really random question..

[Deleted]

Hi all, im new to driving busses, started 2 weeks ago.
Im driving the 109s right now, easy route i cant get lost.
Heard some drivers talking about an app thats a sat nav of the bus routes. Does this actually exist? To help me learn them?

[DLA 365]

Dec 20, 2013 22:29:33 GMT @ssamm said:

Hi all, im new to driving busses, started 2 weeks ago.
Im driving the 109s right now, easy route i cant get lost.
Heard some drivers talking about an app thats a sat nav of the bus routes. Does this actually exist? To help me learn them?

Hello

I just passed my PCV test yesterday, so I am a very new driver as well, and often find it easy to choose the wrong lane or miss a turn as I am so focused on the road conditions. What I find helps is to ride the route and take notes by sitting near the front of the bus. Using a phone when in the cab of the bus is a sackable offence so under no circumstances would I risk using any sort of app when driving a London bus. I was told that I should not even touch my phone when in the cab of the bus regardless of whether the engine is on or not, and if I am to make a phone call, I should step out of the cab to do so.

If in doubt about the route, or if you do get lost, you can always call your controller and they will usually help you to get back on line of route. It's to be expected when you're new but it is best to do that at an early stage rather than get lost and end up on roads that are unsuitable for buses.

Don't worry, relax and have a natural drive. That's the only way to have fun

[vjaska]

Dec 20, 2013 22:29:33 GMT @ssamm said:

Hi all, im new to driving busses, started 2 weeks ago.
Im driving the 109s right now, easy route i cant get lost.
Heard some drivers talking about an app thats a sat nav of the bus routes. Does this actually exist? To help me learn them?

You drive one of my local routes

[greeny253]

Dec 20, 2013 22:29:33 GMT @ssamm said:

Hi all, im new to driving busses, started 2 weeks ago.
Im driving the 109s right now, easy route i cant get lost.
Heard some drivers talking about an app thats a sat nav of the bus routes. Does this actually exist? To help me learn them?

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

Gonna echo the comments about not using a phone in the cab. Should someone be observing you and happen to see you using it then you're looking at instant dismissal.

Your company (Arriva?) should be letting you do route learning in company time and if you aren't comfortable with a route then tell them. I made the mistake of not learning the 205's properly before trying to drive them and ended up filling in an accident report.

Also, and I'll direct this at DLA 365 too, don't be afraid to ask for help. It's better to ask and be sure. This forum has people from pretty much every corner of the industry so if you have a question then ask away - somebody will know the answer.

[Deleted]

Thanks guys, i was actually gonna go in my car! Lol
Yeah i have time to route learn, just to be sure really.
At the moment i cant get lost so its fine, and yes same with us, a sackable offence if phone is used in the cab

[Deleted]

The only tricky bit of the 109 is in Croydon town centre. Good luck, its a doddle once you get used to it all.

[greeny253]

Dec 21, 2013 7:38:11 GMT @ssamm said:

Thanks guys, i was actually gonna go in my car! Lol
Yeah i have time to route learn, just to be sure really.
At the moment i cant get lost so its fine, and yes same with us, a sackable offence if phone is used in the cab

I wouldn't do it in your car - whilst you might get paid for route learning it won't even touch what you use in fuel to do the route. The only time I'd suggest using your car is if you're unsure on a particular section of a route. And even then, do it at night so you don't spend half the day in traffic!

My suggestion for being sure of your routes is to go out and learn them then get a duty and drive it. I've personally found this to be the best way to make sure you've got it

[Deleted]

Another thing about route learning in your car.......falling foul of bus only restrictions.

It really is up to the employer though, you shouldn't have to do it in your own time.

Do any operators make DVD's of their routes for drivers to watch?

[greeny253]

Dec 21, 2013 13:02:16 GMT @batterseaboy said:

Another thing about route learning in your car.......falling foul of bus only restrictions.

It really is up to the employer though, you shouldn't have to do it in your own time.

Do any operators make DVD's of their routes for drivers to watch?

Stagecoach certainly don't. That said, I'd like to put one together for our drivers showing the routes - talked enough drivers through the night routes lately to justify it!

[M1104]

Dec 21, 2013 7:38:11 GMT @ssamm said:

Thanks guys, i was actually gonna go in my car! Lol
Yeah i have time to route learn, just to be sure really.
At the moment i cant get lost so its fine, and yes same with us, a sackable offence if phone is used in the cab

If you do decide to learn it in your car, the advantage there would be that you can go around the route's curtailment points that you wouldn't otherwise see when you are route learning on a service bus. However, as mentioned by Batterseaboy, watch out for any highway code restrictions. We don't want your first week's wages going on paying fines.

