Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 19, 2004

Bus "roadeo" challenges driving skills of Metrobus drivers

Metrobus " cowboys" are set to drive their ’steers" " in this case 40-foot long, 30,000-pound Metrobuses " to victory in the 27th Annual Bus Roadeo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 24. The annual contest will take place at the Landover Bus 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. Called a " Roadeo" because Metrobuses are put through their daily paces on a road or in the " corral," this event challenges both 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 which demonstrate why Metrobus is one of the safest bus systems in the nation," said Jack Requa, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer for Bus Service. For example, 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 determine the winning operators. One of the events mechanical teams compete in involves the identification of planted defects on buses. The mechanical team that identifies the most planted defects correctly and in the shortest amount of time receives points for that module. The team with the highest cumulative point total for all modules wins. The first place winners advance to the international competition in Atlanta, GA, in September. The international competition is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association. The competition will feature a surprise safety and bus maintenance demonstration sponsored by Metro’s Department of Safety and Risk Protection, as well as a safety-related competition and participation by local police agencies in the day’s activities. Saturday’s event will also include entertainment such as music, catered food, visits from McGruff the Crime Dog, Max the Metro Mascot, and the Metrobus Robot, activities for children, bus displays and free giveaways.

News release issued on April 19, 2004.