Iowa bus roadeo sends two drivers on to national competition
AMES, Iowa – July 14, 2008 – Two Iowa transit vehicle operators are bound for a national level competition by earning top honors in Iowa's 22nd Annual Public Transit Roadeo held in Des Moines June 28.
· Jean Dalsing took first place in the small bus competition. Dalsing represents the Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson County Regional Transit Authority, based in Dubuque. Dalsing will compete for the second consecutive year as Iowa’s contestant in the National Community Transit Roadeo sponsored by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). The competition will be held in Providence, R.I. in June 2009. Dalsing qualified to compete in either the small bus or van category.
- Paul Klimesh, representing the Ames transit agency, CyRide, took first place in the large bus competition. Klimesh will represent Iowa for the 10th time at the American Public Transit Association's 34th International Bus Roadeo conducted in conjunction with the organization’s annual meeting in Seattle, Washington, in May 2009.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and Iowa Public Transit Association (IPTA), with funding under a Federal Transit Administration program, co-sponsor the annual transit roadeo. This year's event was held in the Southridge Mall parking lot in Des Moines. The roadeo's purpose is to promote and provide recognition for safe driving skills by Iowa's public transit vehicle operators.
At this year's roadeo, 29 operators from 14 transit systems displayed their skills. Each operator performed a series of maneuvers that represent many of the actual situations they encounter as they carry out their daily duties. The maneuvers included pulling up to the curb at a bus stop closely flanked by parked cars, making left and right turns in narrow lanes that might be created by parked cars along a route, stopping short of an obstacle, and backing into parking stalls.
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), comprised of 16 central Iowa cities and Polk County, hosted the roadeo. Members of the IPTA, a representative from the Iowa DOT, and local volunteers, many from DART’s staff, judged the competition. Brad Miller, DART general manager, noted that he and Iowa’s 34 other transit managers promote the roadeo to “…emphasize our safety-first priority while having a lot of fun recognizing skills drivers use daily serving Iowans.”
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Small bus division
First place: Jean Dalsing, Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson County Regional Transit Authority (RTA)
Second Place: Dan James, Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART)
Third place: Linda Stricker, North Iowa Area Regional Transit System (based in Mason City)
Large bus division
First place: Paul Klimesh, Ames Transit Agency “CyRide”
Second place: Eric Williamson, Ames Transit Agency “CyRide”
Third place: Ron Myers, Iowa City Transit
There are 35 transit agencies in Iowa providing service to all 99 counties. For more information on public transportation in Iowa visit: www.iatransit.com
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