Carlos' C.I.T.E. Blog

NYC DOT on street pay to park.

carloscite — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:07:33 +0000

Well fellow drivers they finally did it, the city has installed on street pay to park Muni Meters, at a couple of tradional previously free parking spots. check the NYC DOT web site. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/charterbus.shtml
I have also seen a few additions to the list of on street free tour or charter bus parking spaces, south side of 38th st. between 11th ave. and 10th ave.

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Driver’s and old Friend’s

carloscite — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 02:30:20 +0000

I have been doing this job for a very long time (28 yr’s)and yes there are guy’s and gal’s that have been doing it for just as if not longer than I have. I hate to say it but I am getting old or older (56 soon 57 yrs old) in the beginning of my senior years. We have seen a lot of Changes over the years, like this who would have thought that we would be using a computer smart phone or GPS to communicate with each other. Do you remember when we used to carry that big atlas(I still do sometimes) and lots of maps of the places we where going to. How about the C.B. radio that’s how we talked to each other while we where traveling down the highway, or around town. Hell we didn’t even know each other’s real name we just knew each other by Our C.B. Handle Mine was “slowpoke”. Then came the cell phone, and direct connect cell phones our company uses them now, they are very useful. But we cannot communicate with driver’s other than our own, unless you have there direct connect number. I think that part of the reason for me developing this blog and website to come is to get driver’s to communicate with each other. I believe that if driver’s share their e-mail and information we can help each other out when we travel to an unfamiliar area.

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Speed and Saving Fuel.

carloscite — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:36:59 +0000

I am wondering if you fellow driver’s agree with me or am I the only one that thinks this Idea of governing the coach to only go a maximum of let’s say 68 miles an hour like the company that I work for does. I was just talking to a drive from Virginia and he said that his company set’s their’s at 65 mile’s an hour. I have been watching my fuel use because at my company driver’s fuel the coach after their done with it so I see how much that I use after each trip and I see no reduction in fuel consumption it still get’s about 6 mile’s a gallon. the only thing that reducing speed does is in some cases it makes it hard to enter traffic on Interstate Highways that are 65mph or higher also if you are only going 65 or 68 you are probably the slowest vehicle on the road and interfering with the flow of traffic. Probably pissing off some trucker’s that just want to get on down the road. I think that lowering the speed is Ok in some instances were the speed is 55 mph but when the speed goes to 65 mph and 7o mph or higher you need to adjust the limit of the coach speed. Now another attempt to save fuel is to have the coaches turn them selves off automatically after ten minutes or more. I guess this is somewhat of a good idea sence the maximum idea time in the USA is 5 minutes or less some places it is three minutes. But drivers still try to run the coach just by restarting it and restarting it as many as time as it takes to get it warmed up in the winter or cool it off in the hot summer. I hear more and more driver’s say that their company is doing the same. There is a couple of flaws with this, because if you are unloading or loading some senior citizen’s they are very slow and if you kneel the coach inevitably it will shut off while you are still trying to get them on or off and the coach will rise up and now the step is to high again. the other fault with idea is that if you are using a wheel chair lift you may find your self in the middle of the process and the coach shut’s off and the person is suspended in mid-air and now you have to get to the driver’s seat and restart the coach. Oh yea when i told the office and shop they said the it wasn’t possible it was supposed to have a overide but it didn’t so check it out good luck.

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Return to Washington D.C. 2010 season

carloscite — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:35:20 +0000

Winter is over and the spring charter season begins, although the winter season for me was pretty good. I made my first trip to Wash. D.C. on March 25,26,27th. Much to my surprise it was very busy with busses from all over the country. Parking and short term layover was the usual pain in the neck. Every space that was legal and not was full. To add to that the area that had parking some what near the FDR Memorial was under construction so the road that leads to the memorial was closed and looks as though it will be closed for quite some time certainly the rest of this year. Because of this closer the drop off and pick up is on Ohio Drive near the Memorial. Now also because of this closer buses that used to layover near that memorial are now parking on Ohio drive, on the east side. I f you park on the west side which is hard to do unless you get lucky enough to find a space during the day is ok and you should not get a ticket the sign’s say three-hour limit I may be wrong about the times. I sent a letter to the Mayor of Wash. Dc. Mr Fenty, about our situation regarding parking and charter bus regulations. To my surprise I received a response it may be a form letter, but receiving a letter at all means that they acknowledge that we have a problem. I you read my links list on this blog site and tried it you reached an error message saying it no longer exists. I have updated it and you should be able to visit the proper site good luck. I really hope that drivers will respond to this so that all can benefit from our knowledge and expertise. Here is the response that I received: Dear Mr. Carlos X. DeJesus:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me about motor coach parking in the District of Columbia. My administration understands that parking in the District has been increasingly difficult. The purpose of this is to increase security while protecting the District’s residents and guests. I have worked closely with the District’s Department of Transportation to provide detailed information on where motor coach drivers can park. You can access this information at the following Web site:

