5:30 bus to DC. The line was unorganized. People were confused. An air conditioner in the building near the line blew dirt on us. The tickets were barely glanced at. I could have had a later ticket. Probably. I got my pick of a seat because of my ticket A status. Aisle seat with a plug. Yes, status. Loyalty club member.
I attempted to do my writing assignment but it was difficult to juggle between my textbook, written notes, powerpoint handouts, and computer. I gave up quickly.
Watched Picket Fences. My left earphone was broken. I texted. I went on my computer, and was impressed with my internet access. I emailed photos. As the email said, BoltBus now caters to Macs. If Netflix ever makes the Watch It Now feature available to us, my bus movie choices would be endless...almost.
My seatmate was quiet, slept sometimes, read, and made sure the bus did not leave without me when I went into the rest stop. He worked in Argentina for a non-profit. Now he works in NY. He is from the Midwest. He spoke about the Mega-bus, and its wonders.
The man behind me was a pain. Somehow, even though he was sitting alone and in the window seat, he kept kicking the back of mine.
It was his first bus to DC. And as he said on the phone, he saved $180 by not taking the train.
He also said that "there aren't many other bankers on this bus." Shut your face, sir. Maybe there are...maybe there are. Did you poll us? Then be quiet.
He continued to say that he ONLY regrets that he did not bring a coke bottle FILLED with vodka. Because it's Friday and he is feeling kinda dry.
We arrive in DC without incident.
1:00 bus to NY. I arrive just in time. I am on the second person to get on despite there being a line. I am ticket A - 2, and the bus driver actually boards according to letter and number, My likes include order and organization, so I love her. I even text about her.
Some 1:30's get on, some standbys. Some 3:00's tried.
A 1:00 came late, and had to wait until 1:30 because the seats were filled up. Do not show up late. Do not.
Every leather seat was filled, unlike at Greyhound where the drivers pretend that they are full. See past blogs to re-read my experience with that.
Seatmate is perfect. We both used the plug, I am at the window seat. I watched House, but I had seen two of the episodes on that disc already, so I was finished quickly. I checked my email. And now I will eat tomatoes, -- a variety of them, and read the Washington Post. 25 comic strips!
This is the first live blog. Since it is live, I cannot yet reveal how it ended. Did I hit traffic? Find out next time.
-l
Ed note: L did hit traffic, quite a lot of it in fact. So much that this trip now holds the dubious distinction of being the longest ever on a bus clocking it at a whopping 7 hours.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Rest-stop times three
The ticket kiosks are out of order – and I am in New York. This doesn’t happen in New York. I have yet to see a working ticket kiosk in DC, but I am taken aback in New York. I was nervous - I have never waited on line to speak to an actual person to get my ticket.
And I didn’t have to this time either. A Greyhound employee somehow had the kiosk print my ticket. I was leery of handing a stranger my credit card at the Port Authority, but that Greyhound uniform instills a trust in a rider, so hand it over I did. Not only did he print my tickets out, but he also placed them in one of those envelopes that I see others holding on line. Not only did he place them in one of those envelopes that I see others holding on line, but he told me my Gate number, and he wrote it in the appropriate space on the envelope. Gate 71, I know it is Gate 71. I know it so well that I don’t even look for a Gate number, I just know when I get there. Still, … I appreciate that writing of the number down.
I make my way down the stairs, and see that there is no line. No line, bad sign. I walk to the front, and find out that there is a bus, but there may not be seats. Lucky for me there were not two seats together – a very pushy woman with her child cut me line...in a line where I was the only person.
I get a seat. Second to the front, left side aisle.
Seatmate was quiet, had the same cell phone, didn't eat stinky food, and is dating someone who goes to school in DC. Greyhound twinsie, you may be thinking. That is exactly what P said when I texted her about it.
Seatmate said he would guest blog.
He has not, as of yet.
We made three rest-stops.
The first one was an actual stop. I think I bought coffee.
A sociable and quite elderly fellow-rider approached me. He was drawn to my portable DVD player. He asked questions…what is that…how is working…it just plays that?…oh you have to buy the movies?...He also said “cute” in my direction, which may have also been in the direction of small child in the next seat. I like to think it was directed my way.
