 | The Cavalier daily Thursday, May 17, 1973 |  |
Starting Disastrously
By BOB MAHONEY
Running into a telephone pole on a road test could be the
start of a disastrous career in driving, but that's exactly what
happened to University bus driver Mike Guthrie. A disastrous
start, that is, not a disastrous career.
Mike is more amused than embarrassed when recalling the
episode. "The Bureau of Motor Vehicles tester told me to
make a sharp turn," he explained, "and I just made it a little
too sharp. With the accident I didn't have to wait for the
results which I already knew - the man testing me gave me
back the permit and said 'I guess you can hold onto this for a
while longer'."
In any other situation the last statement would have been
funny, but failing the test meant the waste of an entire week.
Like the other student drivers, Mike had reported to school a
week early in August to learn to operate the buses. The
prospect of selling bus passes or working on maintenance
would be a painful reminder that he had failed.
Needless to say, Mike was able to pass the second test and
was finally out on the road within four weeks earning the
standard $2.06 an hour paid student drivers. Mike puts in 15
hours per week and has navigated the 16 minute route without
mishap. Perhaps the only drawback to the job is the hours he
must work: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. five days a week. Admittedly not
wild about driving in that particular time slot, Mike
nevertheless sees advantages to it.
"For one thing, it is not too tough an adjustment getting
up that early after a while. The rest of the day is taken up with
classes and other things I want to do, so work never interferes.
"But I've also found that people who ride the buses are
really great. Mostly hospital employees and student nurses, the
early morning riders and myself have some good conversations
and make the best of the hours we work. Sure, even the nicest
person getting up that early has a bad day, but it's very rare
with them. The people I drive for make the job easy."
And they've made taking that second test worth it.
| The Cavalier daily Thursday, May 17, 1973 | |