http://ddot.washingtondc.gov/ddot/cwp

If you have additional questions please call the District Department of Transportation at (202) 671-0682.

Sincerely,

Adrian M. Fenty
Mayor

Unfortunately the Web site that they put here is the wrong one please visit my links and you should get the correct one.

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Traffic Light’s and Camera’s

carloscite — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:20:05 +0000

I found this one the other day because I was thinking about it when I was driving in NYC. there are other’s I am sure and I am sure that we can find more but check it out, http://www.photoenforced.com/. With more of these popping up where ever we travel I think that we should keep our eye’s open more. Guy’s google red light camera’s and you will come up with a lot of cool stuff about the subject also speed camera’s. also on a related note (camera’s) a lot of companies are now installing Drive Cam’s If you are not familiar with them, they are mounted on the windshield and record any thing that occurs’ because of a sudden stop, jerk or bump of the vehicle it can also be activated manually. I have found them to be very usefull, although I have heard many driver’s don’t trust them you know that bug brother is watching thing. Like I say if you are not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about.

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Continuing the Drive Around NYC

carloscite — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:55:23 +0000

Ok I left you arriving from the North, now I will add a little more from the north-east as if you are coming from New England. Most of you know how to get to the greater NYC area from your city of origin. But when you get close, that could be tricky. Coming down to NYC for places in Queens and the western end of Long Island. From I95 south I would use the exit for the Whitestone Bridge and continue to Long Island then You must follow the signs for the Van Wyck Expressway this will take you to the Long Island expressway and the boro of Queens and if you go west on it this will take you into the Queens Midtown tunnel that will put you into Manhattan around 34th street to 37th street and 3rd ave. or 2nd ave. From the Whitestone Bridge will also take you to Citi Field Baseball stadium home of the Mets. It will also be a good way to get to the Laguardia Airport. and if you continue all the way to the Southern end of the Van Wyck this would bring you to the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Ok now if you want to get to the northern end of Manhattan I would continue on I95 south to the exit for the Bruckner Expressway RT I287 to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (formally known as the Tri-Borough Bridge ). From there you can get to Manhattan at 125th Street and 2nd. Ave. in Harlem N.Y. If you go south on 2nd Ave it will take you to the east side of Manhattan all the way down to Lower Manhattan. If you take 125th street west it will take you all the way to the west side of Manhattan from there you could go south on Broadway all the way south to the lowest tip of Manhattan (Battery Park the entrance to Liberty Island/Ellis Island) and all the Attractions in that area. Of course there are other access points to Manhattan from the north and north-east, ther are numerous other bridges that are available to coaches, such as Third Ave Bridge,McCombs Dam Bridge,also the Washington Bridge do not confuse this with the Big Bridge G.W.Bridge. This is the bridge that you see when you approach the G.W. on the north you get to it by exiting the I95 south for rt 87 north or south stay to the left once you get off the ramp and continue cross to Manhattan this will take you to the Cloister’s a branch of the Metropolitan of Art just north of 181st street ( the street that you enter from the Washington Bridge) go north on Fort Washington Ave to the end and follow the signs for the Cloister’s. Also from the Washington Bridge you can get to Amsterdam ave this will take you south to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. (there is legal on street parking here). There is also the mid-town crossing called the QueensBoro Bridge ( the 59th street bridge ) but this a tough bridge to get to most of the time, it will not save you any time, unless you have to get to somewhere in the immediate area to the bridge. Ok now that i have told you how to enter NYC from the South, West, North Northeast, let talk a little about the lower east side of Manhattan lets start from the southern most tip of the Island Of mManhattan enter from the Brooklyn Battery tunnel just off the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. this will take you directly onto the street that leads to the world trade center area, it will also put onto the west side Highway which you can go north or south which will take you to Battery Park and around to the south Street Seaport. Next access is the Manhattan Bridge (DO NOT TAKE the BROOKLYN BRIDGE), this will take you into the Island onto Canal Street this is a broad street that goes west to the Holland Tunnel oh by the way this Tunnel is not supposed to be used by coach’s. Canal street bring’s you to Little Italy and the Chinese district. If you go left off the Bridge onto a street called the Bowery it will bring you to the south street seaport area its a little tricky but you can do it. Continue on Canal street west you will come to Broadway turn left and this will bring you to Wall street and an area called SO-HO (area South-of- Houston Street). Just north of Canal street via 6th ave You come to an area known as Greenwich Village. The Ast crossing in Lower Manhattan is the Williamsburg Bridge, this will bring you onto Delancey Street, it is an ok crossing but it does not save much time and usually very busy. it to will put near lower Manhattan and Third ave. going north it is a good alternative. I hope that all this information will be helpful to everyone I know it is a lot to take in so please feel free to e-mail me and I will do my best to give a hand getting around the great City of New York.

