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[CA] Line 164 bus driver to vie against others in contest

 
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Cyberider




Joined: 27 Apr 2007
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Location: Tempe, AZ

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:38 am    Post subject: [CA] Line 164 bus driver to vie against others in contest Reply with quote

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_6877162

Line 164 bus driver to vie against others in contest
BY SUE DOYLE, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 09/12/2007 11:00:40 PM PDT


NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Her driving experience was once nothing more than cruising around the San Fernando Valley in a cool 1978 Ford Thunderbird.

But now - after 23 years behind the wheel of a 40-foot Metro bus - Miriam "Mimi" Pereira is putting her driving skills to the test this weekend in a precision-based obstacle course at the 33rd annual Bus Roadeo.

The North Hollywood woman is one of 35 bus operators - and the only female driver from the Valley - who soared through a three-day preliminary competition last week at Santa Anita Race Track and now heads to the finals on Saturday.

It marks the third time Pereira, who beat out about 270 Metro bus operators for the chance, has made it this far. And this time she's praying she'll win and be able to head to the international event - the equivalent of the Super Bowl for bus drivers and mechanics.

"It can get nerve-wracking, because we're under a time limit," said Pereira. "It's one obstacle course. You have one shot at it."

In seven minutes, drivers maneuver 40,000-pound buses through 11 obstacles, snaking through a serpentine track, smoothly handling reverse left and right turns and other feats to test their accuracy, said Frank Cecere, Metro's assistant manager of operation central instruction.

In the end, it all comes down to one winner who will represent the region in an International Bus Roadeo competition in May in Austin, Texas, and race to win $2,500.

Starting work at exactly 4:51 a.m., Pereira drives bus Line 164, a route that reaches from Valley Circle Boulevard in Woodland Hills to downtown Burbank.

Driving the crowded Valley streets, she estimates she sees as many as three car crashes a week, constant reminders to never assume you know what others on the road will do, Pereira said.

"You take into consideration that they (other drivers) don't know what they're doing," said Pereira. "You need an eyeball in the back of your head, your feet and your shoulders. You have to see everything."

Thinking in those terms has also fine-tuned her ability to zero in on trouble and quickly react - skills needed for the Bus Roadeo.

Metro maintenance teams also participate in the tournament, where they have seven minutes to pick through bus engines to find planted problems and then fire up the motors.

They also take written tests.

In May, Metro bus operator Frank Holland from El Monte and a team of mechanics competed against 89 other public transportation systems and took home the grand champion award at the International Bus Roadeo in Nashville, Tenn.

sue.doyle@dailynews.com

(818) 713-3746
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