LTU bus operators stay ready for the wind as gusts pick up in Lincoln
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The force of Thursday’s wind gusts caused many indoor walls to rumble across Lincoln
Early in the day, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities warned riders of possible delays with bus service due to the strong winds.
Dave Rickman has been a bus operator with LTU for several years and says his favorite part of his job is interacting with passengers.
He says that communication is key on windy days and after starting his shift with a thorough inspection of the bus, he says it’s easy to give his riders assurance that they are safe.
“We make sure everything is tied down, nothing is loose and nothing will fly around, and then we communicate that to our passengers,” Rickman said.
“We tell them, ‘The weather forecast is for high winds and we’re going to ensure that their safety is number one with us,'” he said.
Additional parts of that exam include making sure the coolant is topped off, the brakes are working correctly, and the mirrors and windows are clean while on the road.
“I mean you have to be particularly careful, give more room around other vehicles, drive slower, anticipate things that you can’t anticipate, things blowing into the road, ahead of you,” Rickman said.
He adds that a crucial resource while on the road is being able to stay connected to their dispatch office.
Some of the messages operators receive from dispatch throughout the day help them stay informed.
Bus operations superintendent CJ Jenkins III agrees with Rickman that communication is key.
“Attention all bus operators, just a friendly reminder, it looks like the wind is still picking up about 10 to 20 mph again, like I said earlier, just keep your eyes peeled for any debris,” he dispatched to the operators on staff.
“It’s really important that we have a collective team of communication and we work together; that makes everything else easy,” he said.
LTU says that if wind gusts are too intense, their operators are aware to pull over, but that is rare.