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Driving Arround NYC.

carloscite — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:35:24 +0000

Ok Now that I gave you some Ideas of places I like to go to , I know that getting to them is tough. So I am going to try and give you a few pointers on how to get around. First there are some things that you need to know about the NYC Metro area. Like in some areas of the country there are certain roads that most commercial roads such as PARKWAYS that you are not allowed, NYC area is no different but we the city has numerous old street that are called Parkways that are just that streets and although you can drive on the without any restriction and there are actual PARKWAYS that just that Highways (Grand Central Parkway)that is on Long Island in the borough of queens. Yes I would be great if you could use it would save you time but there are some low over passes and it is posted No Commercial Traffic. That is probably the most important thing about traveling around any place you go whether in NYC or any City. So lets start sence there are lots of options to come into the NYC Metro area especially from the North, West or South, coming into NYC from the east is also difficult but lets tackle the out of towners first.

A good rule to follow is do not use a GPS to get around NYC it will almost always send you a way you don’t want to go or should not go. Getting around NYC varies from day-to-day and from day to-night. It is also different going some where on the weekday or the weekend. Now I know some times the shortest route should be the fastest but not always. Some times when I am returning home to Long Island from the west or south, if it is late enough in the day and the weekend (Saturday or Sunday) I will travel though the Lincoln Tunnel into New york City after exiting the tunnel I turn right and follow the signs for 36th street east and take that to the entrance of the Queens Mid town Tunnel enter the tunnel and continue to the beginning of the Long Island Expressway rt. 495 east from there I can access any major Highway to where I want to go. That being said, this is the short route and most of the time it works Oh yea you should also listen to local traffic channels such as 77/88/1010 on any am radio or if you have access to Sirius/XM radio choose channel 211. to see If there is any problems that would prevent you from going this way. So if I am not going to use the Lincoln tunnel my next choice will be the George Washington Bridge , follow the New Jersey Turnpike north to the end and follow signs to the bridge cross the bridge and follow signs for rt 95 north/Cross Bronx Expressway this will take you to a number of places. Long Island, New England,Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, The Bronx Zoo or Botanical Gardens. It’s just a start. Now let me get Back to returning to long island from the South If it is late enough at night, if I am coming off the Garden State Parkway ( yes you can take this Parkway coming from Atlantic City or the Jersey Shore)I will Use the Outerbridge crossing to Staten Island and follow the signs for the Verrazano Bridge to Brooklyn and the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway to the Long Island Expressway. If the Outerbridge is congested with traffic You can continue to the Goethals Bridge from the N.J. turnpike and this will bring you to Staten Island also and to the Verrazzano Bridge, but I would only use these last two ways if the other ways are not good at all or I have to go to Brooklyn and it is late enough to miss rush hour traffic. again listen to the local traffic stations.and make your decision.

