In Days Of Old

Remember when "refuse collectors" were binmen? and real men to boot?
They used to hoik a large metal bin with jagged edges on to their shoulder and march off down your path to the waiting lorry. Then manhandle it into the back shaking and bashing it as they went.
Not anymore!! Now they have plastic bins with wheels that have to be left at the edge of the road so the current pussys can roll them 3 metres to the truck and attach it on the back so the machines do all the work.
Have you noticed that the drivers of these trucks seem incapable of stopping in a position of minimum annoyance? It seems to me that they deliberately stop where they are in the best position to annoy bus drivers. Its not as if the wheelie bins are that hard to move around, why then can't the drivers move the few metres down the road that would allow other vehicles to pass?

On a completely different thread, imagine my delight to hear that the new Scanias might not be coming after all due to the builders going into receivership.
Never have I worked at a firm where the person who has to operate a piece of machinery isn't consulted before its bought.
You would think that someone ...anyone who got in the cab of a Scania, old or new, would have realised that something was not right! Don't get me started on the heater debacle from a few years ago, but whats with the cab layout? I mean, on the newer versions of this diabolical machine there is sooo much room on the right of the driver, but on the left, your elbows bang the door because its so close! On older versions you have to be a midget to drive it because the seat doesn't move back more than a few inches and the steering wheel is immovable too!!
Just for once I wish the powers that be in the company would consult the poor saps who have to spend all day in these buses as to whether they are suitable for the job or not.
I see on the news this morning that apparently the risk of stroke or heart attack increases with the amount of ambient noise. They say that anything over 50 Decibels could be harmful!
Does anyone else think it might be an idea to measure the sound levels on a Scania with plastic screens whilst driving a load of schoolkids about on a Friday afternoon?
50 Decibels!!! More like 150!!!

To Many People?

So, it occurs to me, as I struggled once again to get in and out of the Old Steine Bus Stops this weekend, that someday soon the number of visitors to Brighton must have to drop. Why? Because surely to god if you don't live in Brighton and you came for a daytrip/weekend after struggling to get into the town, in a snails pace traffic queue, and then struggling at the end of the day/weekend to get out again , in the same snail paced traffic queue, that you might possibly, just maybe, not ever come again , at least in your car. What drives these mad people to sit for hours on end in barely moving traffic queues? Can't be the beach, its not even sand.The shops? same as everywhere else, perhaps its a subconscious thing..."the sun is out, must drive to Brighton, must drive to Brighton..."

Its the look of absolute annoyance on the drivers faces as the bus finally manages to squeeze out of the Old Steine bus stop and then positively zooms past the traffic in the bus lane up to St Peters church.

I notice that despite the councils' "We get 10 people a day caught in the Bus lanes, paying a fine" bragging, (10 !! I could catch that many in an hour) lots of people have started to use St Peters Bus lane to bypass incoming traffic.

Whilst I am on the subject of breaking traffic rules don't you think its about time we had cameras on the yellow boxes in the town? Bottom of North Street is always blocked on a Saturday and Sunday evening, Cheapside/London Road junction, every evening from 4 'til 6 and Sundays 'til 8!! £20 fine for blocking, it would pay for the new stadium in a weekend!!

Still the view as I crawl along the seafront couldn't get any better!!

Sussex County Card

Pensioners, mmmm, now what is it with them and their pathological inability to tear off a ticket?

Its not hard, really its not, just grasp the ticket lightly, twixt finger and thumb and pull gently towards you. TOWARDS YOU!! Not to the top or bottom or sides, straight towards you.

You would think that some of them are expecting to land a Marlin or Spearfish, the way they take hold of the ticket and pull.I don't know what they expect to gain by grabbing on and pulling for all their might (even the little old frail ones)

I had one the other day, got half a ticket roll out before I stopped her, FOR GODS SAKE if it doesn't tear off why the F**K keep pulling !!??

Oh and Lord help us if you have a vehicle with steps, 5 minutes of puffing and straining,(you would think they were climbing Everest) followed by 2 minutes of looking for their Countycard, grabbing a ticket, screwing up the machine for the next persons ticket, then bitching about it, all the time the bus behind with the low floor and pneumatic step gets ever closer, and you still have it all again when they get off.
Its not like they are in a rush, they have got all day to annoy Bus drivers and checkout girls alike!!

While we are on the subject, whats with the people giving out these Countycards anyway? Its quite clear to me and my colleagues that the piss is being mightily taken here.
We have 20 somethings that sprint for the bus, leap on board, thrust their card in your face and ask for a free one its clear they are neither old or incapable.
WHY has it been deemed that they are suitable for a free travel card? I sure don't know!!

Pride

Well another weekend of chaos on the buses, caused by innumerable raging queens wanting to be seen as special. I always thought that they all wanted to be treated the same as everyone else? So why do they get a special parade?
God help anyone who just wanted to get from one side of Brighton to the other on Saturday, visit a sick Grandma in the RSCH? Live in Shoreham ? That will be two buses and a long walk across town !! Thank you.
Its about time this malarkey with closing off Brighton was stopped, Let the parade continue if it must but whats wrong with marching from the Dyke to Ditchling Beacon and back.
Same goes for the Kids Parade, whats wrong with parading along Madeira drive?
Its time we claimed your town back, its not like this in Bosnia!!

A New Anonymous Blog From A Brighton Bus Driver

Well greetings,

This Blog has been brought about by the absolutely scandalous treatment of my fellow Brighton & Hove Bus Driver Bloggers by the Company (that sounds sinister).

I am utterly bemused at the way The Company has treated these bloggers, after all they are only communicating their own opinions by way of their absolute right to free speech.

Warning and reprimands indeed, well you only have yourself to blame if you don't like what you read here in future.