He comes back later. He comes back and watches a few seconds of a House episode over my shoulder. He questions me. He comments about not knowing technology, but he assures me that he does have a phone. To my, “and is it a cell phone!?”….he claims that the battery is dead. He walks away.
Well, sir, I did not want to use your phone if that was your excuse for me not to use it. I was merely continuing the conversation you started about not knowing technology.
We did not speak again. If my seatmate had guestblogged, he would have told you that it was awkward.
2nd rest stop – to pick up a stranded Greyhound driver.
3rd rest stop – to get stranded Greyhound driver dinner.
There was a riot. People yelled. I think someone said, “And you call this an EXPRESS BUS TO DC!” I understand the riders…no one wants to stop. We all want to get to our boyfriend’s apartment and order textured vegetable protein made to look like general tso’s chicken, but circumstances made us wait. I may have been more sympathetic to the excessive stops because my second row seating allowed me to hear the whole story…I paused House and removed my earphones...I listened. I understood. The stranded driver was stranded since 4:00 PM. No other buses stopped, and she was waving her arms. I did not find out what happened to the riders of her broken down bus. Seatmate said that his bus broke down once – but that’s his story to blog, if he ever comes forward to do so.
The rest of the ride is a blur. I am sure I watched some Picket Fences.
I quickly get off the bus, and head towards the taxi drivers. The first guy says he’ll take me, and another taxi driver tells him that this is okay – not sure why he needed permission, but he tells me that he is parked a little ways off. We walk. And walk. And walk around the block. I realize that we are not walking towards a licensed taxi. I quickly decide that I will get in this stranger’s personal vehicle and hope that he will drive me to M’s apartment. I sit in the passenger seat. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to sit in the back, but I figured I’d go for it. He drives, we talk.
I love him.
He married at 22, to his pregnant 19 year old girlfriend. Both were Howard University students. 5 kids later, and they are still together. I tell him my story. He gives me some advice, we talk, we laugh. I get dropped off.
The ride back to New York was uneventful.
-l
And I didn’t have to this time either. A Greyhound employee somehow had the kiosk print my ticket. I was leery of handing a stranger my credit card at the Port Authority, but that Greyhound uniform instills a trust in a rider, so hand it over I did. Not only did he print my tickets out, but he also placed them in one of those envelopes that I see others holding on line. Not only did he place them in one of those envelopes that I see others holding on line, but he told me my Gate number, and he wrote it in the appropriate space on the envelope. Gate 71, I know it is Gate 71. I know it so well that I don’t even look for a Gate number, I just know when I get there. Still, … I appreciate that writing of the number down.
I make my way down the stairs, and see that there is no line. No line, bad sign. I walk to the front, and find out that there is a bus, but there may not be seats. Lucky for me there were not two seats together – a very pushy woman with her child cut me line...in a line where I was the only person.
I get a seat. Second to the front, left side aisle.
Seatmate was quiet, had the same cell phone, didn't eat stinky food, and is dating someone who goes to school in DC. Greyhound twinsie, you may be thinking. That is exactly what P said when I texted her about it.
Seatmate said he would guest blog.
He has not, as of yet.
We made three rest-stops.
The first one was an actual stop. I think I bought coffee.
A sociable and quite elderly fellow-rider approached me. He was drawn to my portable DVD player. He asked questions…what is that…how is working…it just plays that?…oh you have to buy the movies?...He also said “cute” in my direction, which may have also been in the direction of small child in the next seat. I like to think it was directed my way.
He comes back later. He comes back and watches a few seconds of a House episode over my shoulder. He questions me. He comments about not knowing technology, but he assures me that he does have a phone. To my, “and is it a cell phone!?”….he claims that the battery is dead. He walks away.
Well, sir, I did not want to use your phone if that was your excuse for me not to use it. I was merely continuing the conversation you started about not knowing technology.
We did not speak again. If my seatmate had guestblogged, he would have told you that it was awkward.
2nd rest stop – to pick up a stranded Greyhound driver.
3rd rest stop – to get stranded Greyhound driver dinner.
There was a riot. People yelled. I think someone said, “And you call this an EXPRESS BUS TO DC!” I understand the riders…no one wants to stop. We all want to get to our boyfriend’s apartment and order textured vegetable protein made to look like general tso’s chicken, but circumstances made us wait. I may have been more sympathetic to the excessive stops because my second row seating allowed me to hear the whole story…I paused House and removed my earphones...I listened. I understood. The stranded driver was stranded since 4:00 PM. No other buses stopped, and she was waving her arms. I did not find out what happened to the riders of her broken down bus. Seatmate said that his bus broke down once – but that’s his story to blog, if he ever comes forward to do so.
