International Bus Roadeo

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A bus participating in the 1998 Regional Bus Roadeo in Vancouver, British Columbia. 1998 Regional Bus Roadeo.jpg
A bus participating in the 1998 Regional Bus Roadeo in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The International Bus Roadeo is an annual bus driving and bus maintenance competition, or roadeo, hosted by the American Public Transportation Association. [1] A grand prize is given to the bus transit system with the highest composite bus operation and bus maintenance score. [2] The bus driving competition consists of an obstacle course. [3] For the bus maintenance competition, teams of mechanics must locate and fix defects in a number of bus power trains and other systems.

Contents

A decal announcing the fact that a bus is being operated by the winner of the 2015 MTA Bus Roadeo. 2015 MTA Bus Roadeo decal.jpg
A decal announcing the fact that a bus is being operated by the winner of the 2015 MTA Bus Roadeo.

The International Bus Roadeo is the final competition in a system of qualifying roadeos held at the regional, state, and district levels. Bus operators from across North American are represented at the roadeo. [4] For instance, the Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority Roadeo winners go on to a state competition in Waco. [5] The winners of each regional or state roadeo go on to represent their region at the international roadeo. [6]

The 2016 International Bus Roadeo was held in Charlotte, North Carolina in May. [7]

History

The name "roadeo" is derived from the rodeo competition. [8] The original roadeos, which began in 1937, [8] featured trucks in various categories going through the same obstacles that the bus drivers go through in the current roadeo. [9]

A bus operator for Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) designed the structure of the bus roadeo as it is known today. MTC held a local bus roadeo in September of 1975 with over 80 participants. After word spread, other transportation agencies across the country reached out for guidance about developing their own competitions, leading to the creation of a guidebook and a national organizing committee. [10] The first International Bus Roadeo was held in 1976 in San Francisco. [11] [12] Regional competitions below the international one have been held since at least 1982. [13]

Competition

Each transit system is allowed to compete in the bus operation competition (the "operators' roadeo"), the bus maintenance competition (the "technicians' roadeo"), or both. [14]

Pre-trip inspection

On the day before the competition, the bus operators are required to inspect an inspection bus and find eight planted mechanical defects, as well as one planted security-related defect. The mechanical defects can appear in areas such as flooring and seats; the security-related defect may consist of an "abandoned" briefcase or package. [14]

Bus operation

Bus operators must drive their buses through a course containing various obstacles while under a strict time limit: [14]

As drivers negotiate the obstacle course, their buses are equipped with a device that generates a "smoothness of operation" score. [14] Awards are given in the thirty-five-foot bus and forty-foot-bus categories. [16]

Bus maintenance

Bus maintenance teams usually consist of three employees from a transit system. In the technicians' roadeo, technicians must diagnose and repair various mechanical issues with buses. The roadeo consists of a number of portions: [14]

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References

  1. ↑ "What Makes a Great Bus Driver, According to the World's Best". Bloomberg. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "About the Roadeo". www.apta.com. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Q&A with Howard Yoder, COTA Bus Operator". Columbus Monthly. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "San Mateo County CA: SamTrans Roadeo Winners Heading to International Competition Next Year". San Bruno, CA Patch. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Flores, Caroline. "CCRTA hosts their annual Bus Roadeo". www.kristv.com. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Edmonton Transit Bus Roadeo puts drivers to the test". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  7. ↑ Cohen, Emily. "SEPTA king of the 'roadeo' bound for international bus-driving competition [video] — NewsWorks". Newsworks.org. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  8. 1 2 Dempewolff, Richard F. (March 1950). "Tires". Popular Mechanics . pp. 107–111. Retrieved 29 March 2016– via Google Books.
  9. ↑ Kilpatrick, Bill (November 1976). "Big-rig wranglers show their tender touch". Popular Mechanics . pp. 170–172. Retrieved 29 March 2016– via Google Books.
  10. ↑ "Rider's Almanac Blog". www.metrotransit.org. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Metro History" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Bus Roadeo - Metro Transit". www.metrotransit.org. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "Tulsa Transit Drivers Compete in "Bus Roadeo'". NewsOK.com. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "2016 International Bus Roadeo Handbook" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Manatee, Sarasota bus drivers vie in friendly 'Bus Roadeo' skills competition". bradenton. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  16. ↑ "LA Metro wins top APTA Roadeo award". Metro Magazine. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
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