Confessions of a bus driver: Meet the Huskies behind the wheel
‘Disgruntled or vomiting passengers is usually a shift killer’
Like many others who are fed up with being broke, I got a job on campus last year.
Unlike most people however, I became a shuttle bus driver for UConn. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some really cool people on campus, none of which I would have met without this gig.
Along the way I’ve encountered the stressful, the frightening, and the straight up weird after hundreds of hours of driving in circles, and so have the people below. Here they are to tell you some of their stories.
Austin, 20, is a junior Biology and Psychology double major.
Favorite bus line: Blue
Favorite memory on the job: It’s possible to make good memories while driving a bus? I remember driving purple past the surplus warehouse on depot campus and someone came from out of nowhere and ran over to my bus screaming. It was terrifying, but I had a good laugh after the fact.
Least favorite memory on the job: Disgruntled or vomiting passengers is usually a shift killer.
If you weren’t about to drive a bus right now, what would you be doing? Study for anatomy or sleeping.
Bobby, 22, is a senior with a BFA in Tech Theater and Design.
Favorite bus line: Green
Favorite memory on the job: The time I heard my passengers start singing “99 Problems” back when we were allowed to play music on the buses. Working bar nights can be interesting, man.
Least favorite memory on the job: A guy got on my bus at closing wanting to go from Busby to Mansfield apartments every, single, week for a semester.
If you weren’t about to drive a bus right now, what would you be doing? I would go take my motorcycle out for the last ride of the season. I mean, it’s beautiful out today.
Evan, 23, is a senior Turf, Grass and Soil Science major.
Favorite bus line: Purple
Favorite memory on the job: When we won the national championship, we had to quickly sneak all of the buses on campus to depot campus. We drove in this huge caravan in the rain. UConn has a tendency to be crazy after a win so we wanted to prevent damage or vandalism in the area, especially after a maintenance car got flipped over.
Least favorite memory on the job: I got called into an accident because a bus door got caught in a snow bank. The bus lurched forward, snapping the rear door right off of a bus.
If you weren’t dispatching right now, what would you be doing? Running or riding a bus.
Lynda, 21, is a senior Speech Pathology major.
Favorite bus line: Purple
Favorite memory on the job: When I got my CDL and I was like, “Guys, I did it—I actually passed!”. I was just really nervous when I took my test, literally shaking.
Least favorite memory on the job: It was the last day of semester and I was driving green line. I passed the West Campus bus stop because no one wanted to get off there and no one was waiting to be picked up there. Then, two girls started pounding their fists on my bus when I got to a stop sign. So I stopped, and they got in front of me, blocked all traffic on Gilbert Road and started screaming at me. I was pretty scared and concerned with safety so when it got intense we had to call the police. When they got on scene, I was sure they would knock it off, but no, they got into it with the cops. Not a great way to end the year.
If you weren’t about to drive a bus right now, what would you be doing? I would be studying for my GREs, or eating in my car.
A special thanks to those interviewed at the Department of Transportation Services at The University of Connecticut.