Now the northern/and north-western approach, coming lets say from the Albany Area the New York State Thruway you have several choices. continue south On Rt. I87 Nw York state Thruway, at this point You can take this Highway all the way to the end and get onto the Cross Bronx Expressway east to Long Island. Via the Throgs Neck bridge or the Whitestone Bridge. going this way will take you over the Tappan Zee Bridge which cross over the Hudson River at this point you can continue south to the end or after the Tappan Zee you could follow the signs for the Cross Westchester Expressway to Rt. I95 , this rt. is a little bit longer but it could be a time saver. When you get to I95 take it south to the Throgs Neck or Whitestone Bridges and this will take you to Long Island. Ok a little about the Throgs Neck and the Whitestone Bridges If I want to go to eastern Long Island I take the Throgs Neck, If I want to go to Queens, Brooklyn and or the South Side of Long Island I use the Whitestone. Ok let’s go back to the Thruway South if it is late enough in the afternoon or night and almost always during the weekend. I get off the Thruway at exit 15 for New Jersey Route 17 South take rt 17 so. about 18 miles to Rt. 4 east to the George Washington Bridge and continue as I if you would from the Jersey Turnpike. These are the basics of course again listen to your local stations before you make your decision if you can. next I will touch on some other approaches, Good Luck for now of course e-mail me If you have any questions.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Cross Bronx Expressway, Garden State Parkway, George Washington Bridge, Grand Central Parkway, I95, New Jesey Turnpike, New York State Thruway, Throgs Neck Bridge, Whitestone Bridge

Ten best places I like to visit in New York city .

carloscite — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:59:03 +0000

1. New York city N.Y. For me this is the best, of course it also depends on the time of year. I think any driver will tell you that NYC during the Christmas season is not easy. But it is an important part of the year because it gives you a boost to your final yearly totals,$$$$$$$$$ get it.

No the rest of the year my favorite places in NYC are the Metropolitan Museum of Art @ 5th Ave. and 83rd-89th streets. of course it depends if you can get any one of the 4 parking spots that are set aside near the corner of 5th ave. and 89th street you won’t get a ticket here and during the summer the scenery is great. Your passenger can unload and return with out having to hunt you down.

Droping off at any other museum is not as easy but if you have to, you can do it fairly easy and then proceed to a city assigned on the street parking location check your NYC charter bus Parking Regulations and Maps. going to the South street Seaport in lower Manhattan used to be a good place to go but over the years it has had its problems. They have a great drop/off spot on south street near the old Fulton fish market used to be. They used to have their own parking for the seaport only but, one of the problems that the charter bus drivers have in NYC is the construction and the commuter coaches who utilise these spots for there all day parking not even bring in tourists just every day people who work in the area. they arrive very early and use the spaces that are supposed to be for charter buses and the city or the seaport do nothing about it . so the out of Towner is forced to ride arround looking for spaces that are not their and wind up getting a ticket and wasting fuel. Oh yea there is the other problem is dealing with the local oriental bus companies that use the other local on street charter bus parking spots as there 24/7- 365 parking garage and layover and repair parking spots. So if you are lucky enough to get one of these spots it is a great place to walk around and see the seaport and the history of lower Manhattan.

Another place I like to go in Manhattan is the west side of NYC near 42nd street and 12th ave. This area is home to the Air Craft Carrier Intrepid along with other US Navy ships . it is also where the Cruise Ship dock to load and unload passengers. As like the south street area there is on street parking but the same problems occur with the daily commuter coaches if you are not their early enough you won’t get a spot . But if you are lucky enough to get a spot to park congratulations . and take a walk around the area you are only blocks away from Time Square and other interesting places in the midtown area.

Of course going to the Bronx Zoo is a must for visitors to NYC, along with the Bronx Botanical Gardens in the same area of the Bronx both places have their own parking lots or places. and you can usually stay with the coach or go for a walk around the neighbor hood, Little Italy is just near by at Arthur Avenue within walking distance.

If you are a sports fan the new Yankee stadium is great but their parking lot is a few blocks from the stadium and you have no choice but to park there during a game and the cost is about $42.00 On the other hand the new Citi Field for the New York Mets is a better place to go to see a game the parking is just a short walk to the stadium and the cost is about the same, it has new and easy access to the highway for arrival and departure. Oh yea I almost forgot those other New York Teams the NY Jets and NY Giants,Well they are not exactly in New York but are in the area and are our teams. They are actually in New Jersey just off the New Jersey Turnpike exit 16 in what is called the meadowlands area in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

For you New York Hocky,Basket Ball and events in the city there is Madison Square Garden. in the heart of midtown Manhattan at 7th ave. and between 33rd street and 31st street the drop off area is on the 7th ave side although there is no official spot designated by the city this is the place most drivers use. as a pick up location. also the cops will let you stay only as long as the game is getting out, you can’t stay during the event. so use one of the city assigned areas if you can, they are usually easier to find during the night.

