have any of the double decker buses arrive on ohio routes yet?  i haven't seen any on CLE.

With all the OSU diehards in Cleveland, I would think that a busline would pay for itself easily.  Not to mention all the OSU students from who probably don't want to always drive back and forth but would rather take a 5 dolalr bus.  Not to mention all the Clevelanders who have friends at OSU and other parts of Columbus and wouldn't mind visting at times.

 

Seriously, how come there's a bus to Toledo but not Cleveland???? 

 

 

With all the OSU diehards in Cleveland, I would think that a busline would pay for itself easily.  Not to mention all the OSU students from who probably don't want to always drive back and forth but would rather take a 5 dolalr bus.  Not to mention all the Clevelanders who have friends at OSU and other parts of Columbus and wouldn't mind visting at times.

 

Seriously, how come there's a bus to Toledo but not Cleveland???? 

 

 

 

The megabus system is hubbed in Chicago. Toledo is enroute to Chicago.

the amtrak lines run the same way

Greyhound runs several buses per day between Cleveland and Columbus.  The last time I rode, the buses were clean and comfortable.

 

The only problem is that Greyhound's schedules between the two cities stink.  You can't get to Columbus around 9 AM in the morning.  You either have to leave Cleveland at 4:30 AM or at 8:35 AM.  Then in the afternoon, there is a bus at 3pm and 6 pm but not 4 or 5 pm. 

 

The only reason my last trip worked is because it involved an overnight stay.  Otherwise, I would have had to drive. Who the heck wants to get on a bus in Cleveland at 4:30 AM?  And they wonder why more people don't take the bus? 

 

Greyhound and Amtrak think too much alike-- trying to cut their way to prosperity.

 

 

 

Now this is a deal.  Just booked a trip for the long MLK weekend......

Megabus.com, a discount carrier, said it will give away 100,000 free bus trips to Midwest and West Coast travelers in early 2008.

 

Northeast Ohioans can use the express service to travel from Cleveland to Chicago, Toledo or Pittsburgh. Reservations for the free trips are available beginning this week at Megabus.com. They can be made up to 45 days in advance for travel between Jan. 16 and March 11.

 

To get the free seats, customers must enter the promotion code WIN2008. A limited number of free seats will be available for each destination and departure date.

 

To reach Megabus.com, call 1-877-462-6342.

 

 

have any of the double decker buses arrive on ohio routes yet?  i haven't seen any on CLE.

 

I saw one of the double-deckers at Tower City last Monday.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/NEWS11/712140381/-1/NEWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Article published December 14, 2007

 

Megabus introduces double-decker coaches

 

By DAVID PATCH

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

Double-decker motor coaches common in Europe, but unfamiliar to intercity travelers in the United States before September, will be introduced today on Megabus.com's route through Toledo, the bus line announced. 

 

The 79-seat buses offer increased seating capacity on the more successful routes on Megabus.com's Midwestern network.  The run between Chicago and Cleveland with a stop at Toledo's Southwyck Shopping Center has been among the more popular, Dale Moser, president and chief operating officer of Megabus.com, said yesterday.

 

About 10,000 passengers have ridden in each direction between Toledo and Chicago since service began 15 months ago, Mr. Moser said.  About 1,200 have boarded the Cleveland-bound buses, and 1,300 have ridden to Toledo from Cleveland. The three daily buses each way also carry through passengers between Cleveland and Chicago.

One of my coworkers rode a double decker bus to Chicago a few weeks ago.

 

They should start a CLE-COL-CIN branch since the brand better reverred (imo) than Greyhound.

One of those buses was tailgating me the other day on I-90. I didnt like it at all

The only problem is that Greyhound's schedules between the two cities stink.  You can't get to Columbus around 9 AM in the morning.  You either have to leave Cleveland at 4:30 AM or at 8:35 AM.  Then in the afternoon, there is a bus at 3pm and 6 pm but not 4 or 5 pm.

 

I couldn't agree more.  I go to Columbus at least twice a month from downtown Cleveland, but the departure times are so bad that I usual end up renting a car.  Plus the Greyhound departures that do leave at a reasonable time stop in Akron, Mansfield, and West Salem, which makes the trip 3 hours or more.

