Transit officials take some pride in the safety record of the line but have never reached for the type to tell about it as a matter of policy. Thompson has been chairman of the New England Bus Association for five years past. In further explanation of this negative feat, it might be said that Transit buses have been involved in several fatal accidents in which pedestrians met death, but the drivers were completely exonerated. There is probably no business with more heaven-sent opportunities to disaffect the public than the carrier business, or none which the public needs more polite nursing. Where railroad lines have traded on an independent basis, and the passenger knows what is expected of him, the bus men have never been able to afford this point of view.
Road travel has to be flexible.
The Vermont Transit found the answer to this by tossing out the rule book and handing all resulting road problems to the drivers who take pride in running their own buses. The management likes to think it has the most courteous outfit in the country because the network isn't saddled with regulations. Baggage mixups which total several hundred a year, iced-up roads and floods, the wandering and befoggled traveler, or arbitrating how many baby carriages can come aboard, the business of carrying for hire has to be flexible. Burlington is the home port of Vermont Transit and from there radiate the through trips to New York, Boston, and Portland. Other major lines carry to St. Johnsbury, Newport, Barre.