As far as Brooklyn goes the places iI like are the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Located of eastern Parkway just south of the Grand Army Plaza near prospect park. they have very limited parking for coaches but they can show how to get to Flatbush ave on the western side of the Gardens you can park there and leave the coach if you want to walk arround to the Garden and if you are a history buff like me you can go to the Brooklyn Public Library its a great place to go. If you didn’t bring something to eat you can get something at the Library or the Gardens or even walk up Flatbush ave. a few blocks and find a deli or something to eat. as long as you have plenty of time.

Going to Coney Island in Brooklyn area is also a favorite place of mine.if you go to the aquarium, they have very limited parking spaces for coaches why they do what they do for parking is crazy they have a wierd system. so you can park on the street near by and when it is time to leave just come back and pull into the lot and pickup your passengers. Oh yea while you are parked safely and you feel like going for a walk you can go to the original Nathans Hot Dog stand and get lunch or just a snack. the old Coney Island amusement park is next door to the Aquarium and of course weather permitting take a walk on the boardwalk.

Well now that I have given you some great places to go I know getting there is the hard part and it is not easy most of the time even for a seasoned driver like me. first you must watch out for the places commercial vehicles can not go such as the Parkways, well in most cases they are for cars only and not for trucks and busses. but there a some that you have to travel on and are fine for busses but have the restrictions for residential reasons. and you must use a portion of them to access some of the places that i have mentioned. There are so many variables to getting to these and other locations in the metropolitan area that it would be difficult to describe them all to you so please feel free to e-mail me and I will do my best to help you out . Well I do not know if that was really ten places but you got the idea there is lots of other places to see in The Big Apple, I have only touched on a few Major places and areas. Good Luck

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: bus parking, nyc dot parking, Parking, pick-up

Super Bowl Trip

carloscite — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:47:14 +0000

Here I am in Florida the boss asked me if I wanted to do a trip to Florida, well I said yes even before I knew what it was I figured what the heck I am going to warmer weather. I also figured this is going to be a big event and there would be lots of buses there, and I would get to hand out a lot of our new cards to a whole other world of drivers from florida and the surrounding area. I need to reach out to drivers from all over the country to really get this idea up and running. to all you driver’s that I reached and talked to thanks for looking and I hope you add some things, stories, messages, idea’s, information and anything that relates to our bus driver’s world. As far as the trip goes It we dead headed down her from NY taking two day’s and working two day’s then heading back dead heading home what a great job I got paid good and got to spend some time with my son’s who live in ‘Florida. now the work sorry football fans but to me and it seems to the other driver’s it just a job. we bring them their then we take them back to where ever hope fully the passengers behave themselves and we get a nice gratuity. right guy’s you know what I am talking about. Its amazing that the bus driver’s world is basically the same no matter what state your from, we have the same stories to share just the names and faces have been changed to protect the innocent just kidding, over the years that I have been doing this job thing change but they stay the same. some new facees and some old ones and some rookies that think that they know everything right guy’s even as long as I have been doing this I am still learning, epecially when you start to travel to other states, thats what I hope this new cite will help us all to do. So please join in and tell your fellow driver’s about it and please feelfree to add your comment’s I am sure that as the cite grows it will be helpfull to even the seasoned drive.

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Happy Holidays & New Years Resolutions

carloscite — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:00:13 +0000

First and foremost Happy holidays everyone. This is a busy time of the year for everyone and I know we are all going a million miles an hour with countless things to get done so I want to take time out to talk about a few things. Carlos is on vacation right now in Florida until the New Years but I am sure if you have seen him lately he has been busy passing out the new business cards for the site he loves and wants to expand greatly. Check out the site and tell your friends so we can get your reactions and comments on it all. We want to know what you want more of and what would benefit the drivers more so that we can make your trips better and more productive. With all that being said the next step is going to be a large update to the site. New Layout. New Sections. New drivers with blogs on their views. This is our New Years Resolution for the site and hope to have start rolling by the end of January. Have a great holiday season and see you all in the new year !!!!!

