Group of CAMBUS student employees pose in front of a bus

On June 26, CAMBUS drivers competed in a “bus roadeo”. The annual bus roadeo is a friendly competition amongst CAMBUS student staff to test their driving skills in a ten-part obstacle course. The obstacles test drivers in making tight maneuvers, including turns, simulating obstacles to dodge around, and backing exercises.  

Twenty-four employees participated in the competition, including drivers and support personnel - dispatchers, trainers, maintenance assistants and a full-time technician. The top three drivers and top three support place winners received awards. Three drivers, Darshaun Smith, Neil Smithson, and Ben Koch also qualified to move on to the state roadeo to compete against bus drivers from transit agencies across the state of Iowa. The state roadeo is scheduled for Saturday, July 9 in Cedar Rapids. 

Photos from the CAMBUS Roadeo

CAMBUS drives through an obstacle course with cones
A bus maneuvers around cones in a parking lot
A bus maneuvers around cones in a parking lot
A bus drives through a row of cones

Driver Place Winners

Three CAMBUS drivers pose in front of a CAMBUS holding awards

[image: left to right] Neil Smithson, Ben Koch, Lizzie Shockley

1st place

Neil Smithson, driver since Nov. 2020

2nd place

Ben Koch, driver since Oct. 2017

3rd place

Lizzie Shockley, driver since May 2021

Support Place Winners

Three CAMBUS drivers pose in front of a CAMBUS holding awards

[image: left to right] Darshaun Smith, Logan Barr, Nick Madden

1st place

Darshaun Smith, dispatch and bionic supervisor, started at CAMBUS as a driver in Nov. 2019

2nd place

Logan Barr, dispatcher, started at CAMBUS as a driver in Oct. 2020

3rd place

Nick Madden, student mechanic/driver, started at CAMBUS as a driver in Apr. 2017

About CAMBUS 

CAMBUS is the University of Iowa’s student operated, no fare public transit system that provides fixed-route service throughout campus and demand-response paratransit services for qualifying persons. On average, 160 student-employees operate transit services across the university campus. Their responsibilities begin with driving but can grow to include training, dispatching, assisting with maintenance, and supervising. CAMBUS works in collaboration with other Parking and Transportation Department units to provide and support access and mobility for students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. For more information about our services visit the CAMBUS page or call 319-335-8633.