The rest of the ride is a blur. I am sure I watched some Picket Fences.
I quickly get off the bus, and head towards the taxi drivers. The first guy says he’ll take me, and another taxi driver tells him that this is okay – not sure why he needed permission, but he tells me that he is parked a little ways off. We walk. And walk. And walk around the block. I realize that we are not walking towards a licensed taxi. I quickly decide that I will get in this stranger’s personal vehicle and hope that he will drive me to M’s apartment. I sit in the passenger seat. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to sit in the back, but I figured I’d go for it. He drives, we talk.
I love him.
He married at 22, to his pregnant 19 year old girlfriend. Both were Howard University students. 5 kids later, and they are still together. I tell him my story. He gives me some advice, we talk, we laugh. I get dropped off.
The ride back to New York was uneventful.
-l
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
you had us at "better directions"
The following message was sent to Bolt Bus riders:
We had numerous requests to improve our directions and provide more clues / landmarks to the pickup points. The current directions are pretty brief and insufficient… we apologize… hopefully this email will help get you to the right location. In a week or two we’ll update our FAQ with pictures, better descriptions and landmarks.
New York - 33rd and 7th (service to Washington D.C.) - at the northeast corner of the intersection. The bus will stop in the designated bus stop area on 33rd Street in front of a Sbarro’s Italian restuarant. (Honestly… we don’t like this location because it is crowded and are talking with the city about moving somewhere more appropriate… we’ll keep you posted)
New York – 34th and 8th (service to Philadelphia and Boston) at the northwest corner of the intersection. The primary landmark is the New Yorker hotel and the Tick Tock Diner. Along 34th there are designated bus stops from the Tick Tock to the entrance to the hotel. This is where our bus will pickup.
New York – 6th and Canal (service to Washington D. C. and Philadelphia) – at the northeast corner of the intersection a little north on 6th. Technically the location is on 6th between Canal and Grand. The pickup point is near a fenced in basketball court.
Washington – 11th and G – at the southwest corner of the intersection right in front of the Metro Center subway entrance. The primary landmark (other than the Metro) is a bunch of newspaper dispensers (10+) and across the street is a Suntrust bank. Our bus will use the designated bus stop
Philadelphia – 30th and Market – at the southwest corner of the intersection. Next to the pickup point is the Thompson Institute and across the street is the Post Office.
Boarding tips
Please be 15 minutes early – we will do everything we can to run on time, if you are five minutes late you’ll probably miss the bus.
Print out your email confirmation … this makes the whole process go fast and problem free.
We ask for your patience… we expect as a start up company that we will have some issues and we did. Not many but a few… from our view one issue is one too many… we’ll continue to work hard to improve and run the best service we can.
We had numerous requests to improve our directions and provide more clues / landmarks to the pickup points. The current directions are pretty brief and insufficient… we apologize… hopefully this email will help get you to the right location. In a week or two we’ll update our FAQ with pictures, better descriptions and landmarks.
New York - 33rd and 7th (service to Washington D.C.) - at the northeast corner of the intersection. The bus will stop in the designated bus stop area on 33rd Street in front of a Sbarro’s Italian restuarant. (Honestly… we don’t like this location because it is crowded and are talking with the city about moving somewhere more appropriate… we’ll keep you posted)
New York – 34th and 8th (service to Philadelphia and Boston) at the northwest corner of the intersection. The primary landmark is the New Yorker hotel and the Tick Tock Diner. Along 34th there are designated bus stops from the Tick Tock to the entrance to the hotel. This is where our bus will pickup.
New York – 6th and Canal (service to Washington D. C. and Philadelphia) – at the northeast corner of the intersection a little north on 6th. Technically the location is on 6th between Canal and Grand. The pickup point is near a fenced in basketball court.
Washington – 11th and G – at the southwest corner of the intersection right in front of the Metro Center subway entrance. The primary landmark (other than the Metro) is a bunch of newspaper dispensers (10+) and across the street is a Suntrust bank. Our bus will use the designated bus stop
Philadelphia – 30th and Market – at the southwest corner of the intersection. Next to the pickup point is the Thompson Institute and across the street is the Post Office.
