Greyhound: a tour of the worst part of every city in North America. During less lucrative times in my life I used to ride on Greyhound (and Bolt & Megabus) semi-frequently. It is a good deal if you don't mind spending an extra 6 hours waiting around and are willing to risk being decapitated to save ~$50-200 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Tim_McLean). One thing that I will say is that intercity bus travel in North America is much nastier than comparable services in Latin America or East Asia. I feel like this is primarily a socio-economic issue stemming from the fact that middle class Americans do not like to ride a bus so Greyhound is much worse than equivalent services in Mexico. I recall once riding a bus from Texas to California, and the greyhound was being too exceptionally sketchy in terms out the amount of drugs and pornography in use before sundown. In El Paso I transferred to a Mexican bus service to go the rest of the way to LA, and I was very grateful for the massive improvement in hygiene, noise and sanity on the Mexican bus line.
100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
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Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#12The last time I rode a Greyhound was in 2003 to go pick up a car I was buying. It was still in the "Dirty Dog" era, and it was memorable for the acute hearing the driver had, able to pick up someone in the 12th row listening to music without headphones, and his subsequent yelling at them to turn it down. I think they're heading in the right direction these days. I have seen reviews that say the buses are clean, gener…
It's okay, don't think it's gotten better since. Until I graduated a few years ago, I'd take the Vancouver to Seattle route about once a year to meet friends or interview and can't say I've ever had anything I would describe as a good experience in my dozen or so trips.
First, there seemed to some major issue with every other ride. One time the vents started leaking, in another the shocks were absolutely horrid, sometimes the bus reeked, sometimes the seats were dirty or you could feel the seat springs. One time the driver just didn't show up and our bus departed 4 hours after the scheduled time.
Second, more minor issues were always abundant. Things like broken or glacial wifi, power not working, stench, dirty terminals, dirty washrooms, annoying passengers, late departures/arrivals or general confusion from poorly documented check-in/pickup/dropoff locations.
Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#13Forty-odd years ago, I rode Greyhound a fair bit. It was before deregulation brought airline fares down. The buses were reasonably clean, not that smelly unless you sat way back by the restroom. I wouldn't care to do it today--the 20-year-old back can tolerate what the 60-year-old back can't, or anyway would rather not. But it wasn't that bad. I would stand at the end of the line for a bus. The worst outcome was sitt…
But it wasn't that bad I rode Greyhound a few times in the year before the pandemic. Cincinnati to Indianapolis. Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Chicago to Madison. My experience was the same as yours: It's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I think people just have a worst case scenario in their minds that keeps them away. I understand that. I feel the same way about airplane travel over the last decade or so.
For the most part, yes, Greyhound is a solid service. I have been across more than 20 states on Greyhound buses and it is generally a great service that provides excellent value. That said, I also have about 2 drinks worth of seriously messed up stories associated with some of these travels. As a man under 40 with a reasonable build and plenty of patience, everything will probably be fine, but I would not necessarily recommend this mode of transportation to everyone.
Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#14Freight is also a good part of their business much like the airlines. No mention of that in the article. http://www.shipgreyhound.com/
Freight is also a good part of their business
When I worked in television, satellite time was very expensive, and microwave links were scarce. We very often would send videotapes between stations and bureaus via Greyhound freight.
Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
But it wasn't that bad I rode Greyhound a few times in the year before the pandemic. Cincinnati to Indianapolis. Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Chicago to Madison. My experience was the same as yours: It's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I think people just have a worst case scenario in their minds that keeps them away. I understand that. I feel the same way about airplane travel over the last decade or so.
For the most part, yes, Greyhound is a solid service. I have been across more than 20 states on Greyhound buses and it is generally a great service that provides excellent value. That said, I also have about 2 drinks worth of seriously messed up stories associated with some of these travels. As a man under 40 with a reasonable build and plenty of patience, everything will probably be fine, but I would not necessarily…
The messed up stories are there, no question.
Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#16Greyhound: a tour of the worst part of every city in North America. During less lucrative times in my life I used to ride on Greyhound (and Bolt & Megabus) semi-frequently. It is a good deal if you don't mind spending an extra 6 hours waiting around and are willing to risk being decapitated to save ~$50-200 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Tim_McLean ). One thing that I will say is that intercity bus travel…
Oh god I still remember that and the 5'th estate episode. Really tragic.
Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#17Greyhound: a tour of the worst part of every city in North America. During less lucrative times in my life I used to ride on Greyhound (and Bolt & Megabus) semi-frequently. It is a good deal if you don't mind spending an extra 6 hours waiting around and are willing to risk being decapitated to save ~$50-200 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Tim_McLean ). One thing that I will say is that intercity bus travel…
When I was younger, I used to take the Greyhound a lot between my home town and the town I was doing an internship. The stations were definitely in the not so great parts of town. If you were there after dark, it just did not feel safe.
Of course, you rode it because it was cheap vs. your other options. Eventually, I got wise to the slightly pricier competitor in the area and started using that. I have to admit that now I would not bat an eye at spending the extra $25 on the ride, but back then it felt like a luxury.
Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#18I've taken Bolt buses now and again, usually to go from NYC -> Philly, which is kind of a pain by train. Didn't even realize they were a Greyhound brand! I'm not a very finnicky public transit user and while not fancy, the buses I was on were usually pretty clean and spacious. I do wish Americans were more willing to utilize buses, as often times they are a very economic way of getting around (both for the individual, the environment and congestion on the roads).
There is a very similar style bus service in Europe called FlixBus that I have fond (nostalgic) memories of as an incredibly cheap way to get around Europe. Was it fun trying to sleep on a cramped 12 hour bus ride? No. But you can't beat getting from Bratislava to Zagreb for only 20 euro!
Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#19Greyhound: a tour of the worst part of every city in North America. During less lucrative times in my life I used to ride on Greyhound (and Bolt & Megabus) semi-frequently. It is a good deal if you don't mind spending an extra 6 hours waiting around and are willing to risk being decapitated to save ~$50-200 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Tim_McLean ). One thing that I will say is that intercity bus travel…
Boltbus (Greyhound subsidiary) and MegaBus are certainly better where they are available.
Re: 100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound (2013)
#20[deleted]