I've used bike racks on busses all up and down the west coast (U.S.). The very first time I struggled with it; even though the rules clearly say that the driver is not allowed to help you, he got fed up, got out of the bus, and showed me how.
I took a friend on the bus recently; I carried my folding bike onboard, but she was struggling with the rack. The driver was trying to give her verbal directions, but she couldn't hear him. Finally someone waiting at the same stop for the another bus got up and helped her.
I think it's always a little hard the first time, no matter how many times you've watched the video or looked at the diagram; it's just a little different in person.