 

I really think that pressure needs to be put on Megabus to start a Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati Route.  I've looked on Megabus's website but it lacks a contact address for the actual corporate office.  If anyone has that information it would be great for a letter campaign.

 

Is there any value of having Ohio Hub (Looking to you KJP) put pressure on Megabus to start this route as proof that a train line is valuable to the Ohio Citizen?

BlackOps, actually I'm with All Aboard Ohio, a nonprofit organization promoting the proposed Ohio Hub system. Adding a bus service to prove there is value in adding a train may only prove to those in the state government (who are more content to be satisfied with less) that bus service is good enough. But, personally, I'd use it if buses ran at times I'd want to travel.

 

EDIT: The only contact information I could find was on Coach USA's website (Media contact Travis Whittington, 515-224-1086, [email protected]). Coach USA is Megabus' parent company. And the parent company for Coach USA is a British company, Stagecoach Group Plc.

 

KJP, sorry about the confusion.  If I do write any letter I'll be sure to CC this group.

Does anyone know what the food situation is on the Cle to Chicago route? Should I pack a lunch or is there a stop, and if so, what are the greasy choices? I guess there is no chance that it is that famous hot dog place in Toledo.

The Toledo stop is at the moribund Southwyck mall.  There are no anchors left open since Montgomery Ward closed years ago and Dillard's moved a couple miles to exurbia to a new lifestyle center a couple months ago.  There are a bunch of restaurants in the immediate vicinity:  McDonald's, Steak & Shake, Olive Garden, Waffle House, a toy-train-themed diner (?), and my favorite restaurant in the area:  Tandoor of Toledo.  I am not sure how much time you will have for lunch. 

Megabus typically makes a food/potty stop at one of the service plazas on the Indiana Turnpike (often the first one into Indiana).

please tell me there is a can on the bus!

^BYOB!!

please tell me there is a can on the bus!

 

There is. But you know how people are, vanity-wise.

It is sounding like I will be packing a WSM picnic. And a flask.

You might even be getting a double-decker bus.

My daughter has taken it a number of times from her home in Chicago to Cincinnati and Columbus.  She has enjoyed it.  My wife and other daughter went to visit her in Chicago.  $30 round trip for both of them!  It was a bit difficult dropping them off at 4th and Race and trying to make sure they got on board safely.  My wife thought the ride was okay, busses were a bit dirty.  Can't beat the price.  Of course, my time and convenience is worth more to me than my wife's and daughters, so I'm sure I would never take it!!

It is definitely a trial run here. Plus at a $1  a piece our friend treated us. While I don't like dirty I once rode the greyhound from DC to S. FL (the horror!) so I can take a lot.  I also fly Continental so I can do grungy.  :evil:

 

If this works out we will be taking it more. We crunched some numbers and to go to my inlaws in central IL, it is something crazy like $40 to take the mega bus from Cle to Chi, and get on the Amtrak to Goofy Hollow. This includes the train and bus ROUNDTRIP. 

Back from Megabus and thought I would give the report. The good: Bus was clean. Outgoing trip departed as scheduled. It lets off right at Union Station in Chicago which is great if you are grabbing the Amtrak. Lots of city buses available for traveling onward. Double decker is great. We jockeyed for the top front windshield seats which have great view. We did not break down, in fact we passed a greyhound that had.

 

the bad: the 2:30 arrival time for the 930 am departing Cle bus is not correct. The driver said it is always around 315-330. Why they don't change it irks me as we already bought rail tickets for 3:30 (A train we will now likely miss) for a future trip.  The outgoing trip from Union station to Cleve was seriously delayed due to a driver not showing up. There is no incoming communication from Mega Bus to passengers b/c basically MB uses Union station as a pick up spot, but does not contribute to Union Station in anyway. Union station even has a sign telling passangers to stand out on the curb, not in the building (as if!  It was below 0 windchill)  Henceforth you cannot get any customer service at Union Station. We had a heck of a time getting info from MB through calling customer service ("They will be there 5 more minutes" ...this went on for almost 2 hours). Then a driver picked us up, and explaining nothing as to why we were on a tour of the southside instead of heading back to the Clev. ....it turns out we were going to MB depot to get another driver. more waiting... and then on the road. 

