Texas Transit Association

Keith Crim’s job looks routine. It’s not, he said. A driver for CityLink, Abilene’s public bus system, Crim said his job is more involved than ‘’sitting behind a wheel and driving around.'’ Driving a city bus involves more multitasking and problem-solving than people might assume, he said - especially if the driver provides curbside service, as he does.

Crim, 51, operates CityLink’s smaller buses to transport the elderly, people with disabilities, and others who have trouble getting to a bus stop. In February, he was named CityLink’s 2003 Operator of the Year. He won it through the evaluations of co-workers, supervisors and passengers, said his supervisor, Penny Pogrant.


Photography by Ronald W. Erdrich / Reporter-News

CityLink driver Keith Crim assists passenger Margarita Valdez, 92, into his small bus after picking her up at Abilene Adult Day Care. Crim makes about 60 such pickups per day for the elderly, the disabled and any others needing public transportation but who can’t make it to a bus stop.

A Helping Hand: Bus driver goes to great lengths to serve passengers
Working in the Big Country
By Staci Semrad / Reporter-News Staff Writer
April 20, 2004

‘’They all think highly of him because he does such a good job,'’ she said.

Dorothy Stone, 89, is among his passengers.

‘’It’s the only way I’ve got to go,'’ she said while on her way to a doctor’s appointment.

In addition to constantly scanning the mirrors of his bus, Crim keeps an eye on his passengers to make sure they don’t need immediate medical help, he said.

He doesn’t have a set route because no two days involve the same passengers or destinations. He makes about 60 stops per day, he said.

‘’There’s no way you can plan for it because things can change on the spur of the moment,'’ he said. ‘’I like the unpredictability about it. It’s exactly the same, but different every day.'’

Michele Nall, 42, rides the bus with her Seeing Eye dog and has come to know Crim.

‘’He’s always nice and polite, he knows the best routes to take me and he’s a good driver - very careful,'’ she said.

Although he’s modest about it, Crim is accustomed to winning awards. Shortly after becoming a bus driver two years ago, he won the company’s 2002 Rookie of the Year award.

‘’He’s from the old school,'’ Pogrant said. ‘’He enjoys what he does because he’s helping people. It’s not just a paycheck.'’

Helping people and doing his job well gives Crim his greatest sense of satisfaction.

‘’At the end of the day, you feel like you’ve accomplished something,'’ he said. ‘’You’ve helped people out and provided a service they wouldn’t be able to provide for themselves.'’