BoltBus, MegaBus, Greyhound: which one won't get me stabbed?

cooljammer00

So I'm trying to buy my bus ticket home for Thanksgiving (DC to NYC), and I'm debating between Greyhound, Megabus, and BoltBus to get home for Thanksgiving. Is Greyhound still full of crazy murderers and lacking wifi?

I'm open to taking something else, of course. But these are the three I know something about.

DasUberEdward

I've had good but crowded experiences with the Megabus to NYC. Wi-fi and things as well as a generally not terrible crowd of people. Took it from Akron, Ohio to Pittsburgh to NYC.

zepherin

Greyhound is pretty crazy, but you likely won't get stabbed, at least at the bus. Boltbus is owned by Greyhound, but it has wifi and might be cheaper. I know a guy who does Megabus all the time, he says it's cheap as shit and great for going to Atlantic city.

wonderpug

I did the Megabus between Boston and NYC a few times and it was great. Grab the seat on the upper deck all the way at the front with a giant view, plug your electronics of choice into an outlet and log into the wifi, and have a little mini vacation.

Straygatsby

Is there a reason you're not taking the train? The ride from DC up through NYC and even on to Boston is SO much nicer that way.

Greyhound is fine, though. You are far more likely to die in a fiery crash on the garden state parkway than get killed by someone inside the bus.

CoJoeTheLawyer

Straygatsby wrote: »

Is there a reason you're not taking the train? The ride from DC up through NYC and even on to Boston is SO much nicer that way.

Greyhound is fine, though. You are far more likely to die in a fiery crash on the garden state parkway than get killed by someone inside the bus.

This. The Train is quicker, quieter and more direct.

If you don't want to be stabbed on a bus, find a well-lit, quiet spot towards the front near some non-assuming fellow passengers, hunker down with a book (you don't want to flash any fancy electronics) and don't do anything to call attention to yourself. Common sense will serve you well...

Projeck

Take the bolt bus. It's cheap, reliable, and if you're lucky your ticket could cost a dollar. I take it from Baltimore to NYC all of the time, and there's no reason to be sketched out by your fellow passengers or the bus in general. Just try not to get the seat by the bathroom, because there is usually a lot of foot traffic.

Darkewolfe

CoJoeTheLawyer wrote: »

Straygatsby wrote: »

Is there a reason you're not taking the train? The ride from DC up through NYC and even on to Boston is SO much nicer that way.

Greyhound is fine, though. You are far more likely to die in a fiery crash on the garden state parkway than get killed by someone inside the bus.

This. The Train is quicker, quieter and more direct.

If you don't want to be stabbed on a bus, find a well-lit, quiet spot towards the front near some non-assuming fellow passengers, hunker down with a book (you don't want to flash any fancy electronics) and don't do anything to call attention to yourself. Common sense will serve you well...

The train costs way more, especially if you're doing it inside two weeks. Train tickets from DC to NYC are near plane ticket costs if you're too close to the date.

Khavall

I have taken the Megabus many, many, many times. Greyhound a couple. I have never had a problem with Megabus at all. The worst thing that's ever happened on megabus was when my NYC to State College, PA bus was crowded. That's about it.

zagdrob

I took MegaBus from Ann Arbor to Chicago a few years ago when I was picking up a car.

The bus ride itself wasn't bad. Clean, comfortable, cheap. I'd highly recommend it, it was nice to sit back and read without worrying about driving.

The bus WAS late to the pickup and I missed it (went home to find the number to call - before smartphones) but the next driver let me ride without a problem.

Bagginses

Bolt's a chinatown bus, right? The problem is less stabbings and more balls of flame.

cooljammer00

I think you're thinking of Fung Wah, @Bagginses. I don't take those anymore.

Goose!

I've taken Bolt Bus to both DC and to Boston (from NYC) with no issues.

minirhyder

Took a Greyhound NYC-Philly. It was a tad bit shady, but it wasn't bad at all.

MichaelLC

Khavall wrote: »

The worst thing that's ever happened on megabus was when my NYC to State College, PA bus was crowded. That's about it.

Goosey Hell. I would never recommend MegaBus for anything that involved a living creature.

Not only do they have major fatal accidents at least once a year - three in 2012 - but it's how they handle it.

Pure Din

According to the NTSB, you're 7 times more likely to die from taking a curbside bus like Megabus than you are from the Grayhound. http://journalistsresource.org/studies/environment/transportation/ntsb-curbside-bus-safety/

At least sit on the lower level...

cooljammer00

I wasn't even aware there were second level MegaBus buses.

Bagginses

I am currently waiting for my 11:20 megabus, if that helps.

cooljammer00

Prices for buses on the day before Thanksgiving are highway robbery.

zepherin

Pure Din wrote: »

According to the NTSB, you're 7 times more likely to die from taking a curbside bus like Megabus than you are from the Grayhound. http://journalistsresource.org/studies/environment/transportation/ntsb-curbside-bus-safety/

At least sit on the lower level...

That is not quite correct.

"•From January 2005 to March 2011, curbside carriers had 1.4 fatal accidents per 100 vehicles compared with 0.2 per 100 vehicles for conventional carriers — seven times the rate of fatal accidents. In part because of the buses’ size, most of the victims were occupants of other vehicles." So make sure you are in the curbside bus.

ceres

Thank you for that, zepherin. That's so comforting.

EggyToast

For DC to NYC, I recommend the Megabus as it bypasses Baltimore. The Bolt Bus goes through Baltimore, which takes a LOOONG time. Megabus takes the beltway around (and stops at White Marsh), meaning the trip is shorter.

Due to the extra level on the DC/NYC Megabuses, they feel roomier and you're more likely to get a row to yourself. It also makes using the restroom nicer.

The Bolt Bus is, in my opinion, only better when you're going to one of the side stops, like Philly, Newark, etc. The Bolt Bus stops at more Penn Stations, basically, but that's not more convenient to someone actually in DC going all the way to New York Penn Station.

All these buses are safe. The ones to watch out for are the weird overnight ones.

cooljammer00

Well I ended up choosing Greyhound because it was cheaper and had more buses I could take.

I wish BusJunction hadn't shut down. A Kayak for buses would be super keen.

edit: I will try MegaBus next time though, massive death counts be damned. I assume it takes a different route because the bus is bigger and has to skip low bridges or something?

EggyToast

It just takes 95 to the NJ Turnpike until it gets to the Lincoln Tunnel, and tries to stay above 75mph the whole way. Easy.

MichaelLC

cooljammer00 wrote: »

Well I ended up choosing Greyhound because it was cheaper and had more buses I could take.

Glad to hear it.

cooljammer00 wrote: »

I assume it takes a different route because the bus is bigger and has to skip low bridges or something?

Well, that's what'd you'd think, but apparently the drivers have other ideas. :?

Ain't D&D so won't get into it, but just concerning to me a company like that can still be in business. Glad Greyhound worked out!