Boarding tips
Please be 15 minutes early – we will do everything we can to run on time, if you are five minutes late you’ll probably miss the bus.
Print out your email confirmation … this makes the whole process go fast and problem free.
We ask for your patience… we expect as a start up company that we will have some issues and we did. Not many but a few… from our view one issue is one too many… we’ll continue to work hard to improve and run the best service we can.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
first time, all over again
I've hinted at the high level of excitement that the bolt bus has inspired within me and L previously so I’ll try to curb my gushing here. Meandering over to the corner of 11th and G, I stopped to breathe in deep. The smell of spring and a change in the air upon us; words simply can’t express these kinds of phenomena. I was riding the crest of a new era, one filled with spacious leg room and deep pockets from savings. It took about an hour to come back down.
The bus smelled new, that awful mix of plastic (or leather for you high-rollers) that gets labeled as "new car smell." To my nose, it smells like sadness and factories, but I’ll do my best not to project my emotional reactions of smells onto you. As I make a mad dash down the aisle, I am desperately searching for an AV outlet as to not make my rental of "Apocalypse Now” in vein. It takes me 2/3 of the bus to realize that there placements are on the back of seats and not near the window as I expected.
The trip begins routinely and the people riding are rather...ordinary. Mostly students with some business types sprinkled about. The driver takes a detour somewhere outside of Baltimore where things begin to get a bit hairy. Now, my knowledge of routes and highways does not allow me to make grand accusatory statements with any real expertise behind it (i.e.- You've got to be a fool to take 295 at 4:30 on a Friday!) That being said, our route seemed unusual and somewhat creative yet ineffective in shaving off the time of the trip- my 3:00pm bus arrived at 33rd and 7th at 8:00pm.
We broke for a 10 minute rest stop, a rookie move considering the bus was not running on schedule. Note to Bolt Bus drivers: cigarette breaks and Filet-o-Fish are for those who are running early!
I took a step outside to stretch my legs. As I linger making phone calls, two droopy faced youngsters approach the driver. The conversation goes something like this:
Two misanthropes: "Have you been told about us? We were on the 1pm from DC and got off the bus and it left without us. We were told we'd be allowed to board this bus?"
Driver:I have no idea..." (makes phone call inquiring about stowed luggage a good question considering there is no actual bolt bus terminal opting for the time being to meet at specified street corners.)
Needless to say, these two didn't board our bus. Some have suggested they have been forced to start a new life at the Molly Pitcher rest area, an accusation I am in no position to confirm or deny. On my return trip, I hear a fellow passenger recount a time where she was left by a greyhound bus waiting for a Blimpie sandwich. Next time you don't get the bread toasted!
The bus smelled new, that awful mix of plastic (or leather for you high-rollers) that gets labeled as "new car smell." To my nose, it smells like sadness and factories, but I’ll do my best not to project my emotional reactions of smells onto you. As I make a mad dash down the aisle, I am desperately searching for an AV outlet as to not make my rental of "Apocalypse Now” in vein. It takes me 2/3 of the bus to realize that there placements are on the back of seats and not near the window as I expected.
The trip begins routinely and the people riding are rather...ordinary. Mostly students with some business types sprinkled about. The driver takes a detour somewhere outside of Baltimore where things begin to get a bit hairy. Now, my knowledge of routes and highways does not allow me to make grand accusatory statements with any real expertise behind it (i.e.- You've got to be a fool to take 295 at 4:30 on a Friday!) That being said, our route seemed unusual and somewhat creative yet ineffective in shaving off the time of the trip- my 3:00pm bus arrived at 33rd and 7th at 8:00pm.
We broke for a 10 minute rest stop, a rookie move considering the bus was not running on schedule. Note to Bolt Bus drivers: cigarette breaks and Filet-o-Fish are for those who are running early!
I took a step outside to stretch my legs. As I linger making phone calls, two droopy faced youngsters approach the driver. The conversation goes something like this:
Two misanthropes: "Have you been told about us? We were on the 1pm from DC and got off the bus and it left without us. We were told we'd be allowed to board this bus?"
