Women in Bus - Abigail Monks

Today’s theme for Scottish Bus Week is Women in Bus, and we are looking at women that work in the bus industry. In this blog, we are showcasing Abigail Monks, a safety driver and captain on our new autonomous bus service answering some questions on her involvement in the project and some words on of encouragement to women who might be interested in getting involved.

Firstly, Abigail describes who and what inspired her to take part in the project:

‘I wouldn’t say there was anyone that particularly inspired me to join the project, however, growing up my dad would always take my brother and me to watch the latest Sci-Fi film at the cinema. We were also brought up on TV shows such as Dr Who and Star Trek, so I guess my dad’s interest in Sci-Fi inspired my interest in technological advancements.’

She goes on to say what attracted her to the autonomous bus project:

‘I am a bit of a nerd and love reading up about the latest technological advancements. Seeing technology that was once only thought to exist in science fiction become a reality is pretty cool in my opinion, so when I saw an opportunity to become involved in a new project involving autonomous technology I jumped at the opportunity.’

Abigail then went on to talk about where she is now with the project:

‘We, the CAVForth team, are entering our second week of service with the autonomous buses. So far, I have really enjoyed the two roles, ‘The Captain’ and ‘Safety Driver.’ Each run is different, as a Captain you can have a wee chat and a laugh with passengers, and as a Safety Driver, you are constantly monitoring the systems and watching the autonomous technology in action. We all swap roles throughout the day, and I really enjoy this variety.’

When talking about the next steps in her career Abigail says:

‘Currently, the project is running until 2025. Before then there are different phases of the project, and I am looking forward to furthering my knowledge and experiences of operating an autonomous bus. You never know, one day I could be training the next generation of Captains or Safety Drivers.’

Abigail finishes off by saying what she would tell other women who might be looking into getting into the autonomous bus project or the bus industry in general:

‘Even though the public transport industry is heavily male based when it comes to employee population, do not let this fact make you feel uncomfortable about giving the buses a go. Most drivers are friendly and welcoming and will happily help you with any query you may have. There is a sense of comradery at times, which helps boost morale, and makes you feel welcomed and part of the team. If you are looking for an exciting, challenging, and varied role, then bus driving or being involved in the CAVForth project is for you.’