What’s it like to spend the day behind the steering wheel of a bus? Since 2012, a TriMet bus driver who writes under the pen name Deke N. Blue (a hat tip to the Steely Dan song “Deacon Blues”) has tried to answer that question in a blog called “From the Driver Side.” Now he’s collected those blog posts in a book entitled, “Just Drive: Life in the Bus Lane.” A member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, “Deke” has blogged about driving since he was hired by TriMet in 2012. Labor Press senior reporter Don McIntosh spoke with him recently by phone.
Why do you use a pseudonym? What my employer doesn’t know can’t hurt me. At some points in the blog I have lambasted them for what they do to us.
What most surprised you about the job of bus operator? The physicality. It’s very hard on the body. There’s a lot of repetitive motion injury. You brake the bus between 700 and 900 times a shift.
There seems to be a perception that riding public transit is unsafe. Is there any basis for that? I wouldn’t say it’s any more unsafe than being anywhere else in public. I think you’re as safe riding a bus as going to the mall or a movie theater. We certainly do our best to keep people safe while we’re driving them somewhere. I think when you have a stabbing on the MAX, or you hear about operators getting assaulted, it gives the false illusion that it’s unsafe to ride transit. I think there’s room for improvement on safety in transit, but as a general rule, I don’t think it’s any more unsafe than anywhere else.
Many of your blog posts are about everyday gripes. What are the three most annoying things a bus driver deals with? People who are unprepared to ride the bus. They stand at a bus stop waiting for a bus looking at their phone, and when the bus gets there, they’re fumbling in their pockets. That wastes a lot of time. Be prepared. Get on board with the fare in your hand, like the sign on the door says. Another thing: traffic. You know, there’s a yield sign on the back of the bus. ORS 811.167 says you must yield to a transit vehicle that is trying to re-enter a traffic lane when it has its yield light blinking. People routinely don’t do that. Number three: Transit management should be our partner, not our enemy.
What would you say about your union to people who are unfamiliar with it? This has been my first union job. I depend heavily on the union when I have to meet with management. They’re in our corner. They’re the very first people I turn to when I have a question about the contract or any part of the job. I trust my union. They’re always working on getting us better terms in our contract. The unions are in our corner, and in the past 40 years, they’ve been under attack by big money, because unions want a bigger chunk for the people who do the work in the world versus the people who sit in their big leather chairs and look down and pull the puppet strings on the politicians. There’s plenty of room for more unions. More people should turn to unions so their jobs are protected. Everyone who does a blue collar job is one or two paychecks from the street. It’s hard making a living out there, and you need protection. Unions are the only ones who give a damn about you. Management and corporations really don’t care about the individual; they care about the bottom line.
If you found yourself face-to-face with TriMet management, what would you tell them about what they’re doing right or wrong? What they’re doing wrong is treating us like an adversary. We’re the ones who do the work out here. They should be supporting us in any way possible instead of making life more difficult. There used to be big signs in the garages that said ‘safety first.’ They took them down. Now they’re pushing schedule. But to be fair, I’d like to say that lately I’ve seen a trend toward more positive things. I’d say they’re finally waking up to our safety needs as operators, operator assault issues.
As a TriMet bus operator, you’re a public employee. Do you see yourself as a public servant? Yes, my friend [and fellow driver] Tom Horton likes to say we’re shepherds of the public safety. Any bus operator in the world plays a very important part in their community’s economy. We take Portland to work and drive them home again. We see things happening on the road and tell dispatch to alert emergency services. We play a much more vital role in the community than we get credit for.
You write that you love your job. What do you like most about it? I love dealing with the people of Portland. They’re one of the most diverse populaces I’ve ever come in contact with. I love the friendliness of most people. On the way out of the bus almost every passenger says thank you for the ride. I like the scenery of Portland. I like to say my office has six wheels and a beautiful view. I’ve always enjoyed working with people, and I’ve made a lot of friends in this job, both operators and passengers. I love driving that big old beast around town every day.
THE BOOK: Just Drive: Life in the Bus Lane is available at Broadway Books in Portland, or online via Amazon.
THE BLOG: From the Driver Side
