Behind the Wheel

Bus drivers discuss different aspects of their job

The sometimes-nameless faces that greet you with a smile and a warm hello, also are the listeners of daily conversations and viewers of embarrassing moments on weekend nights. Because of the significant presence they have in passengers' lives, the Harrisonburg Transit drivers play a symbiotic role in the lives of many JMU students.

For many of the bus drivers, their job entails driving the same route on a daily or weekly basis. Their work days start with checking the buses after the mechanics make their rounds, and then a schedule of driving the same route throughout the day.

"[A typical day for me would be] just a whole lot of circles," said full-time driver Roland Glover, who usually drives the Route 9 bus to the Stone Gate apartments.

Some students take the same buses on a daily or weekly basis and begin to recognize their usual drivers, but they may not know much about their transporters. For example, Glover is a two-time winner of the Virginia State Rodeo, a national competition for bus drivers. The competition consists of several obstacle courses involving cones, barrels and curbs, in which the drivers are judged on how well they maneuver through and park next to them, according to Glover.

After competing at the local level, Glover said he and three other drivers from Harrisonburg were sent to the state level, where he placed first for the second year in a row.

Much skill is acquired by veteran drivers, such as Glover, who has been with Harrisonburg Transit for about nine years and Glover, who has a long history of driving.

Roger Myers, part-time driver of the Shopper bus that takes passengers to various shopping centers around Harrisonburg,

Roger Myers, said the job is a new experience after retirement.

"I retired from banking after thirty years, and I needed something to do, and my brother-in-law recommended that I contact the city," Myers said. "So I did and got the training [to drive a Harrisonburg Transit bus]."

Myers and Glover both said they decided to stay local after both having lived in Harrisonburg for most of their lives.

Junior Paul Shettel, a part-time driver and full-time JMU student, said driving a bus for Harrisonburg Transit was not his first experience with bus driving.

"I actually worked last summer at a camp where I drove buses there and a friend there drove [Harrisonburg transit buses] and recommended it," Shettel said.

One common trait among these three drivers is that they, like many of the Harrisonburg Transit drivers, will go above and beyond the call of duty to provide even more convenience for the students.

Myers said many drivers will lengthen their routes to ensure that the students don't have to brave bad weather for long amounts of time. Some students have also noticed the drivers helping out the late arrivals at the bus stops.

"[The drivers] have been pretty good about spotting people who are late for their bus, and they'll wait for them," freshman Ben Nicholson said.

Even on the weekends, students have noticed that the drivers will wait if they are running late.

"There is one bus driver who has gone above and beyond the call of duty [for me]," sophomore Robin Schwartz said. She said that she really appreciates how driver, Shettel, has gone out of his way to help out passengers.

For many students, the transit bus services are greatly appreciated. The amount that students use the transit system varies from using it on a daily basis to a weekly basis to only on the weekends, but, either way, the buses at JMU make life on and off campus more convenient for students.

"[We try] to get students to class on time," Glover said. "There's a lot to [the job] as far as safety and always watching out for everybody."

The common response among students when asked about the bus services seems to be that they are reliable and convenient.

"If they say that they're going to be there at a certain time, then they're there," freshman Harry O'rell said. "I don't have to worry about the bus being late."

While many students are grateful to their services, some bus drivers note that more students should use them.

"I wish more [students] would ride the bus so there would be [fewer] cars," Glover said. "It seems like a lot of them are driving around looking for a parking space, and we are pretty much on time for them."

As many students do take the bus on a regular basis, the bus drivers are sure to hear a variety of conversations and witness many interesting moments during the bus ride. But JMU students should not worry, because the bus drivers seem unwilling to share what they have seen and heard. Instead, these accounts usually trigger nostalgic feelings for the drivers.

"What's interesting is listening [unintentionally, to] some of the conversations, and it's pretty amusing to think back to when I was that age," Myers said.

For the most part, it seems that the drivers hear about and view their share of situations involving JMU students, especially the weekend and late-night drivers.

"On the weekends, when a lot of people use the bus to get to parties, I've seen some interesting things," freshman Emily Ferrara said. "One time, on the way home from parties, the bus was pulled over by police officers, and everybody started freaking out."

Shettel actually prefers the weekend late night route over the weekday routes since, as he said, they are more interesting.

"Last time, when I went down Devon Lane, a guy jumped in front of me and almost got hit," Shettel said.

Besides the random, unsafe actions by some passengers, the weekend late-night bus usually is lighthearted.

"We'll have people sing songs or friends will make special announcements over the loud speaker about it being their friend's birthday," Shettel said.

Despite what incidents may occur on the bus, the Harrisonburg Transit drivers seem only to speak highly of JMU students.

"I'm very impressed [with the students]," Myers said. "Everybody has been courteous; I have never had anyone be rude. Some students don't say a lot, but I acknowledge everyone getting on and off [the bus]," he said.

The driving job even has offered a new perspective for student and driver Shettel.

"The weekend shifts made me realize how obnoxious some people can be, but [also] how much they have fun." Shettel said.

"It makes me see both sides because I've been there too. Being a student, I feel like I have more patience [with the students]."

For experienced driver Glover, driving a transit bus has been a positive experience on a fairly personal basis.

"I drive the Route 9 bus mostly all of the time, so you get to know all the kids, especially through the years, and [then] watch them graduate," Glover said.

It seems that the positive feelings are mutual with JMU students. For some, the drivers even are inspiring.

"I might want to be a bus driver someday," Nicholson said. "It looks really interesting."