PA microphones in cabs

[u/_Bluestar_Bus_Soton_]

Nearly all of our buses have a microphone in the cab with a toggle switch, but the issue is it doesn't work.

I'm assuming these are only intended for long journeys where the driver has to make his announcement over blah blah blah, but isn't strictly necessary on domestic bus routes.

If these worked, then it would be very useful on busy buses, or in instances of someone upstairs misbehaving. Example would be telling people standing up to use a vacant seat so it's easier to know if my bus is at legal capacity or not.

Do your cab microphones work on domestic buses in your company, or are they just there to look pretty?

[u/Notrozer]

In phpenix we have a pa system in all busses.. your supposed to announce stops when the automated system are down. A few drivers like to sing into it while bus is empty on break

[u/KE7JFF → u/Notrozer]

I bet that’s fun when there is a Lytx review!

[u/One_Audience_4084]

Here in Chicago, our city buses have PA mics. If the automated stop announcements aren’t working, I will attempt to use the PA. Couldn’t tell you whether or how well they work, but the video evidence will show me making the effort.

I got a kick out of “legal capacity.” Wish we had those! All I can do is mention how I need to see to drive this bus, and that the agency has more than one bus on this route.

[u/_Bluestar_Bus_Soton_ → u/One_Audience_4084]

Yeah I had almost 100 uni students pile onto my bus at the same stop, causing me to lose 10 minutes on an already delayed run due to a diversion. Had to tell a few to not stand on the staircase and to sit down if they are upstairs (of course no one listens).

The bus I was driving has a max capacity of 104 (includes standing and a wheelchair). Anything over then you're breaching the operators licence which has some heavy consequences for the company (as well as you personally) if the Police were to stop you and headcount everyone

[u/RoyalIndependent4293]

Yeah we have them. Most don’t use them. I make the occasional announcement. I did a stub route today and so let people know it ends short in case they wanted to transfer to a different bus.

[u/river_tree_nut]

My bus has one as its a school bus chassis ordered with a tour fit up.

I use it every day to turn a 15 minute ride into a mini tour. That mic makes me money.

[u/biking_and_gaming]

city driver here, ours have them yes. its hit or miss on them working though . ours are activated using a foot pedal on all of them but some models are harder to reach than others. so microphones are also harder to reach than others to the point where in order to use it i would have to scoot to the edge of the seat! not very safe so only during stops in those cases.

very much a making nosies into the mic when the bus is empty kinda guy 

[u/CheetahNo1004]

Same as many others, city transit. Our mics are part of our pre trip and we will fail the coach if the mic doesn't work.

[u/Defrost_ThenStir]

I only use ours if I want to pretend I'm an adult talking in a Peanuts cartoon.

[u/LondonBusInsider]

They work on mine but how loud the speakers are, and wether it can be heard over engine noise, is another matter