicker.”

            Dave says that his favorite part about doing his job is, “interacting with the students. The majority of them are nice guys, you know?”

            The shuttle drivers normally work an eight hour shift, although the exact times of day vary depending on the day of the week. Rick works during the evenings and Dave works during the morning and afternoon. Dave says that he typically drives “probably thirty to forty miles a day around in a circle.”

            Both bus drivers agree on one thing: they find it polite when we thank them as we exit the bus. Rick says that he thinks it is courteous when we thank him and he would rather we did say it than not, although he does not deny it can get repetitive saying “you’re welcome” to each “thank you” he receives. Dave explains that our simple “thank yous” show, “how students themselves are polite and appreciative of the ride. [It shows] kindness on the students part.”

            Neither driver had a particular memory of their bus drives that stands out as a favorite, because most days are exactly the same. “Students are more boisterous during a fun weekend, like before and after a football game or other special event,” Dave comments, despite not having a favorite specific memory. They stop at Centennial Hall, drive to the upper campus and make a stop at the Nelson Field House, make their way over to the new Jessica S. Kozloff Apartments, stop at the Orange Lot, go to the Mount Olympus Apartments stop, drive to the Montgomery Place Apartments, and then back to Centennial Hall again, driving in an endless loop.

            Rick says the only noticeable difference is in the winter. He says it is most fun to drive the busses in the snow and ice up and down the steep hills and around the twists and turns of the roads.

            Rick says that most people who ride the shuttle are college students, although occasionally there are parents, siblings, and people who are here for special events on board as well.         

            ­­­­­­­­­­­Bloomsburg University currently owns eleven shuttles. Eight buses hold up to forty-four passengers and the other three hold up to twenty-five. Lastly, I ask Rick who picks the radio station. He says that he does because he sits on the bus for seven and a half hours. When someone rides the bus for longer than that, it will be their turn to pick the radio station. Until then, it will be up to the driver.