Driver:I have no idea..." (makes phone call inquiring about stowed luggage a good question considering there is no actual bolt bus terminal opting for the time being to meet at specified street corners.)
Needless to say, these two didn't board our bus. Some have suggested they have been forced to start a new life at the Molly Pitcher rest area, an accusation I am in no position to confirm or deny. On my return trip, I hear a fellow passenger recount a time where she was left by a greyhound bus waiting for a Blimpie sandwich. Next time you don't get the bread toasted!
keep it like a shhhh!
For those about to hound, we salute you (SECRETLY):
Those interested can now get half-off tickets by participating in Greyhound's mystery traveler program. While the details of my participating are highly sensitive and not to be repeated here...you can count on some faithful reconnaissance coming soon.
Your convoluted mission:
Mystery Traveler
Thank you for participating in our Mystery Travel program! Your feedback about your
trip is valuable to Greyhound, so please tell us about the good and the bad. Make sureyou read the questions and become familiar with them before your trip. Do not at any time tell any Greyhound employee that you are a mystery traveler; we need you to
keep your anonymity at all times in order to obtain the most accurate results.
Please take these questions (and a pen) with you on your trip and complete your
answers as soon as you can. Do not fill this out where any Greyhound employees
could see you. You might find that completing as many questions as possible on the
bus is the best time to avoid detection. The more detail you can provide is always
appreciated. When the answer is “no,” please try to provide us with more information.
Once you arrive at your destination, you will have 7 days to complete the survey online.After the 7th day, we will not accept the survey and you will not get half of your ticketprice back. To process your survey online, please go to
http://www.greyhound.com/mysterytraveler. When you process your survey online, you
will receive a confirmation that the form is validated and you will get half of your ticketprice back. If you took a round trip, please tell us only about your return tripOnce again, thank you and enjoy your trip!
Mystery Traveler Terms & Conditions
To participate in the Mystery Travel Program, you agree to:
• Purchase a Greyhound ticket on www.greyhound.com
• Travel on the schedules and dates specified on the ticket (no changes allowed)
• Print the survey form and use your best efforts to 1) complete the survey honestly and 2) keep your participation anonymous.
To get half of your ticket price back, you are required to:
• Enter your survey results and confirmation number at the web address on the survey form within seven days of your departure
date
• Comply with all applicable laws, regulations and policies regarding bus travel
• You may participate in the Mystery Traveler Program only once
Upon verified completion of your survey, Greyhound will give you half of your ticket price back and will-call fee amounts (not
including any excess baggage or other fees) to your credit card. Greyhound may modify or cancel this program at any time.
Those interested can now get half-off tickets by participating in Greyhound's mystery traveler program. While the details of my participating are highly sensitive and not to be repeated here...you can count on some faithful reconnaissance coming soon.
Your convoluted mission:
Mystery Traveler
Thank you for participating in our Mystery Travel program! Your feedback about your
trip is valuable to Greyhound, so please tell us about the good and the bad. Make sureyou read the questions and become familiar with them before your trip. Do not at any time tell any Greyhound employee that you are a mystery traveler; we need you to
keep your anonymity at all times in order to obtain the most accurate results.
Please take these questions (and a pen) with you on your trip and complete your
answers as soon as you can. Do not fill this out where any Greyhound employees
could see you. You might find that completing as many questions as possible on the
bus is the best time to avoid detection. The more detail you can provide is always
appreciated. When the answer is “no,” please try to provide us with more information.
Once you arrive at your destination, you will have 7 days to complete the survey online.After the 7th day, we will not accept the survey and you will not get half of your ticketprice back. To process your survey online, please go to
http://www.greyhound.com/mysterytraveler. When you process your survey online, you
will receive a confirmation that the form is validated and you will get half of your ticketprice back. If you took a round trip, please tell us only about your return tripOnce again, thank you and enjoy your trip!
Mystery Traveler Terms & Conditions
To participate in the Mystery Travel Program, you agree to:
• Purchase a Greyhound ticket on www.greyhound.com
• Travel on the schedules and dates specified on the ticket (no changes allowed)
• Print the survey form and use your best efforts to 1) complete the survey honestly and 2) keep your participation anonymous.