Xavier C. DeJesus

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: florida, Happy holidays, new years resolution, xavier c. dejesus

Long time coming… long drive to Florida too

carloscite — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:56:30 +0000

     Well I have finely did it, I decided to do a trip to Florida for the company. The company runs a schedule trip to Florida, on its east and west coast. We start these trips in late September and continue until January, there is only one trip in February. The company that I work for is based on Long Island so people going south for the winter as early as the fall season. Oh, I forgot to mention that as part of our Florida service for the passengers we also transport their cars, so they will have them when they arrive at their destination. It is a great service for people especially the elderly, the majority of our passenger list. The bulk of the passengers are going south in the fall but we do get a few returning to the north on the trip back. The cycle is obviously reversed in the spring going north and just a few are going south. Now I will address the driver aspect of these trips.
     Here is how it works for us drivers. The company uses two drivers and an attendant per bus. The drivers take turns driving and rotate every two and a half to three and a half hours (It also depends on traffic, weather, and other variables). The attendants responsibility is to take care of the passenger needs doing several things like play video’s, distribute beverages, and collect their trash as we travel down the highway.
     The overall trip to the east coast of Florida is approximately 1,400 miles and the west coast is approximately 1350 miles. This a two day trip with a layover in Fayetteville, N.C., either direction north or south. The day starts early 4:30 AM in Southampton, N.Y. with the checking in of passengers, luggage, and their cars, if they have one. When we arrive at the hotel in Fayetteville, N.C. we unload only the overnight bags and have dinner. We start the next day early 7:00AM and continue on our trip. When we arrive at the destination on the east or west coast trip we locate their cars, unload luggage and call it a night.
We need to fuel in each direction so it is done in Kingsland, G.A. at the Petro station truck stop. On the fall trips whether it is the east or west coast trip we get a layover day off before returning north. The spring trips also start early in the morning at 4:30 AM but this time trip usually are empty when traveling south. The difference between the fall and spring season trips is the the amount of work. On the spring trips there is very little time off during your layover day because the drivers need to check-in passenger vehicles. On the original fall trip leaving Long Island this work is done by office employees at the terminal but in Florida the drivers have to complete the checklist.
     The entire trip sounds like a lot but it’s really not. The toughest part is the first and second day on the fall trips. It reverses to the third and fourth day when people are returning north in the spring.
     The the only real discussion about the trip is the pay scale. Is it enough? I have a feeling that this will be discussed and argued for a long time.

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: fall season, Fayetteville, florida, georgia, kingsland, long island, north carolina, passengers, spring season, winter season

GPS – good possible solution? I am starting to agree!

carloscite — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:57:28 +0000

Well drivers I have taken the plunge… and got a new cell phone and it has GPS plus a whole lot more that I certainly recommend. It sure does make life easier. It is the new HTC-HERO from Sprint, boy I don’t know how I used to do all I did without it. Just kidding but I will say that these new cell phones are very helpful once you’ve conquered them and use them properly. Do not use the GPS while driving well at least not until you are completely use to it. Try it first when there are no passengers on the coach. Boy oh boy technology has come a long way and has it’s spot in the work place not only for the coach business but every job. Now with Google maps on this phone I no longer have to carry numerous bulky maps with me. Truth be told I will keep a couple with me because I am an old school guy and still need the paper one’s for reassurance. Remember that most GPS systems are designed for the average consumer that is driving a car or suv not a full size motor coach and they will send you on a route that may have restriction of height and weight or just that no commercial vehicles are allowed. I am sure that some GPS systems are now made for larger vehicles so make sure that yours is and also do your home work before you do your trip just to be safe!!! Good Luck have a good trip!!!

