The Thrill of the Ride

It was after 5:00 pm on Friday, and I was going home. It had been a busy week at my job where my duties are as varied as a Baskin-Robbins menu. I was ready to switch off my brain and take a dip in plain vanilla.

So there I was, at the Wheeler Station, waiting for my bus to whisk me away onto the HOV lane. I was already anticipating the crossword puzzle that would command my attention on the ride, while many of my fellow riders would indulge in cat naps or conversation.

Here it comes, the number 132, with the message "Hillcroft Transit Center" scrolled above the generous front window. As is my habit, I looked up into the window to look at the driver.  But my eyes didn't make it that far.

There on the front of the bus was a bike rack! Seeing the bike rack was like being given a clue in a game of 21 questions.  I knew that there must be more to this story. I quickly looked further at the vehicle and saw immediately that this was a brand spanking new, hybrid bus!

 I quickly boarded the bus and tapped my Q card across the reader and said to the driver, "Wow, you got one of the new ones!  How do you like it?"

"Oh, it's great. This bus practically drives itself", she replied. She was clearly pleased to be at the helm of this new addition to the METRO fleet. So far, 27 of the 40 new hybrids are in service. The plan is to replace current buses with new hybrid buses at the rate of about 100 each year.  

I headed down the wide aisle and surveyed the shiny metal and the brightly colored fabric on the seats. I felt excited, like a kid going for a ride at the amusement park. I sat down and looked out the window, feeling privileged to be there.

 As we pulled away from the station, I don't know if it was just my imagination, but it seemed like the other passengers were intrigued too.  I wouldn't presume to say that they were as excited as I was, but nonetheless, I think they appreciated the new and improved bus.

So what makes this bus special, other than that it's new and has a bike rack on the front of it?  And what's the big deal about hybrid technology anyway?  Since I work at METRO and ride the buses, I decided it might be interesting to find out.

What I learned is that a hybrid system combines a diesel engine with an electric motor. As a result, it can deliver up to 30 percent better fuel economy than a traditional bus. That can translate into a per bus savings of an estimated 3,600 gallons of fuel per year.

I also discovered that the hybrid technology produces much lower hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions.  Also, particulate emissions (tiny pieces of soot and dust) are lowered by 90 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions are lowered by 50 percent.

In addition to the fuel savings and emissions improvements, the hybrid bus is quieter than the traditional bus. But what I found most interesting is that hybrid technology is a regenerative braking system, which captures and stores energy while stopping the bus.

 How that translates into layman's language, is that every time you brake to a stop, you convert that braking energy into electricity and store it in the battery, so the next time you accelerate you can use that stored energy to accelerate the bus."   How cool is that!

Now when I ride a hybrid bus, I have a much better appreciation for it, other than just the pretty new fabric on the seats and the smooth ride. It's good to know something about how it works, and knowing that we are doing our part to use less fuel and create less pollution.

 Now, every time I ride the bus instead of driving my car, I feel proud to be doing my part to help our environment.  I can't wait for my next ride!