To get half of your ticket price back, you are required to:
• Enter your survey results and confirmation number at the web address on the survey form within seven days of your departure
date
• Comply with all applicable laws, regulations and policies regarding bus travel
• You may participate in the Mystery Traveler Program only once
Upon verified completion of your survey, Greyhound will give you half of your ticket price back and will-call fee amounts (not
including any excess baggage or other fees) to your credit card. Greyhound may modify or cancel this program at any time.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Arthur Frommer Online, Riding Our Coattails to DC
Arthur Frommer Online: I just have to return to the news about the additional $1-a-ride (but usually $15) cut-rate bus lines
Are you challenging us, Arthur Frommer?
We write about cheap bus travel. Stick to your travel guides, sir.
[Ed. note - We will keep track of A.F keeping tracking of cheap bus travel]
Arthur Frommer Online: I just have to return to the news about the additional $1-a-ride (but usually $15) cut-rate bus lines
I just have to return to the news about the additional $1-a-ride (but usually $15) cut-rate bus lines
Just as Southwest Airlines, Skybus, Spirit Airlines, and other upstarts have revolutionized the pricing of air transportation in America (as Ryanair and easyJet did in Britain and Europe), we are now witnessing a similar upheaval in ground transportation within the U.S. Although I dealt with this subject yesterday, it's important enough to warrant further discussion today.
First, I neglected to mention yesterday that the new Megabus (www.megabus.com) service from New York will also go to Atlantic City, the difference being that the casino-bound buses will leave from the Port Authority Terminal on 42nd Street rather than from the northwest street corner of West 31st Street and Eighth Avenue (to Buffalo, Toronto, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Baltimore). And I should also have emphasized, more than I did, that from its hub in Chicago, Megabus also services every Midwest city of note. Added to its service from Los Angeles, Megabus will (as of May 30, the start-up of its New York service) deal with a large percentage of the American population in their routine transportation needs.
In doing so, Megabus joins DC2NY, a hip bus service on which free mineral water and wi-fi service are featured; it joins Bolt Bus (the Greyhound subsidiary that services only New York-to-Boston presently, but will obviously expand to many, many more cities in the coming months); and it joins the several "Chinatown" services (so-called because they drive from one Chinatown to another) like Fung Wah and others.
So here's an excellent alternative to the overly-expensive airplanes and trains to which we've been relegated in the past. Shuttle flights from New York to Boston or Washington, D.C., already cost more than $150 each way, and the cheaper Amtrak services between the same cities will almost always cost as much as $89 each way. (The speedier "Acela" trains charge as much as a shuttle flight.)
So will Americans flock to the new cut-rate buses? It's a matter of psychology. We've been trained to regard inter-city buses as something for the poor; and indeed, if you scan the people in an average bus station, you rarely see lawyers-with-briefcases or graduate students-with-laptops. But that's about to change. The fact that the new cut-rate buses will offer such amenities as power outlets at each seat is a powerful new improvement in transportation and will win many persons over from the higher-priced planes and trains.
Let me also stress that if you make your bookings right away on the new Megabus services, you stand a good chance of snaring a $1 ticket. Yesterday, an associate of mine booked a 50¢ round-trip on Megabus between New York and Philadelphia (for post-May 30 dates). And $1-and-up tickets are presently available on Megabus and Bolt Bus on all the other services they either presently operate or are about to commence.
All you cost-conscious travelers: this is a Mega development! Go to the websites of the bus lines I've named above and begin following the story over the weeks to come. We are on the brink of something big in travel.
Are you challenging us, Arthur Frommer?
We write about cheap bus travel. Stick to your travel guides, sir.
[Ed. note - We will keep track of A.F keeping tracking of cheap bus travel]
Arthur Frommer Online: I just have to return to the news about the additional $1-a-ride (but usually $15) cut-rate bus lines
I just have to return to the news about the additional $1-a-ride (but usually $15) cut-rate bus lines
Just as Southwest Airlines, Skybus, Spirit Airlines, and other upstarts have revolutionized the pricing of air transportation in America (as Ryanair and easyJet did in Britain and Europe), we are now witnessing a similar upheaval in ground transportation within the U.S. Although I dealt with this subject yesterday, it's important enough to warrant further discussion today.