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: bus, cell phone, coach bus, directions, Google Maps, GPS, htc hero, Maps, sprint

HAPPY HOLIDAYS … let the fun begin with PARKING your sleigh (bus) HO HO HO!!

carloscite — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:36:12 +0000

Ok drivers here we are again it’s the holiday season in New York city and they have posted their new holiday charter bus parking and drop-off/pick-up rules and regulations. As usual they are useless. Who makes these things up anyway? Oh that brings to mind something else. When going to a website of a place that is frequented by coaches why don’t they post directions for motor coaches? It seems to me that they always give directions for the person that is traveling by car and if they give bus directions it is to travel by bus to the site not for the bus driver to get there by driving. Does this make any sense to you? So I did my first of many trips to Radio City hall and according to the NYC Dot Parking regulations special holiday their suggestion is to drop off on 51st street between 5th ave. and 6th ave. on right side closer to 6th ave. Well when I got there there was no place to pull over and drop off and no person to greet you to tell you were to pick up so I continued to cross over to 51st street between 6th ave. and 7th ave. and drop off my passengers and remained there until the show was over and we went about our trip. Now this is a rarity despite another driver from Aristocrat Bus Co. that does this all the time and no one has ever bothered him like the traffic cop’s in the past. Now haven’t you heard that before and it didn’t work for you. Happy Holidays and hope you don’t get a ticket.

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: 5th ave., 6th ave., bus parking, drop-off, holiday parking, new york city, nyc dot parking, Parking, pick-up, radio city music hall

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST !!!! NOW!!!!

carloscite — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:13:29 +0000

Well it has been a while since we last posted new subjects but there will be plenty more to come and that is the reason for this post. After talking with my father about how we can make sure people are getting the benefits of this site it was deemed that we need a mailing list. This will keep the drivers out there updated on our newest posts to talk amongst each other. Charter, Information, Travel, Exchange . Do you have thoughts on GPS? Traveling to Washington DC and need to know the best routes and gift shops that offer bus drivers discounts for bringing in large groups? Parking in Manhattan or Brooklyn? We have been there and done it all so email us your questions as well as join our list of followers who want to see this site become the help we all want and need! Thanks for your support and cant wait to hear from you all. cxdcarloscite@yahoo.com (include your name and another other information that will help us keep in contact with you.)

Carlos X. DeJesus creator & veteran charter bus professional

Xavier C. DeJesus editor, designer & marketing developer

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: carlos c.i.t.e., carlos x. dejesus, cxdcarloscite@yahoo.com, GPS, mailing list, xavier c. dejesus

Pay your dues? or share the glory? (Tips)

carloscite — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:52:55 +0000

Ok I have been struggling with this subject for a while. Gratuities. How should they be distributed or collected? It is different in different types of businesses, so I guess that makes this even more difficult to choose how gratuities should be distributed or collected. First I guess its safe to say that if you are the employer or self employed an you should get a gratuity, there is no problem. Now here is where it gets difficult when you add another person to the equation and sometimes there are more people involved. What to do and how does one solve the dilemma fairly? First of all is there a legal point here? Does the employer tell the employee‘s how they should distribute the gratuity or is it solely up to the employee’s to decide how gratuities should be distributed amongst themselves? What is the fair way to do this, sense each employee works at different levels. Some work harder than others and have different responsibilities, even on the same job. Well I guess there are a couple of ways that have been suggested such as pooling the gratuity then divide it equally. There is a couple of things that could go wrong with this method. First who collects the gratuity and who counts it? Then who divides it? I suppose the employees could all put it together after the job is over but how does one keep track of the gratuity that was given to each employee. There is the trust thing to remember even if everyone was as honest as the day is long it is still very hard to keep track of the tips. Now there is no incentive to do your best because if you know that you are going to get an equal share why try hard, or do your best? I think that passing a single envelope will solve the accidental mislocated money that you received but then there is still the counting and dividing it. That can have mistakes both intentional or not, so just taking what is given to you and the other’s doing the same is good. Its not as accurate because client’s may not get to each employee and may over look another. So here is my solution pass out an envelope with each employee’s name on it and let it go. End of discussion. Do not discuss the out come with each other so no one gets jealous.

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: divide, employee, employer, gratuities, split up, tips, trust

Have a going problem?

carloscite — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:25:39 +0000

Well I am out on an over night trip again. This time I am off to Staunton, VA with a group of people from Roosevelt, N.Y. I am driving an African American church group that I have traveled with several times before and always have had a very good trip. This one was not much different. Most of the group is comprised of families. So you know what type of trip I am having and the problem is a typical one with so many children on board, the lavatory is for emergencies only. No matter how many times you tell the passangers we will, and did, make a few stops at rest areas to eat and use the lavatory they still use the lavatory. As you know when you have children they do not listen and use it anyway so it gets very smelly and dirty. As usual there is no place or time to get it cleaned during a trip. So my question to other drivers is what is a good temperary solution?

