I am a school bus driver for my home town district. On many occasions I travel to neighboring school districts on field trips. On Saturday 02/11/12 I traveled with several other buses to Altoona, Pa. While there we had lunch at Prime Sirloin as I have done many other times. Normally I do try to park my bus at the back of the building. This time there was no spaces available at the back of the building nor could I get there. Prime Sirloin shares parking with another business. The only available parking was in front of the building. So I put my bus in a spot that was easy to get in and out of, which I have also done before. After eating our meal and before leaving the lot, myself and the other driver stood outside the bus smoking a cigerette. While we were there a man whom I assumed was the manager of Prime Sirloin, walked by and asked if we were the driver of the bus and could we move it to the rear of the building so it could not be seen by customers from inside the resturant and also people driving by the front. I said that we would be leaving in a couple minutes and did explain that I normally do park in the back but could not get there this time. As the day went on and the more I thought about this the mader I got. We were paying customers just like anyone else there. I wondered if he wanted us to move because the bus had the name of my school district which is a big rival of the town we were in, was he upset because it was an eye sore for locals to look at. I know that buses, including coach buses frequent this place on many occasions. Sometimes with many customers on board and sometimes with just the driver. Either way we are all paying customers just like anyone else. If they don't want buses parking in the front lot then they should make space available and post signs directing larger vehicles such as buses. Buses are not that easy to manover in tight spaces. Once before I was there and did park in the back lot and had to wait for someone who had parked in front of my bus to move their car so I could get out. So, yes I do try to park where I will be able to get out easily. Places like this should realize that people with larger vehicles are just the same as anyone else. Because of this I will tell friends and co-workers and will think twice before going there again. There are many other places I can go to with easy parking. I go to Prime Sirloin because they do have good food and reasonable prices. I have also gone there many times with out the bus.

Incourage me to come back as a customer! Maybe a free meal the next time. Assure me that there will be no problem with parking if I am in a bus.