The Forrest Gump of Transportation
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Adapted from a story by David Millhouser
orrest Gump was one of my heroes in part because I respect folks smarter than me, and also because he appeared to experience and influence so much American history. What a guy… heroic when necessary, and while not an intellectual giant, he was courageous without swagger and wise without being glib… Gump seemed to meet
every historic figure, and always had a positive effect on everyone around him. It was a crushing blow when I discovered he was a fictional character. Has it occurred to you that the motor bus industry is a bit like Forrest? Since the 1914 WWI Battle of the Marne, when the French used 600 taxis to rush troops to the front and save Paris from a German onslaught, there have been few significant events in Western Civilization that haven’t involved buses. This may be stretching a bit, but back then taxis and buses were sort of overlapping technologies, and they stuffed more than 8 soldiers in each vehicle. That ain’t a cab, it’s a minibus. When improving roads made it possible, buses became active in virtually every event that has impacted society. We moved troops during wartime. We contributed mightily to the Civil Rights Movement which had its symbolic beginning in a Montgomery, AL transit bus. Many who heard Martin Luther King Jr’s transformative “Dream” speech got there by bus.
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The Freedom Riders rode Greyhound 4104s and the Negro baseball leagues traveled by bus, as did the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. When a hurricane is imminent do they bring in fleets of trains? Nah … buses. During 9/11 airplanes were grounded, but buses carried on. Name a significant sporting or entertainment event that doesn’t have a lot of folks arriving by bus. Imagine any city without a transit system. Many have “light rail”, but those jewels lack the ability to adapt to changing demographics. If folks move, trains can’t follow, but buses just take to the road. Most of us rode to school in a bus, many commute to work on buses, and pilots often get to their planes by bus. Good grief, if buses disappear we’d have no casinos.
Just like Forrest Gump, whenever anything is happening, buses are there, and usually make things better. Try to name another industry so deeply woven into the fabric of our society. Even folks who sneer at riding buses benefit from the bus contributions to reducing traffic and cleaner air. Too often buses are perceived as transportation’s lowest common denominator. In fact without buses, none of the other transportation options would run smoothly. Without buses and dedicated drivers, roads would be more congested, air would be nastier, and many people wouldn’t get to work or school. Heck, even Elvis had a bus, and he loved it.
Buses and their drivers really are the Forrest Gump of transportation. They’re everywhere. They’re occasionally slow on the uptake, but well-meaning, trustworthy, grounded, and in their own quiet way continuing the tradition of making a major contribution to society’s well-being, safety, and pleasure. Current events have slowed the motorbus industry, but we have a great tradition of service in uncertain times. As we emerge from today’s crisis, we’ll go forward full-throttle to take people where they want to go … to work, to school, to events. And in troubled time, as in the past, buses will be there when needed to come to the rescue. n
John’s facorite A 1930 vintage Pickwick Nite Coach. It was the bus industry’s attempt to provide a Pullman-type sleeper service.
Donating an Enduring Collection In 1976, John Dockendorf led the Urban Transit Division of PennDot’s Bureau of Public Transportation. He decided to decorate his office with model buses. Over the years, his collection (1915-present) grew to over 5,000 toys and model buses. It includes cast iron, plastic, and die-cast buses from manufacturers such as Arcade, Kenton, Marx, Corgi, and Dinky. John, a founding member of MOBT, donated his full collection to the AACA Museum, Inc. where he serves as a member the Board of Directors. A portion of the collection is always on display at the Museum. John works with the Museum to rotate the pieces on view. He is also committed to providing annual support to help store and maintain the collection. We truly appreciate John’s generosity and his commitment to this world-class collection.
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Continuing the Purpose of MOBT The motorbus industry occupies a vital place in the everyday life of the American public. Now, as part of the AACA Museum, Inc. we are positioned to continue our mission. In rural areas and in the thousands of towns and cities across the nation, it provides personal transportation for many purposes, carrying more persons daily than all other public modes of transportation put together. The building and evolution of this industry provides a fascinating story of invention and entrepreneurism–for it evolved from individual effort of thousands of people risking their time and capital in the hope of creating a profitable business. To promote the bus industry, and seek to be of continuous interest to both the general public and the bus enthusiast, the Museum of Bus Transportation (MBT) has partnered with the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum to have a permanent Museum of Bus Transportation Exhibit area within the AACA Museum. This permanent exhibit allows each organization to display all forms of motor vehicles and related memorabilia to better educate and entertain the hobbyist and general public.
MUSEUM E V E N T S & E X H I B I T S COMING EVENTS n Night at the Museum October 7
n Autos & Ales 11th Anniversary November 6
COMING EXHIBITS n Yeah, It’s Got a Hemi! Coming soon
n Minibike Mania Coming soon
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