4 Reasons Buses Get A Really Bad Rap
In today’s car obsessed world, we believe the benefits of bus travel have gone unheralded for too long. All too often when we mention we take a coach bus for business trips or for leisure, people turn up their noses and cite discomfort or, even more worrying, not wanting to interact with fellow passengers as reasons bus travel is for the birds. But bus travel is one of the most accessible, fastest growing methods of transportation out there. Below are a few benefits of bus travel you should consider before taking that road trip this summer:
1. Buses are safe.
This is something bus companies aren’t exactly going to put in their commercials, but seriously. If you’re tooling down the highway in a giant charter bus and you have a run-in with a car, who do you think will win? The bus, that’s who. Buses are sturdier and far more powerful than cars, making road accidents less risky for bus passengers. (Just remember to ALWAYS take advantage of the seat belts, no matter how weird or ineffective they seem).
2. Buses are cost effective.
Buses are a great way to get around, especially if you’re a poor college student low on cash. The average commuter can spend upwards of $20 a week on gas alone, but if you take advantage of one of the many bus companies in your area, you can go hundreds of miles for pennies on the dollar. One of our favorite bus companies starts fares at just $1 depending on when you buy, so make sure to read the fine print and check out any potential online deals.
3. Buses are good for the environment.
We’re sure we don’t have to tell you that taking a bus is greener. Just imagine the benefits of a car pool times about 40. In fact, each full bus could be responsible for removing 55 cars from the freeway. That would greatly reduce congestion and cut down on emissions significantly. (We don’t know about you, but these 60 degree winters and snowy summers are starting to freak us out).
4. It’s so much less work to take a bus.
Granted, there are people out there who like to drive. But if you’re anything like us, AKA, terrified of the madness on a Long Island freeway, then you’ll weep with joy the next time you call up a few bus companies to book a trip. Instead of experiencing road rage, you’ll get to experience the sweet sweet taste of Adulting as you catch up on your email. Or, if wifi on a bus isn’t that enticing, just think of all the trashy paperbacks you could read while you don’t drive! Or all the naps you can take!
The bottom line is, you need to open your mind to what economists would call the “inferior good” of bus travel. You just might find you far prefer the bus to your tank on wheels any day.