B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Airport; Procedure
Parking at the gate; as I began my turn into the gate area several vehicles; including a bus; crossed within 20-30 of the nose of my aircraft even though I was flashing my landing lights as they began crossing the gate area. I queried the ramp controller and was told it was the wing walkers responsibility to stop traffic on the 'road' at the gates.In all my years of flying; I've never been anywhere where aircraft did not have priority. If this is the policy in here it should be in the operational notes; as I was quite surprised when vehicles ignored me and continued crossing in front of me. It was a sudden stop.Any airport I've ever landed at; vehicle traffic gives way to aircraft under way. My habit is; as I begin to turn into my parking gate or taxi with vehicle crossings; turn on my runway turnoff lights to get the attention of any vehicles approaching the crossing. Here; no one stopped! So; I was forced to stop rather abruptly to avoid a bus.If; it is the ramp personnel responsibility to stop traffic; that should be in the airport operational notes. If not; then they need training on vehicle control on their ramps.
The First Officer of a B737 reported that when taxiing into a gate; vehicle traffic continually crossed in front of the aircraft.