Office worker Lawrence Jones wanted extra income. He found it at Metro Transit as a part-time bus operator.
“Then I really started to enjoy being out there,” Lawrence said. “Just being with the public and driving.”
What started as a short-term plan became a long-term career. Today, after 30 years of service, he’s being recognized for 30 years with zero accidents.
“I love the challenge,” he said. “Just going from point A to point B safely is rewarding.”
And when conditions get tough, that’s when he leans in.
“I enjoy driving in the snow and the heavy rain,” Lawrence said. “It makes you focus even more.”
His approach to driving goes back to lessons from his dad. He learned in a parking lot, then built real-world experience early on, including a long drive to Chicago in a snowstorm, where his father insisted he take the wheel the entire way.
“He always made sure I was driving,” Lawrence said. “He taught me to be careful at intersections and to always expect that someone might run a red light.”
Those habits stuck. Even now, Lawrence is always thinking ahead, watching traffic and keeping his distance, skills trainers emphasize with new operators. That influence came full circle when his father was onsite at South Garage to celebrate the milestone with him.
“Having my dad there meant a lot. It brought the whole journey into perspective,” Lawrence said.
While operating a bus is second nature now, he still challenges himself to improve his riders’ experience.
“I try to make every stop as smooth as possible,” Lawrence said. “That’s something I still work on every day.”
And believe it or not, Lawrence still works his full-time office job. But he’s starting to think about stepping into a new role at Metro Transit.
“I think I would enjoy helping new drivers,” he said.
For now, he’s sticking with what started it all, getting people where they need to go, safely, one stop at a time.