St. Cloud Drivers Reign at 36th Annual Metro Bus Roadeo, Advance to Statewide Competition

(KNSI) – Bronco-busting bus drivers in St. Cloud saddled up and earned the big belt buckle during the 36th annual Metro Bus Roadeo.

Drivers took to the course last week at St. Cloud State University’s K-Lot at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The roadeo tested drivers’ skills in navigating various real-life driving scenarios in a friendly competition.

Dial-a-ride driver Keith Drake corralled the top spot in the small bus category for the second year in a row, and fixed-route driver Jason Hiivala lassoed the large bus category crown.

Drake and Hiivala follow in the footsteps of some great competitors. Over the years, Metro Bus drivers have taken first place in the Minnesota State Roadeo 26 times and have placed in the top four in national competitions eight times, with two first-place finishers. Drake and Hiivala will be joined by Carl Hallberg, Mike Stommes, David Peacock and Wayne Prescott at the Minnesota statewide Bus Roadeo on July 18th and 19th at Minnesota North College in Virginia. Top finishers at the state level are eligible to compete in a national competition. Last year, Peacock took the local title and also won the state championship.

Metro Bus has hosted a local competition since 1986. St. Cloud Metro Bus operates seven days a week and provides over one million fixed route, Dial-a-Ride and commuter bus passenger trips annually in St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park.

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