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SamTrans > News Archive > SamTrans Comes Home a Winner From International Roadeo
SamTrans Comes Home a Winner From International Roadeo
For the second consecutive year, the San Mateo County Transit District finished in the
top four at the American Public Transportation Association’s annual International Bus
Roadeo held Oct. 9 in Atlanta.
Bus operator Edwin Freeman of South San Francisco came in fourth place, with a score
of 584 out of a possible 605 points. Mechanics Gary Cox of Tracy, Greg Reschke of Daly
City and Ashok Singh of Hayward scored 1,082.5 points to come in 12th place in the
maintenance competition. The combined scores boosted SamTrans to fourth place
overall, ahead of teams from New York City, Chicago and Dallas.
“The roadeo provides an opportunity for our employees to showcase their skills,” said
General Manager/CEO Mike Scanlon. “I am extremely proud of their efforts.” A total
of 114 teams comprised of more than 260 competitors from North America's finest bus
systems participated.
Freeman competed against teams from 79 other transit agencies in the 40-foot bus
division. His fourth place finish represents a personal best for the 23-year SamTrans
veteran. The maintenance team bested their previous score by 232.5 points.
To qualify to compete in the International Roadeo, SamTrans team members won the local
SamTrans Roadeo in July and placed in the top three at the Regional Bus Roadeo, hosted
by Tri Delta Transit in Antioch in August.
Freeman finished first in the local roadeo for the fourth consecutive year. This is
the seventh time he has represented the district at the national level.
At the roadeo, bus operators compete on a timed course consisting of 11 problems.
Deductions are taken for errors, such as hitting cones, or for running longer than the
allotted seven minutes. Drivers also are judged on their safety habits and smoothness
of operation. Maintenance teams made up of three mechanics are challenged to
trouble-shoot a “bugged” bus and ace a written test.
In spite of their outstanding performance, “Our guys came home a little disappointed
that they didn’t place in the top three,” said Jeff Johnson, training manager. “But I
told them, the trophies are nice, but that’s not why we do it.” The primary purpose
of the roadeo is to promote safe driving practices.
Measured by that yardstick SamTrans is a winner. Last year, SamTrans bus operators
drove the equivalent distance of California's length - from San Diego to Eureka –
about 44 times a month without a preventable accident. The transit district's 90
maintenance employees worked nearly 137,000 hours with only one lost-time injury.
10/21/04
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