 

Was it worth a $1? absolutely! It was worth way more in fact. This is NOT something to take if you are in a time crunch, ie on business or cutting it close timewise-don't have a flight or anything scheduled anytime soon. If you are just going for a get away then it is much better than driving. Less fatigue, cost, and environmental impact. Plus I have never needed a car in Chicago. I do recommend packing water, snacks etc in the event you experience delays as well. While Cleveland only has the Toledo/Chicago route, they were going all over from Chicago (If I recall: St. Louis, Milwaukee, Detroit/An Arbor, and Cincinnati or Columbus)

Glad you survived!  Doesn't sound like too much fun, especially in this weather, but you can't beat the price!

I am even saying despite the problems it was still better than driving! I am not the best judge though as I hate cars. I really do.

It is impossible to take a car to Chicago!  Our daughter lives on Clark across from Lincoln Park, and I spent all day just driving around the block finding a parking place!

the cabs are dirt cheap and do not cop an attitude for short rides around the city like they do in Cleveland (if you are not going to the airport, you are scum), and the local buses and trains run regularly and on schedule even-so cars are nearly worthless. I do not know what city you live in, but I would consider MB if going to Chicago

the cabs are dirt cheap and do not cop an attitude for short rides around the city like they do in Cleveland (if you are not going to the airport, you are scum), and the local buses and trains run regularly and on schedule even-so cars are nearly worthless. I do not know what city you live in, but I would consider MB if going to Chicago

 

Cabs are dirt cheap, but IMHO, the trains and buses in Chicago, run irregularly and "go out of service", something that rarely happens in Cleveland.  I find the Cleveland buses to be head and shoulders above their Chicago counterparts.

I looked into it.  I am taking the family to Chicago for Memorial Day weekend.  I found my hotel on Priceline.com for under $100 a day  one block from Michigan Avenue, now the problem $30 a day for parking.  With that being said I was interested in traveling by train or Megabus - would never travel on Greyhound ever again.

 

Problem is it only leaves at 6:20 at night... grrr

 

It would cost the three of us $20 each for $60 round trip. Sounds like a good deal but I need better departures.  :(

 

http://www.megabus.com/us/schedules/cincinnati_chicago.php

too bad about the overnight route but that sounds like hell to me. We stayed at the Inn of Chicago for under $90 a night. It was block from Michigan Ave as well. I booked through the website ( http://www.innofchicago.com/ ) and got the best rate. The hotel is great. Only complaint was the water pressure was terrible.  They upgraded us to suite for no reason other than maybe the people ahead of us in line were insufferable and rotten and he wanted to spite them.

 

 

 

Cabs are dirt cheap, but IMHO, the trains and buses in Chicago, run irregularly and "go out of service", something that rarely happens in Cleveland.  I find the Cleveland buses to be head and shoulders above their Chicago counterparts.

 

 

I have to disagree. I typically use buses in any city I travel and find Chicago TA among the best. They even come often as scheduled on the time table, which I use as a guidelines to figure out how often they run, not when they actually arrive.  I agree the Cleveland trains are pretty good...but the buses IMO are just plain awful. I have much more than once waited 30 plus minutes for a bus that should run every 12...and then 3-4 come in all stacked together. The #26 (formally #326) on Detroit/Superior is famous for this. Don't get me started on the trolley (at least it is free).

I also thought Chicago Transit Authority was their best album!!!!  :-D

 

I guess I'm showing my age!

I take it is is not called that, and I made it up!

I wouldn't say the CTA is any better or worse than the RTA aside from the fact that trains service more parts of Chicago.  As often as busses run late here, they run just as late-if not later b/c they actually have traffic.  And the trains are put to to shame by any rapid transit system outside of America. 

 

I think we think the CTA is much better b/c of the activity centered around many stations.  If we embraced TOD, our few lines would become corridors to/from/through the "cool" parts of the city.

 

Megabus isn't bad but if it's only a diff. of $70+/- to fly, I'd spare myself the torture of western Ohio and Indiana.

http://blog.cleveland.com/travel/2008/02/megabus_adds_four_cities.html

 

Megabus adds four cities

Posted by Susan Glaser/The Plain Dealer

February 25, 2008 17:28PM

 

Megabus.com, the Chicago-based discount bus service, is extending its reach next month to four new cities: Champaign, Ill.; Columbia, Mo.; Madison, Wis.; and Memphis, Tenn.  The company's signature gimmick, its $1 fare, will be available on every new route.

