Update, September 16, 2019:
This past May, beside submitting these unwelcome driver-distracting concerns, I submitted this (below) to the bus company and two social services agencies. Though I haven't noticed any results yet, it's possible that this is something that various managers handle discreetly. Every agency I submitted this to, at least replied to the message, acknowledging this is something that should be looked into, except for no reply forthcoming from the bus company. Skills Management claims that they can't really doing anything about events on the bus - it's "out of their jurisdiction."
Yet, when I witnessed an actual assault on the bus by one of the Skills workers upon another and tape-recorded this, they acted more concerned. Skills management later told me that the bus management (instead of thanking me) is most concerned about me filming on their buses!
It feels like someone is getting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" confused with "If you see something, say something." What if someone assaulted a member of their family? Would they not hope for the best evidence?
Delegating authority should not be equated with passing the buck and I keep feeling as if I'm getting lip-service over these various bus concerns, with limited actual change or improvements of the important issues.
JB
Original post: May, 02, 2019:
Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Benner Pike, State College
This past May, beside submitting these unwelcome driver-distracting concerns, I submitted this (below) to the bus company and two social services agencies. Though I haven't noticed any results yet, it's possible that this is something that various managers handle discreetly. Every agency I submitted this to, at least replied to the message, acknowledging this is something that should be looked into, except for no reply forthcoming from the bus company. Skills Management claims that they can't really doing anything about events on the bus - it's "out of their jurisdiction."
Yet, when I witnessed an actual assault on the bus by one of the Skills workers upon another and tape-recorded this, they acted more concerned. Skills management later told me that the bus management (instead of thanking me) is most concerned about me filming on their buses!
It feels like someone is getting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" confused with "If you see something, say something." What if someone assaulted a member of their family? Would they not hope for the best evidence?
Delegating authority should not be equated with passing the buck and I keep feeling as if I'm getting lip-service over these various bus concerns, with limited actual change or improvements of the important issues.
JB
Original post: May, 02, 2019:
Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Benner Pike, State College
Centre County Transportation, Milesburg,
Pennsylvania
To whom it may concern,
I have pressing concerns about unwholesome habits
being demonstrated by some Skills workers on our Centre County Transportation
work commuter bus. These have become so out of hand that they frequently distract
our dedicated bus drivers.
As a Skills Program worker over the past
year, I’m grateful for the training I’m paid for, as well as the supplementary
bus rides between my residence and work. This has made a big difference and
improvement in my life.
And I like to think I can carry these precious
skills onward and upward to other aspects of my life. I believe positive
attitudes and outlooks can overlap, influence and rub off onto fellow colleagues;
therefore it strikes me as disheartening when I experience negative ones as
manifested in the following scenario which repeats itself so much that it’s become
predictable:
First, the bus driver travels over a bump and
somebody sitting in the back shouts over our whole group that he’s going to
kill, strangle, beat, or otherwise disfigure the driver if they don’t slow down
more. Then, others chime in angrily, saying it can’t be helped and that they
will then kill or maim the complainer someway. Everything heats up more, as
riders commence shooting personal insults to each other from several angles.
Often this unhealthy banter gets recharged over the next bump and continues
boisterously for the full bus ride or at least until involved passengers
depart. Not only that, but there are other standard protocols of politeness
that some Skills workers disregard daily, such as leaving the aisle seat open
and properly securing their safety belts, even after the driver asks for this.
On the bright day I learned of my bus riding
approval I received a memo which included the guideline: “Passengers must
conduct themselves in
an orderly and polite manner when riding in county vehicles.” Presumably, the other
riders and / or guardians received the same memo.
I feel that if I say nothing about this unacceptable
societal failure, then it follows I’m giving my sanction that it’s okay. The
last straw occurred recently at lunch one day when a Skills staff manager made
a similar comment in jest about killing someone. This was in response to a
minor question from a co-worker when Ms. ____ __ answered “I’d tell you, but
then I’d have to kill you!” An old worn
out joke for sure, but not one that everyone at Skills comprehends. Half-shocked
to hear this myself, I sensed the surprise and confusion coming from the young
woman who asked the question, and then soon left (to cry?) And certainly a grievous
trigger point for others who have lost loved ones to violence. Indeed, our
widespread TSA agents arrest and interrogate glib travelers for lesser offhand
‘jokes.’ about violent acts.
If integrating Skills workers into the community is
still part of Skills mission, as I’m told it is, then I would like to point out
another pertinent observation: In my vast experience of finding respectable
employment over the past forty-five years the majority of the better jobs I’ve
discovered came through personal contact or via word of mouth. Many workers I’ve
met have experienced this same serendipity. Even now, it’s likely that someone
on the bus or even the driver is or knows of homeowners or businesses looking
for decent help with various chores, e.g.: gardening, grass cutting, dog-walking,
gutter cleaning, cooking, leaf raking, trash- recycle sorting, garage sweeping,
knitting, vacuuming, sewing, fruit-picking, stable cleaning, fetching tools,
folding tarps, painting, snow-shoveling, furniture rearranging, brush removal, etc. The odd job list is long...
But if potential employers sometimes we encounter on the buses experience
a constant sea of Skills disharmony; seeing perpetually rude and disorderly
behaviors, this impression immediately dissuades those prospective employers
and that bad imprint gets shared with others.
I have faith in my work colleagues that several of
them will see the light right away when this is explained by someone with the
proper timing and authority. Other good news is that at least one bus driver
has already vowed to keep the bus atmosphere ship-shape, and starting by
requiring window seat placement for those first on, when additional riders are
expected.
Posting a sign on the bus could help remind riders
that bus privileges come along with the responsibility of respecting other
commuters.
At Skills we have occasional days off when no work
is scheduled, and here we help with volunteer projects instead. Why not
consider a few hours of one of those days for training or a refresher course
about courteousness, even if it’s just done in small groups? Tacking on a small
challenge for Skills workers to use to their imaginations to say something
complimentary about each other would be a nice start.
I’m impressed by the safety standards our
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania uses in other important niches now, such as
automatically cancelling registrations when drivers insurances lapse, and
implementing brief back road closures for migrating turtle egg-layers. Bus
services themselves may have already set aside funds for safety programs which
dissuade driver distraction, and if so, may offer to go in half when approached with an idea for a brief annual refresher meeting or class to remind riders of
their respectful responsibilities. Such a gesture could go a long way in
helping mend these inappropriate and outlandish driver-distracting behavioral
patterns.
Thank you,
JB
c.c. Centre County Transportation
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, safety
division.
