Chiniqua Levine, NYC Bus Operator

Apr 6

Apr 6 Episode 3: Chiniqua (MTA Bus Operator)

Name: Chiniqua Levine

JOB: Bus Operator, MTA

EXPERT IN: Customer service & mindfulness

Listen on Apple, on Spotify, or right here — and view the full transcript here.

I first met Chiniqua Levine in 2016 on a trip to Puerto Rico. As the only two solo travelers on a tour group visit to a bioluminescent bay, we were paired up together for our midnight kayaking adventure through a dark mangrove forest. I wrote about some of our misadventures from our unlikely team-building, and we’ve stayed in touch over the years.

One of the things that struck me initially about Chiniqua (and continued to stand out to me, even through our conversation) was her absolute resolve and optimism in putting people first. In any service-oriented industry, whether it’s in restaurants, retail, or hospitality, there’s a saying that many employees grow to hate: The customer is always right. What makes this tougher in practice than in theory is that (let’s face it) there are some cases were people are just downright jerks.

But despite eight years of working in arguably one of the most relentless work environments that I can imagine -- in the driver’s seat of a Manhattan bus -- Chiniqua hasn’t let the city’s sloppier parts (or people) control her attitude.

When I interviewed Chiniqua, in the fall of 2019, I was impressed by her highly optimistic attitude and pride in the work that she does. It’s clear that she has the utmost respect for the MTA (the organization that supervises New York City-area transit), as well as “all of her brothers and sisters” that she works alongside every single day.

A big theme you’ll hear throughout our conversation, both in her own worldview as well as in some of the policies that the MTA encourages its drivers to adopt, is not one of enforcement, but of empathy. Put yourself in their shoes; imagine what it’s like to not be able to pay the fare; pay attention to when you might be witnessing a part of someone else’s daily grind, even when you’re on a break from yours. These are nuggets you might not expect to hear from a bus operator. But of course, when you work in transportation, at the end of the day, it’s all about the people. I think there’s a lot we can all learn from that.

“Being a new Yorker from New York, I just love being in the heart of my city and helping it move.”

The role of transit workers in the city of New York took on a new level of importance going into the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At last count, more than 4,000 transit workers in the city had become infected with the virus and more than 130 died. (You can read more about a few of their stories from this New York Times article and see a touching tribute that the MTA made for many of these employees here.)

While Chiniqua remained driving in those early months (March and April 2020), by June she had stopped operating a bus due to some health issues of her own. I haven’t been able to reach her now for several months. But her story, and our friendship, have taught me a lot. I hope you’ll enjoy hearing from her, too.