Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 14, 2007
Bus "Roadeo" challenges driving skills and troubleshooting skills of local bus operators and mechanics
The Metrobus Roadeo takes place on Saturday, September 15, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.at the Landover Metrobus Division, 3433 Pennsy Drive, in Landover, MD. (The Landover Bus Division is located one block north of the intersection of MD Route 410 and Pennsy Drive in Landover.)
The annual contest features a competition that tests the professional skills of Metrobus operators and maintenance teams.
Called a “Roadeo” because Metrobuses are put through their daily paces on a road or in the "corral," this event challenges bus operators and maintenance workers to demonstrate their efficiency in timed skills events. Individual bus operators and teams of bus mechanics compete for first through third place in the local competition, which scores the competitors on professional appearance and on the ability to safely and quickly complete an obstacle course or troubleshoot maintenance problems.
“Operators and mechanics look forward to this event each year, as it allows them to showcase their excellent driving and mechanical skills and demonstrates why Metrobus is one of the safest bus systems in the nation,” said Milo Victoria, Metro’s Assistant General Manager for Bus Service.
One of the timed skill events for operators involves being able to stop a bus before hitting an obstacle--in this instance, an orange traffic cone. Operators who come closest to the cone without making contact receive points for that event. At the conclusion of the day’s events, cumulative point totals on all obstacles determine the winning operators.
One of the events mechanical teams compete in involves the identification of planted defects on buses. The mechanical team which identifies the most planted defects correctly and in the shortest amount of time receives points for that module. As with the bus operators, the team with the highest cumulative point total for all modules is the winner.
The first place winners of the local “Roadeo” will advance to the 2008 International Bus Roadeo competition in Austin, TX, next May. The international competition is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association.
Saturday’s Roadeo will include events and entertainment for family and friends of the competitors such as music, visits from McGruff the Crime Dog, Max the Metro Mascot and the Metrobus Robot, activities for children, bus displays and free giveaways.
“In addition, this year’s competition will feature a Custom Auto Show, with first and second place prizes to be awarded in five different categories. There will also be a safety-related competition sponsored by Metro’s Department of Safety and Risk Protection, participation by the Metro Transit Police Department and activities for children,” said Steve Petrucelli, Metro’s General Superintendent for Bus Transportation and coordinator of the Metrobus Roadeo.
News release issued at 12:00 am, September 14, 2007.