Despite crashes, low-cost bus travel a popular option
By Elizabeth Fiedler
NewsWorks
The National Transportation Safety Board is examining an economical mode of transportation that's used by many Delaware Valley residents. Following a series of accidents, including one on the New Jersey Turnpike that killed two and injured 41, federal officials are reviewing regulations on the low-cost bus industry.
Even on a rainy weekday morning, it was busy at the 2000 New Century Travel bus building near 11th and Arch streets in Center City Philadelphia. This is the pick-up and drop-off point for one of the "Chinatown buses."
Kaden Weaver, who's from Australia, climbed off the bus he took from Baltimore.
"It was good and cheap, they drive quick, they overtake a few too many cars, but don't bother me," said Weaver.
Weaver said the ride didn't feel dangerous and he'd prefer not to wear a seat belt because it's easier to sleep. The bus company could not be reached for comment.
Standing nearby, Sean Ashanti waited for a bus. The real estate broker splits his time between New York and
Philadelphia and said he makes the trip to New York a few times a week.
Asked if he feels safe riding the bus, Ashanti said, "No! Not at all."
He said he continues to take the bus because it's so cheap.
"It's $20 round trip!" he said.
Ashanti said he'd probably be willing to pay a little more to take a ride that felt safer and included seat belts. Probably.
Around the corner at the Greyhound station, one passenger said her bus did have seat belts, but like many others she didn't wear it because it's uncomfortable.
Passenger Mark Haney agreed.
"I've been on the Greyhound bus four times so far--traveling cross country-- I'm only 29. I feel pretty safe," he said. "I'm not sure if they have seat belts or not, I don't ever wear one. Even in my own car I don't wear one--it's too restraining."
A Greyhound representative said nearly 15 percent of buses have seat belts. That percentage will grow, she said, as the company adds new buses to its fleet.
+ Top Story
You want honest and well-run elections. This starts by choosing the people who work at your polling place. Elections for Judge of Election and Election Inspector are on the May 21 ballot. You can read about what they do here.
This year marks the 29th anniversary of the Celebration of Black Writing Festival, one of the oldest Black literary festivals in the country. For nearly three decades, the Celebration has grown from a one-day gathering of authors and literary intellectuals to a weeklong event...
The Honorable Vincent J. Hughes Senator, 7th Senatorial District in the Pennsylvania will be the Keynote Speaker at the Fourth Saints of Valor Martial Ministry Appreciation Awards Ceremony Dinner hosted by Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.
A Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General investigation of 19 Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation contracts has found that 11 prime contractors used JHS and Sons Supply Company to circumvent the City’s antidiscrimination requirements by...
The Franklin & Marshall College Poll is produced in conjunction with the Philadelphia Daily News, WGAL-TV (South Central PA), Pittsburgh Tribune Review, WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh), WPVI-TV6/ABC (Philadelphia), Times-Shamrock Newspapers, Harrisburg Patriot-News, and Lancaster Newspapers.
Orphaned at 18 and left to support and care for his 13-year-old brother, the odds were stacked against Ronald E. Wilson going to college, let alone graduating. So, it is not surprising that Wilson was overwhelmed by emotions upon learning he will be one of 1,934 candidates for graduation at CCP.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Tuesday unanimously approved H.R. 301, authored by Reps. Seth Grove, R-York, and James Roebuck, D-Phila., to designate May 7 as “Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Day.”
To better inform voters about the candidates in this statewide election, the Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Commission today issued its ratings and descriptive paragraphs for all appellate judge candidates appearing on the May 21 primary ballots.