DCist: BoltBus Offers Cheapo Rides From D.C. to NYC

mandrs619

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:36:37 -0500

@ren- Good call on the bus from Pittsburgh to DC!

busrider

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:32:23 -0500

Just found www.BusZoo.com has offered $1.00 to various locations(New York, DC, Philadelphia, Richmond, Baltimore and Norfolk). It seems that the pricing war has just started. With gas price so high, it's good for all of us commuters!

DC1974

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:33:00 -0500

@starfool You are right. I've had it happen to me. More often in getting from DC to NY than the other way but I believe this was only true if you bought a $20 e-ticket, full paying customers got on no matter what -- they seem to have a lot more extra buses at Port Authority that they can call into service.. I was scheduled to take a bus to NY in December at just after 3 am to get to a grad school open house at Pratt. The person before me was the last allowed on the bus (and the next buses didn't leave until 6 am -- which would have made me late for the open house, defeating the whole purpose in going. And of course, no refunds.

starfool

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:16:59 -0500

@ kdubz, I remember Greyhound having a policy that a ticket does not guarantee you a seat (can't find it right now, but I remember from the times I used it). So sometimes on a schedule, yes you bought a ticket for that time, but if the bus was coming from somewhere else and was full (or if so many people were in front of you to fill it), well unless they get another bus, you're SOL for that schedule. I did see on BoltBus' site: "Once your online purchase is complete, you’ll be given a confirmation number with a boarding group. When your group is called, it’s your turn to board. Passengers who book tickets online are guaranteed a seat; however, they must arrive five minutes prior to departure or their seat may be sold to a standby passenger. Standby passengers who purchase tickets at the bus will board last." so yes, it looks like unlike GH a BB ticket does guarantee you a seat.

ren

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:46:45 -0500

I wish competition would spread to other cities. There is a lot of demand for Pittsburgh DC. Greyhound takes almost 8 hours, but the drive is 4+. OR how about a ride for hikers to the Shenandoah or Harper's Ferry on the weekend? There are a ton of cyclists who would love a ride with their bicycle to Harper's Ferry. Personally, I think $15 to $20 for a comfortable ride (as all of mine have been) back from NYC is pretty reseasonable. I worry what cheaper fares will bring.

Krisa

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:33:33 -0500

Yonas, wrong. It's because Americans as a whole want to drive. When their daily commutes get tougher, they don't wish that public transit was better so that they could ride the train to work, they wish that the roads would be widened and the interchanges improved so they can continue to drive without inconvenience. Mindsets can change, especially with a great regional system like metro, but don't think that if only the train infrastructure was there, people would start ditching their cars, because they wouldn't.

RecSpecs

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:06:52 -0500

I just purchased two round-trip tickets for $4.50. I really hope I didn't miss the clause about giving the bus driver a handy on the way...

yonas

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:31:38 -0500

@HCE: Uhhh....I hate to burst your bubble, but there is nothing geographically that is hindering railway development in the US to meet standards akin to European train systems. Reading your comment made me laugh. The reason trains aren't as prevalent in this country is because of the extremely powerful General Motors lobby in the 20th century. The government was pressured to spend more federal dollars on highways instead of railways, all in the name of profit for the big-name American auto manufacturers; and because of it, we're somewhat fucked in terms of efficient public land travel. Do your history homework before making any further comments. It'll save us time and save you some embarrassment.

HCE

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:49:16 -0500

lol. Hilarious to see people complaining about wanting more of my money to flush down the toilet that is Amtrak. No thanks. They can just charge you fools more money if you really want to ride on the train like Europeans. And newsflash: this isn't Europe. There are many, many reasons the US will never have trains like Europe. Geography being one of the biggest. Get used to and get on the bus or just drown your whining in your wine as you ride the Acela.

cactus jack

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:04:01 -0500

It is a good price, but I'd still prefer to take the Bang Bus instead.

RJ

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:17:45 -0500

How will they make money? I am not sure its about making money or killing the competition.

glebe

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:32:27 -0500

How will they make money? easyjet works partially because the last seats cost a lot more and people who need to fly will pay because there's not much else in the way of options. But if the last seats here cost more than $20 you can easily walk down the street and catch a Chinatown bus at the last minute.

yonas

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:17:51 -0500

OHMAN OHMAN OHMAN!!! This gets me all tingly inside! I'm excited....and will most likely book a ticket now, even without plans to head up to NYC.

bobvilla

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:46:46 -0500

This reminds me of Walmart's business model

guest33

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:23:06 -0500

CrappyHouse, I entirely agree. I doubt this bus is any nicer than some of the others, but I'm happy for the competition! I'll add it to my long list of buses to NYC. The whole wifi on the bus thing was picked up by Washington Deluxe now too. DC2NY started it and it seems to be spreading. The problem with wifi on the bus? If it is a regular bus, good luck trying to open your laptop wide enough to actually put it on your lap, see the screen, and type all at the same time. Does not work unless seats are far apart or you're in row 1.

brooklander

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:21:56 -0500

If the trains ran on time, communist might be appropriate descriptor.

brooklander

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:21:30 -0500

If the trains ran on time, communist might be appropriate descriptor.

CrappyHouseInClarendon

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:13:24 -0500

i'm so glad the private market can provide us with sketchy buses as an alternative to a dismally funded third world passenger rail system.

kdubz

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:59:55 -0500

Hopefully, if you buy a ticket you actually get to ride the bus. One time I attempted to take Greyhound, bought my ticket days in advance, showed up plenty early, and was told there was no more room on the bus (a weird channeling of the Seinfeld where he yells at the car rental agent about not holding the reservation). I ended up just getting a refund and walking over to Chinatown to grab an equally smelly and gross bus. Thank god for DC2NY and the like.

kdubz

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:55:17 -0500

iamhooperx

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:49:36 -0500

I already got 5 trips for a grand total of $10.50...not too bad.

tigerflight

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:06:29 -0500

great- i can get to and back from NYC cheaper than I can metro to work in the morning.

tigerflight

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:06:19 -0500

great- i can get to and back from NYC cheaper than I can metro to work in the morning.

registrationsucks

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:55:57 -0500

Cheaper than a Metro ride!

rudeskata

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:55:08 -0500

I bet the driver's this guy.

Stone

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:53:20 -0500

So I guess they gave up on trying to convince students and yuppies to use regular Greyhound buses, huh?

ces12

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:43:26 -0500

what does Jennifer 8. Lee think?

ces12

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:42:44 -0500

what does Jennifer 8. Lee think?

RJ

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:34:11 -0500

Wow shipping the homeless off to NY just got a whole lot cheaper! Or is it the other way around?

no_more_caffeine

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:27:45 -0500

a slightly better last-ditch option when i need to get to nyc

Districtonian

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:26:16 -0500

Anything associated with Greyhound makes me nervous.

boondoggle

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:21:07 -0500

smell ya later, chinatown bus! (no seriously, their smell is quite pungent)

zippy

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:20:57 -0500

nasty

west

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:20:13 -0500

Pretty good deal for a ride in what looks like a big battery.

west

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:19:18 -0500

Pretty good deal for a ride in what looks like a big battery.

monkeyrotica

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:17:48 -0500

Two questions: 1. Are the toilets clean? 2. Can I use them? I had Taco Bell for lunch.