The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (Lynx) bus operators, paratransit operators and maintenance teams held the annual local Roadeo on April 2. This was the first step to earn local, state and international acclaim in the 2017 Roadeo championship.
The defending American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) International Bus Roadeo 2016 champion LYNX maintenance team of Chris Balroop, Harry Mootoo and Radu Solomon claimed another local championship.
Bus operator Steve Kalicharan defended his local title and Access Lynx operator Rhonda Scott won the paratransit class.
Bus and Access Lynx (paratransit) operators and Maintenance teams were put through physical and mental challenges testing their everyday workplace skills. Technicians had to locate and troubleshoot planted defects in a bus, in an engine, in the A/C system and in the air brake system. Operators had to identify defects in a bus and then drive though a challenging obstacle course while being timed and judged in safety habits.
All winners will now move on to the state event April 29 at Votran in Daytona Beach, Florida. This training exercise will be sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Public Transportation Association.
In May, the state champion maintenance team and bus operator (Team Florida) will head to Reno, Nevada, for the APTA International Bus Roadeo.
