Public transport through the city

RELATED LINKS: New route for Metrobus METROBUS is planning a major revamp of bus routes - to ensure an efficient service - and has promised that passengers will see start seeing the changes from March. Read more Metrobus chief moves on THE managing director of Metropolitan Bus Services (Metrobus), Asokan Poogesen Naidu, has resigned to take up a senior executive position in the financial services industry. Read more Metrobus has a plan FOR the next three years, the corporatised entity Johannesburg Metropolitan Bus Services will strive for customer service delivery excellence and the enhancement of shareholder value. Read more Comprehensive public transport brochure on cards A BOOKLET on Joburg's public transport system, covering routes, maps, timetables, buses, taxis and trains, will be available by the end of the year. It will even include hand signals for taxi routes. Read more Metrobus FOR information about routes and fares, visit the Metrobus website.

Joburg bus driver is best in land METROBUS'S James Smith is the best driver in the country - and he is preparing to be the best in the world. November 22, 2005 By Ndaba Dlamini JOHANNESBURG has scooped yet another award - Metrobus driver James Smith has been named National Driver of the Year in the 2005 competition, proving that the City entity's drivers are among the best in the country in terms of skill and reliability. Smith won first prize in the bus category and proved his mettle when he prevailed as overall best driver in the competition, held at Emnotweni in Nelspruit last month. Smith pocketed R25 000 for his efforts. James Smith (far left), with some of his colleagues And to top that, he will represent South Africa in an international competition to be held in the Netherlands next year. A total of 36 bus drivers vied for the first prize of R15 000. "I qualified for the regional competitions after internal competitions were held within Metrobus, where we were screened according to performance," Smith said. "I entered for the regional competitions and then went on to compete in the provincial competitions, where I proved myself to be the best driver. I headed for the national competitions with much confidence." The drivers were given a road test after a pre-trip inspection, he explained. "The yard test proved to be the most difficult of them all because we had to go through a lot of obstacles where our driving and reaction skills were tested." Not only were the drivers' driving aptitudes tested, they sat a theory test that assessed their mental abilities. Smith said the test was "very tough". "I was competing with the best drivers in the country. I am excited to have won this competition and I am looking forward to the international competition in the Netherlands next year." He would make sure he was well prepared for the international competition as he would be carrying the country's flag. "It is a great honour and motivation to know that I will be representing my country." Smith started his career with Metrobus in 1987 and is currently stationed at the Fordsburg Depot. He said he loved driving and interacted well with his passengers. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za