Honolulu transit drivers compete in annual contest

Peter Carlisle and Roger Morton: Who would win in a race?

The mayor probably has the advantage when it comes to politics, but Morton, president and general manager of Oahu Transit Services, definitely has Carlisle beat when it comes to driving buses.

"He drove and I drove, and we competed," Morton says. "He didn’t do as well as me. He did OK."

The two raced through a controlled obstacle course Dec. 15 during the annual OTS Roadeo, when TheBus and Handi-Van drivers compete and drive through coned areas.

"It allows the operators to exhibit their precision driving skills," Morton says. "It’s only open to operators with a clean safety record and a good employment record."

The Roadeo has been around for more than 25 years. The winner heads to the American Public Transportation Association’s annual convention in the spring to compete against drivers from about 100 other jurisdictions.

The Roadeo, held at OTS’ Kalihi facility, coincided with a Christmas celebration. There was entertainment, food, camaraderie and fun.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t list the winners. Out of the 19 TheBus drivers who competed, Derwin Yamaguchi beat second- and third-place drivers Lincoln Alvarez and Sean-Bennett Paio. Yamaguchi will head to the 2012 International Bus Roadeo in Long Beach, Calif., in May.

The Handi-Van winner was Lance Amero, who will compete in the National Community Transportation Roadeo in Maryland. David Dieudonne picked up second place, and Lisa Parker was third.

I wondered how good a bus driver Morton really is. He sheepishly said, "We did kind of a kiddie course."

Reach Gene Park at gpark@staradvertiser.com, or Twitter as @GenePark.