First, I neglected to mention yesterday that the new Megabus (www.megabus.com) service from New York will also go to Atlantic City, the difference being that the casino-bound buses will leave from the Port Authority Terminal on 42nd Street rather than from the northwest street corner of West 31st Street and Eighth Avenue (to Buffalo, Toronto, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Baltimore). And I should also have emphasized, more than I did, that from its hub in Chicago, Megabus also services every Midwest city of note. Added to its service from Los Angeles, Megabus will (as of May 30, the start-up of its New York service) deal with a large percentage of the American population in their routine transportation needs.
In doing so, Megabus joins DC2NY, a hip bus service on which free mineral water and wi-fi service are featured; it joins Bolt Bus (the Greyhound subsidiary that services only New York-to-Boston presently, but will obviously expand to many, many more cities in the coming months); and it joins the several "Chinatown" services (so-called because they drive from one Chinatown to another) like Fung Wah and others.
So here's an excellent alternative to the overly-expensive airplanes and trains to which we've been relegated in the past. Shuttle flights from New York to Boston or Washington, D.C., already cost more than $150 each way, and the cheaper Amtrak services between the same cities will almost always cost as much as $89 each way. (The speedier "Acela" trains charge as much as a shuttle flight.)
So will Americans flock to the new cut-rate buses? It's a matter of psychology. We've been trained to regard inter-city buses as something for the poor; and indeed, if you scan the people in an average bus station, you rarely see lawyers-with-briefcases or graduate students-with-laptops. But that's about to change. The fact that the new cut-rate buses will offer such amenities as power outlets at each seat is a powerful new improvement in transportation and will win many persons over from the higher-priced planes and trains.
Let me also stress that if you make your bookings right away on the new Megabus services, you stand a good chance of snaring a $1 ticket. Yesterday, an associate of mine booked a 50¢ round-trip on Megabus between New York and Philadelphia (for post-May 30 dates). And $1-and-up tickets are presently available on Megabus and Bolt Bus on all the other services they either presently operate or are about to commence.
All you cost-conscious travelers: this is a Mega development! Go to the websites of the bus lines I've named above and begin following the story over the weeks to come. We are on the brink of something big in travel.
Maiden Voyage
First time on the Bolt bus, and I am a nervous about the possibility of the Bolt Bus not actually existing, and this $1 fare was a way to get my credit card number. I worry that I won't find the bus on 33rd and 7th. I even tried to plan to dry run a few weekends back, so I could find the street and remember key landmarks. M thought that was unnecessary. As I get off the train, I see it. The Bolt Bus. Snazzier than the Greyhound. Bright orange and shiny.
I talk to the bus driver, and he offers to put my bag in the bus. He moves the bus because he can't keep it parked there. I worry that I won't find the bus at the 5:30 boarding time.
I have some time to waste. I notice that on the street is a deli, a peep show, a Sbarro's, and nestled in between -- Fantasma. A magical toy store. Advertising Continuos Live Magic Shows. I take a cell-phone photo and immediately send it to M and P, challenging them to guess what the stores actually sells.
I figure that I have the time, so I walk up the many flights of stairs to the store. I expect a peep show, I expect a bizarre mix of magic tricks and nudity. I plan to walk in the door -- heavy and grey with the words Stage Door 1 painted on it -- and peek in, see what I see, and text M and P that I found a magic-themed peep show.
I open the door. Magic Shop. I saw a card trick. I bought fake poop. I went on my way.
Disappointed. A magic store is not funny enough to text about. I do anyway. Also, I write about it.
I talk to someone else who is waiting. She has never been to DC before, never been on a bus. I give some tips, and share my excitement about the new bus line.
The bus arrives, and I am one of the first on. The driver checks our print-out tickets. The bus was mostly empty. I chose a seat, but then two women sat behind me. I moved my seat, because I don't want to listen to their conversation for 4 hours. Never had the Greyhound offered me such an opportunity.
I move to a seat closer to the back, left side of the bus. My seat has an electrical outlet. I plug in my portable DVD player, even though it was fully charged.
The seats were comfortable, very clean -- not leather as advertised. So much leg room, I even took a picture. No one sat next to me. I watched my Netflix, I read, I texted. No smells, no babies, no complaints, no rest stops.
I used the bathroom. Clean! And it was not a big hole with everything sloshing around visibly underneath. It was air-plane style. And had real toliet paper. No hand sanitizer though, but I carry my own.
The ride was quiet and quick, comparatively.