 

The new service brings Megabus' total cities served from its Chicago hub to 17, including Cleveland. (Two cities, Pittsburgh and Louisville, Ky., were dropped late last year for lack of ridership, according to a spokeswoman.) The company also offers service out of Los Angeles, to seven West Coast cities.

 

Though a few seats on each bus are sold for $1, most go for substantially more, up to $45 one way.  The price increases as the departure date nears and the bus fills.  Service to the new cities begins Thursday, March 13. Seats go on sale this Thursday.  For information, go to www.megabus.com.

 

Grrrr...  MegaBus already goes right past Dayton on one of their Columbus routes.  What will it take to get them to just add a stop?  I don't care if it is at the airport or some shopping center right off of I-70 in Huber Heights/Vandalia/Englewood/Trotwood, it seems like there should be some sort of easy way to add a stop in the Dayton area that isn't out of the way and doesn't take too much time.

Have you shot them an email?

Yes, as well as on my rider survey.

Then they are just mean :).

It appears that Greyhound has launched a competitor to Megabus in the NY-DC corridor... say hello to BoltBus:

 

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=30&sid=1359669

just took megabus to chicago last week from cleveland.  i didnt realize they stopped in toledo at some random local bus stop.  Those double decker buses are really great, clean, and there wasnt anyone boarding the bus with aquafina bottles filled with cherry vodka...

 

the only issue i had was the lack of shelter at the locations for megabus, i mean tower city was fine and union station yea, but they were more like the closest thing to get in from the sleet. 

 

im definately using it again, i wish it went to nyc...

It appears that Greyhound has launched a competitor to Megabus in the NY-DC corridor... say hello to BoltBus:

 

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=30&sid=1359669

 

There is already plenty of competition on that route.

 

You've got the following just to name a few:

DC2NY bus

Peter Pan

Washington Deluxe

 

just took megabus to chicago last week from cleveland.  i didnt realize they stopped in toledo at some random local bus stop.  Those double decker buses are really great, clean, and there wasnt anyone boarding the bus with aquafina bottles filled with cherry vodka...

 

the only issue i had was the lack of shelter at the locations for megabus, i mean tower city was fine and union station yea, but they were more like the closest thing to get in from the sleet. 

 

im definately using it again, i wish it went to nyc...

yeah I think the Mega Bus is a bit of a parasite with regard to not having facilities-picking up at tower city (people wait inside), Union Station (same thing despite angry sign) and that city bus shelter in Toledo. Still it is a great deal. I don't know about cherry vodka but someone was rumored to have brought bloody Mary's and beers on our trip. What kind of animals would do something like that?  Their customer service is kind of bad, but you get what you pay for.

I saw a huge line boarding the bus on Friday downtown by the Ritz... looked like a lot of college kids getting outta dodge for Spring Break!

also compared to my trip on greyhound where we stopped outside of every prison from Newark to Cleveland it felt safer.  it was more "college-y" than "inmate-y"

also compared to my trip on greyhound where we stopped outside of every prison from Newark to Cleveland it felt safer.  it was more "college-y" than "inmate-y"

 

Shut up!  Are you serious?  Thats does not sound fun.

the prison's give released inmates a ticket home. So it is true!- I was once asked to pick a client up at midnight from the hound station after 5 years in the joint. I have pretty good fortitude, but even that was too much for me.

I paid 30 bucks round trip COL-CIN a few days prior to departure. Definitely not as cheap as I thought it would be but still cheap compared to driving. My friend drove me from OSU to downtown to catch it and the friggin bus made a second stop at OSU campus! Damnit! My email only said it stopped at the COTA center. urgh. Overall I think they're great. They fill the gap between high cost of driving alone/inconvenience of having to pay attention while driving when you could be doing other things and the high cost/irrationality of flying regionally. Go MEGABUS!!!!!!! #$5@ greyhound.

NOTE: This conversation started over in the Off Topic thread.

 

Not trying to hijack this thread but I need more advice: Is there any 24 hour places in Cincinnati to recieve a wire transfer through Western Union? Please respond quickly. I can't find any information online. Greyhound keeps giving me a busy signal they're too damn ghetto for phones with multiple lines.

maybe a train or bus station. Of course you will probably get jacked by someone watching you