A New Breed of Bus: Transportation 2.0?
Photo by Mr. T in DC.
There has been an ongoing discussion on TheCityFix about the cool factor of buses – or lack thereof. Though we’ve come to no definite conclusions, the legion of bus companies conveying travelers between DC and NY is one more tally in the “hip” column.
A Washington Post article documents the proliferation of these services, starting with the Chinatown buses in the late 1990s and most recently joined by newcomers like Hola and Tripper Bus. The author counted 12 lines covering the DC-NY route, and ridership is booming. Passengers are of all ages, professions and financial standings.
As a spokesman from the American Bus Association put it, these types of services are “Transportation 2.0.”
What’s behind the buses’ surge in popularity? Is it their recession-friendliness, with fares as low as $1? The leather seats and wireless internet? The convenience of the in-town drop-off and pick-up points? Or have these buses simply become trendy, socially accepted travel modes for a new population of riders?
Whatever the reason, here’s hoping Transportation 2.0 makes its way to other U.S. transportation corridors.
(A note for savvy travelers: a dedicated Post reporter also personally rates 10 DC-NY buses and provides tips for a better ride.)
Tags: D. C., intercity, New York, New York City, NYC, United States, Washingon DC, washington
Aaron Brazell
Rhys Thom
Ethan Arpi
robyn liska
helena cobban
Dario Hidalgo
Laura Root
Erica Schlaikjer
clayton lane
noah kazis
Alex Pazuchanics
Neela Pal
Patricio Chile
Nate Baird
Megan McConville
David Daddio
Allison Bishins
Kwame Brown
brian sykora
Nicolae Duduta
Garrett Bradford
Victoria Broadus
Monika Kerdeman
Nathan Sandwick
I find it annoying when people hype the $1 fare. The person who gets the $1 ticket either a) gets incredibly lucky or b) is extremely determined to get it. I’ve never heard of anyone who just logged on and happened across a $1 fare.
That said, $15-$30 is still a very reasonable fare – I think it would be more effective to talk about the price one is likely to pay than the teaser price they probably won’t.
The thing I find appealing about these buses are the non-stop routes. Going from NYC to DC via bus isn’t a terrible trip if you don’t have to stop in Wilmington and Philadelphia and Baltimore and other cities along the way.