Walk off the bus at 11th and G. No train ride after that. No cab. I meet M and walk home.
Sunday:
1:00 Bolt Bus. Walked to the bus. Bought coffee. A big crowd is gathered. Some people have tickets for a later time but try to get on this bus. They succeed.
Crowded bus this trip, but I manage to sit alone. I plan to charge my phone, but I left it at M's. I plug in my DVD player.
People are loud this trip. I read a magazine. I smell stinky food, it's always someone. It's the person two seats in front of me. I now hate her.
A man sitting across from me keeps pounding on his chest, loudly. I stare. His companion reaches over, and also pounds on his chest. He just doesn't stop. He pounds on and off for the whole ride.
Bathroom has hand sanitizer this time.
Due to traffic, we detoured into NJ. It added some time to the trip and I got antsy. Almost at 33rd and 7th, and a moving truck is blocking the street. The movers try to convince the driver to squeeze through. He refuses. After minutes of arguing, the driver says, "That's why you drive a truck, and I drive a $450,000 bus. A safe driver, which is not always guaranteed on some forms of DC-NY travel. I approve. Other riders complain about the long ride. I do, but I know that I'll be back.
Better than regular Greyhound in all areas.
Photos to be posted soon.
I talk to the bus driver, and he offers to put my bag in the bus. He moves the bus because he can't keep it parked there. I worry that I won't find the bus at the 5:30 boarding time.
I have some time to waste. I notice that on the street is a deli, a peep show, a Sbarro's, and nestled in between -- Fantasma. A magical toy store. Advertising Continuos Live Magic Shows. I take a cell-phone photo and immediately send it to M and P, challenging them to guess what the stores actually sells.
I figure that I have the time, so I walk up the many flights of stairs to the store. I expect a peep show, I expect a bizarre mix of magic tricks and nudity. I plan to walk in the door -- heavy and grey with the words Stage Door 1 painted on it -- and peek in, see what I see, and text M and P that I found a magic-themed peep show.
I open the door. Magic Shop. I saw a card trick. I bought fake poop. I went on my way.
Disappointed. A magic store is not funny enough to text about. I do anyway. Also, I write about it.
I talk to someone else who is waiting. She has never been to DC before, never been on a bus. I give some tips, and share my excitement about the new bus line.
The bus arrives, and I am one of the first on. The driver checks our print-out tickets. The bus was mostly empty. I chose a seat, but then two women sat behind me. I moved my seat, because I don't want to listen to their conversation for 4 hours. Never had the Greyhound offered me such an opportunity.
I move to a seat closer to the back, left side of the bus. My seat has an electrical outlet. I plug in my portable DVD player, even though it was fully charged.
The seats were comfortable, very clean -- not leather as advertised. So much leg room, I even took a picture. No one sat next to me. I watched my Netflix, I read, I texted. No smells, no babies, no complaints, no rest stops.
I used the bathroom. Clean! And it was not a big hole with everything sloshing around visibly underneath. It was air-plane style. And had real toliet paper. No hand sanitizer though, but I carry my own.
The ride was quiet and quick, comparatively.
Walk off the bus at 11th and G. No train ride after that. No cab. I meet M and walk home.
Sunday:
1:00 Bolt Bus. Walked to the bus. Bought coffee. A big crowd is gathered. Some people have tickets for a later time but try to get on this bus. They succeed.
Crowded bus this trip, but I manage to sit alone. I plan to charge my phone, but I left it at M's. I plug in my DVD player.
People are loud this trip. I read a magazine. I smell stinky food, it's always someone. It's the person two seats in front of me. I now hate her.
A man sitting across from me keeps pounding on his chest, loudly. I stare. His companion reaches over, and also pounds on his chest. He just doesn't stop. He pounds on and off for the whole ride.
Bathroom has hand sanitizer this time.
Due to traffic, we detoured into NJ. It added some time to the trip and I got antsy. Almost at 33rd and 7th, and a moving truck is blocking the street. The movers try to convince the driver to squeeze through. He refuses. After minutes of arguing, the driver says, "That's why you drive a truck, and I drive a $450,000 bus. A safe driver, which is not always guaranteed on some forms of DC-NY travel. I approve. Other riders complain about the long ride. I do, but I know that I'll be back.
Better than regular Greyhound in all areas.
Photos to be posted soon.
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