Comment on Olympic bus drivers

["Ian" <matakana@hotmail.com (remove)>]

Mmmm.....Interesting to read discussion about buses on this rail newsgroup.

I can tell from reading that the contributors are gaining their info from
the media, nothing first hand.

It is very easy to take a cheap shot and blame bus drivers. In reality there
are many more involved in the organisation and running of all the transport
system.

I'm surprised that it's taken so long for the bus drivers to protest. I mean
many are along way from the comforts of home and have been treated fairly
poorly.
Certainly no 5 star treatment !

 Place yourself in their position, would you be happy to share a
multiple-share room for a few weeks with strangers ? Sleep in beds that are
designed for kids ?
Two showers for 20 people to use. Eat meals that are designed around a "cost
per meal" concept ? Find out at 02:30am that your next shift starts at
06:30am ? That if your shift does start at 12:30pm the only available
transport from your accomodation leaves at 06:30am ?
To have been "trained (???)" by trainers that don't know the city well.
There is a huge difference between driving around Sydney in a car and
driving around it in a bus. And if you aren't working on the roads all the
time, there is so much you can not know. Let alone teach others, people
totally unfamiliar with this city.

In theory, a fairly good training package was designed but in practical
terms it was "light on".

For the drivers who have taken the challenge to be available for Olympic
work, especially those from out of town, and out of state, my hat goes off
to you.

For hanging in there and doing your best, when the system in place has so
many flaws.

Best of luck, you deserve better than to be treated like dogs.

Ian.