Bowling, Billiards and Emergency Brakes: Inside the Tram Olympics

Times Insider|Bowling, Billiards and Emergency Brakes: Inside the Tram Olympics

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In the video, a tram barreled down a street toward an inflatable ball. There was contact. The ball flew through the air. Inflatable pylons — like those you might see as stand-ins for players at a high school football practice — came bouncing down.

I watched, transfixed, from the comfort of my Instagram scroll. What was this sport? Was it even a sport? I searched something like “tram bounce ball race” online, and the elite world of niche public transit competition opened up before me.

I learned it was tram bowling, one of the blockbuster events of the European Tramdriver Championship.

Each year, public transit drivers from cities across Europe gather to compete in a series of events along an obstacle course. Some events test precision, like the ability to engage the emergency brake at an exact point. Others evaluate a driver’s smooth touch: One event at this year’s competition in Frankfurt, for example, challenged drivers to not spill a bowl of water mounted to the front of the tram.

The winning team of two drivers goes home with a trophy, local souvenirs and the glory of being known as the best tram drivers in Europe. Yes, it is a real thing. And yes, I immediately knew I wanted to witness it in person.

That’s because I have always loved public transit.

I’m from the Bronx, and I grew up riding buses across the borough. (I used to hold my breath as we crossed into Manhattan, imagining the water below.) As an adult, I spent my morning commute to Manhattan gazing at the Brooklyn Bridge from the windows of the Q train. So writing about the transit competition for The New York Times felt natural.