PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Imagine an obstacle course but for buses.
The annual SEPTA Bus Rodeo, which got underway Saturday morning, pits the transit authority’s best mechanics and drivers against each other for bragging rights and prizes.
Gregg Sutchko helps run the event.
“You know, it’s just an event that we use for camaraderie as well as to display the skills of our drivers as well as our mechanics,” he said.
Drivers have to navigate an obstacle course, rounding tight turns and backing into parking spaces — all things they do on a daily basis.
It’s a much more controlled environment than what drivers like James Morris deal with out in the streets.
“Fighting on the bus, accidents around the bus, not necessarily my bus, but car accidents," he said.
The event is meant to give people a behind-the-scenes look at SEPTA’s operations and how hard its people work.
“You know, we all try to make it work, stay on time to get people where they need to go, work, school, home. And we just try to do our best,” Morris said.
Among the prizes was a chance to advance to state and international competitions.