By the way welcome to the team, both in the bus industry and on this forum.

[Connor]

Dec 21, 2013 13:14:49 GMT M1104 said:

Dec 21, 2013 7:38:11 GMT @ssamm said:

Thanks guys, i was actually gonna go in my car! Lol
Yeah i have time to route learn, just to be sure really.
At the moment i cant get lost so its fine, and yes same with us, a sackable offence if phone is used in the cab

If you do decide to learn it in your car, the advantage there would be that you can go around the route's curtailment points that you wouldn't otherwise see when you are route learning on a service bus. As mentioned by Batterseaboy watch out for any highway code restrictions. We don't want your first week's wages going on paying fines.

By the way welcome to the team, both in the bus industry and on this forum.

+1

It may also be worth learning the routing of routes 50 and 250 (the bits between Streatham and Croydon Town Centre especially) as when a diversion is on in the area, the 109 will travel along the these routes. You'll have a great time driving BN's vehicles, majority of them are great (the DLAs, particularly the older ones, and the Pulsar Geminis), some not so much (the 05 reg VLAs, the 59/10 reg DB300s). I may even see you on the 50 some time in the future!

[moz]

ssamm, Arriva London South have an agreement in place whereby all stage carriage (ie normal) bus routes are route learned in company time. Some garages do this by sending you out with a route learning slip to ride around as a passenger whilst others (N in particular) do route learning by sending you out with a Route Learning Mentor who you travel with as a passenger for a rounder, then you drive the route with them there to help if need be. The second option is actually the best way to do it as you can better learn hands-on than watching from afar. Also remember that your route learning is only valid for six months so you can refuse to do a route if you haven't done it for that long, same for type training.

Moz

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2013 13:43:42 GMT Connor said:

Dec 21, 2013 13:14:49 GMT M1104 said:

If you do decide to learn it in your car, the advantage there would be that you can go around the route's curtailment points that you wouldn't otherwise see when you are route learning on a service bus. As mentioned by Batterseaboy watch out for any highway code restrictions. We don't want your first week's wages going on paying fines.

By the way welcome to the team, both in the bus industry and on this forum.

+1

It may also be worth learning the routing of routes 50 and 250 (the bits between Streatham and Croydon Town Centre especially) as when a diversion is on in the area, the 109 will travel along the these routes. You'll have a great time driving BN's vehicles, majority of them are great (the DLAs, particularly the older ones, and the Pulsar Geminis), some not so much (the 05 reg VLAs, the 59/10 reg DB300s). I may even see you on the 50
some time in the future!

I assume a lot of DLA's will be going soon when the hybrids enter service?

[6HP502C]

Dec 20, 2013 22:29:33 GMT @ssamm said:

Hi all, im new to driving busses, started 2 weeks ago.
Im driving the 109s right now, easy route i cant get lost.
Heard some drivers talking about an app thats a sat nav of the bus routes. Does this actually exist? To help me learn them?

Ah you don't need any app. Just do what I had to do and learn the route as you drive it! I was put on the 343 once without having a clue where it went. I left the garage with paperwork for the 100, only to find a 343 with its hazards on and a controller telling me to hurry up. I didn't even know how to work that 2nd gen Volvo thing, couldn't even move the steering column without assistance let alone change the blinds. Made it through somehow

In less trying conditions, Abellio provided me with a prepaid Oyster card and sent me out on my own to learn a few of the routes, in company time though I had to chase up being paid for those days. I was encouraged to communicate with the drivers to learn where the mid route turns were. When I did the 414, one of the drivers stared through me like I was from outer space when I tried to speak to him. The other one, we made it from Putney to Fulham Broadway where he crashed the bus into some roadside furniture and sent me to go and retrieve the bits that fell. After that he didn't seem that keen on talking.

From that point onwards I did my own route learning. I don't know what Abellio did for these guys when it came to learning the roads, but I was looked at like I was mad when I asked why I couldn't have a route learning mentor or learn the routes with a trainer.

Personally I would advocate the use of paper maps and keep an eye out for the roads the route turns into. Else, go through it on Google Maps.

[Deleted]

Thank you!
Haha about the crash and collecting bits, yes curtailments points still confuse me, me looking at a map is like trying to read a foreign launguage! Ill get there