4 ms·
Without major cultural shifts, you still need someone on the bus to prevent them from becoming moving dumpsters. The driving itself would be much easier, as you
by MostlyStable 1y ago
Without major cultural shifts, you still need someone on the bus to prevent them from becoming moving dumpsters. The driving itself would be much easier, as you point out. That's not the only thing that a driver does.
- 999900000999 1y agoYou could have a guy making minimum wage sit in the back and tell people not to act stupid. That would be much cheaper than a union bus driver who can clear 100k. Safer too since bus drivers often go tons of overtime which isn't great for being alert.
- rangestransform 1y agoVery optimistic for you to believe that politically entrenched unions in major US cities will allow this
- triceratops 1y agoBuyouts for the affected bus drivers.
- toomuchtodo 1y agoFor historical reference, this is how longshoremen/dockworkers were compensated when shipping containers increased efficiency. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30856522 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30856522 (citations)
- LaffertyDev 1y agoThat was a very fun sub thread to read, both for the on-topic and off-topic discussion. Thanks for sharing.
- Karrot_Kream 1y agoIn the Bay a police officer staffed on a rapid bus line in 2022 needed ~ $250k benefits included. It won't be that cheap
- 999900000999 1y agoIn LA you have contracted security guards who often just walk around the metro without the same authority of an actual LEO. That's typically enough to stop most weird behavior like throwing trash on the ground.
- Karrot_Kream 1y agoAre they a lot cheaper than actual LEOs? I presumed that going rates would be similar. And I guess the "spicier" question is, are they cheaper than a bus operator?
- 999900000999 1y agohttps://www.theladders.com/job-listing/-72867907153225138/unarmed-metro-transit-security-professional.htm https://www.theladders.com/job-listing/-72867907153225138/un... This isn't exactly a direct source, but it's listing the hourly pay at 25.26$. You wouldn't even need them to ride every single bus, just enough to deter weird behavior. Even if hypothetically they cost as much as a real bus driver, this would be much safer. A bus driver doing overtime and possibly texting people isn't too hard to beat.
- asdff 1y agoLA metro has a stage below them called "ambassadors" who walk around with ipads, presumably to help people navigate the system and also call for maintenance or security should there be a need. From what I can gleam they are paid $25/hr.
- Karrot_Kream 1y agoFrom what I know of LA metro, most people ignore the ambassadors.
- squigz 1y agoI feel like a kid making minimum wage sitting at the back of the bus won't command much authority, or be willing to do much more than literally just tell people not to act stupid.
- lisbbb 1y agoThe "driver" could become more armed security and janitor.