Comments on: DC2NY Bus To Go Out of Business?

By: Fisherman

Fisherman — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:35:35 +0000

@Jason – checkout the WHOIS for ricche.biz, looks like a DC resident. i saw the wedding thing you did, but all his stuff is about dc, my 2 cents.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:15:40 +0000

KJ, if I recall correctly the bus stop at AU was moved to Bethesda at least two years ago. Something about the bus company not securing the proper permits to operate in DC. I used to live in McLean Gardens, and the first time I tried to find the bus that stopped at AU, I was told it had been moved to downtown Bethesda.

By: kj

kj — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:09:20 +0000

Sure, the distance from Chinatown to L’Enfant isn’t that far, and it’s a short ride on the metro between the two spots — when the metro is actually running, which it often isn’t super-early in the morning when I want to take the bus.

But what about all the AU kids and others getting on the bus on 41st and Albemarle? The Tenleytown/AU metro stop is a haul from L’Enfant, I’m guessing Bethesda stops are closer.

By: FourthandEye

FourthandEye — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:55:50 +0000

Parkwood Person’s post nailed it.

By: Parkwood Person

Parkwood Person — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:41:58 +0000

I’m also glad they’re moving and consolidating. Nothing is more annoying than having to run around the city by metro to catch “the next” bus that is leaving from across town, when the one you were supposed to be on is already booked. We have a fabulous metro system to get around the city, why do we need express buses to NY to leave from multiple locations?

It seems like after a transition period, this would be a lot more economical for the bus lines too, no?

As for the safety issue- I don’t think the proposed location seems unreasonable dangerous. Especially if it becomes the new hub for the out of town buses- that in and of its self will bring more traffic, which will bring more cabs, police etc. Soon enough there will be vendors to sell you food while you wait for your bus as well. Sure, maybe there won’t be quite the selection as Chinatown or Dupont, but come on- this is the bus. You get what you pay for. Its not a God given right to have fabulous bars and lounges available to those waiting for the cheap bus to NY.

I’d see the real “threat” to the bus companies here is competition- with all of the companies based out of the same location, they’ll have to keep up with one another in terms of pricing and scheduling and service (ie, if one company screws you over, you can walk to the next one). How is that not great for the consumers?

By: poo poo

poo poo — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:22:01 +0000

thank goodness they’re moving! they’re such a nuisance in china town. they aggravate an already crappy traffic problem in that part of town. i work near l’enfant plaza, and it’s not only safe, it’s easily accessible from all parts of the city. does anyone really think that riders are going to stop taking these busses because they have to go five minutes south of china town?

no way, jose. they will go to wherever these cheap busses are. that’s a fact.

By: bogfrog

bogfrog — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:05:49 +0000

what’s wrong with Greyhound? I never had a problem with Greyhound tickets or service, and there’s a pretty established system for waiting on an orderly line on both ends

By: alicia

alicia — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:56:00 +0000

I agree with Adams Morgan — those buses park in metrobus stops and it is incredibly annoying and simply does not seem legal.

By: ro

ro — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:47:19 +0000

sorry but these buses are out of control. I used to live across the street from one of their loading locations on 5th st and i currently work down the street from the 14th st. location. these buses used to be pretty low key years ago and caused very little inconvenience for residents. im not sure what their data shows, but anecdotely ridership has now clearly boomed creating more frequent buses blocking traffic and more riders blocking the sidewalk and more locations across the area. the spots at 8th st and h and 5th and H can be some of the more problematic locations. i’m surprised it took the city this long to address it. Lenfant plaza isn’t some backwater out of the way location. its a few metro stops away from the current loading zones and tourists will have a very nice starting point for the trip into dc: a few blocks from the smithsonian castle and the mall.

By: Adams Morgan

Adams Morgan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:39:27 +0000

As someone who walks by the pick up spot at 11th & G (Bolt and Megabus) every day and sometimes catches a Metrobus there, I’m very glad they are moving the locations. The passengers waiting for the NYC buses clog the sidewalk and the buses often stop in ways that force those waiting for the Metrobuses to walk into the street to get on the bus. While I can appreciate Mr. Ricche’s concerns for “intercity” bus riders, my bigger concern is for “intrAcity” bus riders. The NYC buses should absolutely not be permitted to usurp Metrobus stops.