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: emergency only, lavatory, new york, roosevelt, solution, staunton, virginia

Thanks, Congratulations & Thankful

carloscite — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:08:05 +0000

Hi Xavier, Thanx for adding the website e-mail address I did not notice it until a driver pointed it out to me. (cxdcarloscite@yahoo.com)

As you mite have noticed I am on a trip to Scranton, Pa. then onto Syracuse, N.Y. for a multi-day trip. It started out with me and fellow driver, Sergio, getting together at 1: 30 a.m. and driving over to work then onto Copaigue High School to pick-up the marching band for their perfomances in the state champianship contests at a couple of local school in Syracuse and then at the Carrier Dome Facility (home of the Syracuse University Orangemen and greats like Carmelo Anthony) for the final show sunday (as a side note I would like to congratulate the band on there success and achievement this year). The first day was a long one we finished up at 8:30 p.m. in the Comfort hotel. That was a 20 hour day with out any sleep during the day. These are the trips that really take a toll on a driver because the kids do not leave the coaches alone and they are always in and out of the coach. The next couple of day’s are going to be similar but not as long, I am thankful for that. The good side is I have a couple of great co-workers with me that makes the days go by smoother.

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: 20 hour day, carmelo anthony, carrier dome facility, co-workers, cxdcarloscite@yahoo.com, new york, pennsylvania, scranton, syracuse, syracuse university orangemen

If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail… but I got lucky.

carloscite — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:51:27 +0000

This past weekend I took a trip to Lake Placid N.Y. My pick-up was in N.Y.C. Midtown Manhattan, leaving I went via the Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey. Then to Route 3 to Route 17 North onto the New York State Thruway North to Lake Placid, N.Y. Well I figured on Sunday I will be returning the same way, sounds good right, but it almost wasn’t so. I dodged a bullet and realized it when I came down Route 3 and remembered that it went right past Giant stadium and they were playing a game the only thing that saved me is I went past during the game if I was to travel past as the game got over I would have been in a traffic nightmare. I did not do my homework very well and check to see if there was a home game and the times. I listened to the radio and it did not say anything about the game traffic but that is only because the game was still going on. I got lucky that day.

Posted in Uncategorized

Rhyme & Reason … to my cite.

carloscite — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:43:17 +0000

I just thought of something that has been bothering me, and that is why I have been trying to get this idea off the ground. A driver asked me which way I would take home whether my way or his way was better. I think he new which way he was going to go but just wanted to get my opinion. We all have our favorite ways to get somewhere. There is always a favorite route that we like to take. Each way has it’s benefits sometimes the longer way may be faster and the shorter way could have more traffic on it during heavy travel times. The good things about the radio and traffic alerts on a local channel is they can help you as long as you remember that they are not always updated to real time. Some GPS systems have traffic reports and are a bit better, along with cell phones, but you cannot look at them and drive at the same time, it’s the law and the people on the coach will frown on it.

Posted in Uncategorized

Who do you call ?? (Ghostbusters LOL)

carloscite — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:36:22 +0000

(Xavier side note: apparently this is common sense week … or lack there of)

Ok, how about this one! This happened last week and it happens way too often. I was lucky enough to get a spot to park on 44th street and during the day a couple of the other coaches parked on the same street had left. No sooner then they pulled away a car pulls up and parks in the spot designated for charter bus parking even though their are several signs posting this information along both sides of the street. As the afternoon went on more cars parked in these spots, so I decided to do something about it. I was mad that several cars parked where at least three coaches could park but now they had to ride around looking for a place to park wasting fuel and polluting the air. So I decided to call NYC’s 311 phone number for assistance in the city. I got connected to an operator and I told him my situation. He said he could help me. He asked me for the exact location of the illegally parked cars along with there make model and license plate number and state. I did what he asked he said he will post the information and an authority agency will look into the situation and issue tickets as needed. So I said to myself, good, finely the cars are going to get tickets and maybe get towed! Well I stayed in the area for a couple of hours and nothing happened, no one showed up, I had to leave and I do not know if anything happened to them. Does this frustrate anyone else? Has the number worked for anyone else?

Posted in Uncategorized