BusTalk

[Mr. Linsky]

'Cheap Buses May Face Restrictions on Locations'


By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
Published: February 3, 2011 The New York Times

Stricter regulation could be on the way for discount bus companies that operate on New York City streets, under a bill to be introduced on Friday in Albany that aims to put an end to complaints that the buses clog sidewalks and block thoroughfares in Chinatown and Midtown.

The discount buses, bulky squatters that often idle in the city’s curbside loading zones, have long been a bane of businesses and residents concerned about congestion, noise and risky conditions for pedestrians.

But the city’s hands have, for the most part, been tied: although the buses are subject to federal rules, the city’s Department of Transportation cannot ban them from existing bus stops or no-standing zones.

The bill, if approved, would open the door for the city to establish designated pick-up and drop-off locations for the buses and require a permit to operate in the city. Any proposed locations would face review by community boards and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The bill will be sponsored in the State Assembly by that body’s speaker, Sheldon Silver, all but ensuring its passage. Mr. Silver’s Manhattan district includes a dense area of Chinatown that is a home base for many discount bus companies started in the past decade.

“They put themselves near crosswalks,” Mr. Silver said in an interview on Thursday. “They double-park, and it’s all hours of the day and night. We want to bring some order to this chaotic situation.”

Companies like BoltBus and Megabus have gained popularity with their low fares, offering rides to Boston for as low as $1, for example. But their occupancy along the West 34th Street corridor in Midtown has drawn the anger of restaurant and building owners who say they have lost customers because of the intrusion.

“The buses line up on the whole block, so if you’re across the street you can’t see the businesses,” said Martin Whelan, an owner of Stout NYC, an Irish pub on West 33rd Street.

He said the buses sent fumes wafting into his bar around happy hour, and that suitcase-carrying passengers waiting in line blocked the sidewalk around the same time hordes of commuters were heading to nearby Pennsylvania Station.

A spokesman for BoltBus, Timothy Stokes, said that his company actively cooperated with the city in determining curbside locations. “As long as each curbside carrier is treated equally in their operations, we are fine with any changes the city deems necessary,” Mr. Stokes wrote in an e-mail.

An official at Megabus said the company would welcome additional cooperation with the city.

State Senator Daniel L. Squadron, who is spearheading the legislation, said he did not want the rules to hurt the industry.

“They have been good for travel in the Northeast corridor,” Mr. Squadron said.

But he said the scramble for curbside space and shifting loading zones, with their potential to confuse customers, had produced an atmosphere akin to the Wild West.

Shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday, a group of passengers with knapsacks, duffel bags and rolling suitcases assembled outside the offices of the Fung Wah bus service on Canal Street by the foot of the Manhattan Bridge.

Sam Wright, 20, of Greenwich, Conn., was waiting to board a bus to Boston to visit friends, a trip he said he made once or twice a month. “They’re cheap, they’re fast,” Mr. Wright said, as the crowd was led to an idling bus on the Bowery. “I’ve never had a problem.”

Would Mr. Wright support increased scrutiny by the city? “As long as the price doesn’t change,” he said with a shrug.

Colin Moynihan contributed reporting

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[Hankg42]

I experience daily the congestion on the sidewalk on 34th Street between 8th and 9th Aves. If a dispatcher could get the passengers to line up in an organized fashion, it wouldn't be too bad. But it's like a free-for-all when a bus pulls up, and the people dash to be first. It is near impossible to get by them sometimes, with all the people and baggage. During the holiday period, it was worse. Whatever solution they come up with, I hope it doesn't cause a fare increase or negatively impact the bus companies. It is quite obvious that these routes are very popular, and a good alternative to rail or air.

[HwyHaulier]

Mr 'L' -

Dark and Evil plot by rail interests? Our Government attempting to run competitors out of the business? Who knows?
"Grassy Knoll" and "...railroad workers with shiny shoes..." thoughts, anyone?

.....................Vern........................

[RailBus63]

I think it's as simple as municipalities being upset that these bus lines are exploiting a loophole that allows them to load at regular bus stops instead of paying the fees to utilize intercity bus terminals.

[HwyHaulier]

RailBus63 -

Ah, I don't know. "Loophole" often used as a pejorative, and favored by news reporters who can't be bothered with the basic research!

As is so often the case: One man's loophole is another's reasonable compliance with the law. So that the "exception" rules are simply a
compromise which do not impose punitive and undue burdens on some particular impacted classes?

........IMHO & FWIW..............Vern.................

[timecruncher]

Curb space is especially limited in busy downtown areas such as Manhattan, Washington and Boston. Plus, never discount the fact that politicians in perpetually-broke New York will exploit any way to garner taxes and fees to help fund their hunger for "other people's money."

When Megabus came to Louisville -- for a few short months, alas -- a couple of years ago, their representative and I spent several hours looking at several downtown locations from which to load their buses near to TARC stops and convenient to downtown services.

During that time, he pointed out to me that Megabus' primary customer was not an Amtrak or airline passenger, but mostly folks who had previously driven between the origin and destination pairs on their routes.

timecruncher
Schedulers give you the runs

[GBL Rebel]

Thinking this is not about Megabus or Bolt Bus. I'm thinking more along the lines of some private carriers who are know for being less then friendly and unsafe. Some of these drivers just do what they want and the companies could careless.

Try being in the loading bays at a certain casino in CT. You are told your bus time and bay for leaving when you arrive there. However, this is subject to change as these private clowns do as they want, and DATCO has to follow the rules while there passengers get the run around. The casino can't organize them, as they have no understanding of how it works nor do they care!