Helpful bus driver.
I really lucked out and had a quick chat with a bus driver at the transit center while waiting for my bus. (the driver was on his layover) I told him I'd like to ride my bike and put it on the bus, and did he have time to show me how the rack worked?
He was great, told me to let the driver know when I was going to put the bike on or off, showed me how to pull the rack down, which way the front of the bike should face, how to lower the locking arm onto the front wheel, and to put the bike in the front most position so the driver can see better. He also suggested I sit in the front of the bus so I can keep an eye on the bike and so I can tell the driver very clearly the stop I want and that I will be getting in front of the bus to take the bike off.
I've watched other commuters put their bikes on and off and their bikes stay steady in the rack, but I'm still nervous my bike will fall off as the bus is roaring down the freeway... gotta get over that!
"If Americans want to live the American Dream, they should go to Denmark." - Richard Wilkinson