Watch Jeanne Ryan Drive A 40-Foot DTA Bus At The “Your Turn to Drive” Event
Since the day I arrived in Duluth many years ago I distinctly remember looking up at Lake Avenue going how do people drive up that steep hill? And of course, it was winter when I moved here and my car was stickshift so all those factors shot down my confidence pretty quickly. Then I saw a DTA bus take a hairpin turn and scoot up that hill like a champ and I thought wow, that is some mad driving skills.
I still think that to this day and have always said to myself I could never drive something that big. Well, last Friday I had my chance along with other members of the public. It was called the "Your Turn to Drive Event." This was a great way for the general public to have a chance to get behind the wheel and try it and also maybe entice a person or two to want to do that job full-time.
For some reason, I was not nervous at all which I don't know why, maybe the instructor made me feel at ease. Once I got myself settled in the seat I felt like I was in the cockpit of a plane with all the different buttons and dials. First thing was to check my mirrors as you would with any vehicle, then I got a quick instruction on turn signals which are actually big buttons on the floor that you have to press down the entire time into your turn.
Then of course gas and brake. Interestingly enough I actually did not use the accelerator the whole time, I literally rode the brake from start to finish. I must say I did pretty well I did not run over any cones or hit the brakes too hard, I did miss a turn because I was not clear on my instructions, but no biggie. The DTA staff were so kind and patient they made it a breeze.
Now I am not saying driving a bus is easy by any means, not at all. I was on a closed course with an instructor, not taking a hairpin turn with cars all around me. So again hats off to all those DTA drivers out there, it is a tough job and many people rely on you to get around every single day. So Thank You for all you do!