Comments on: Bus Operator Lobbies Against SW Depot

By: Park Road Guy

Park Road Guy — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:52:03 +0000

Eastern Travel is HELL!!! The company of thugs stranded over 30 customers at Penn Station who had already waited three hours for a return trip to Washington, DC. Many had already paid. It took a sit-in by angry customers and a call to the police to get Eastern Travel to listen. They wouldn’t answer phone calls from customers, the drivers or the New York Police. This company is a scam!!! Do NOT use Eastern Travel!! Here’s footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ENx7gtrL7k

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:36:26 +0000

2 words: Commerce Clause.

5 more words: Unconstitutional Burden on Interstate Commerce.

By: Dane

Dane — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:33:45 +0000

It wasn't collusion in Boston--it was a city ordinance that Fung Wah and others were skirting.

If DC put all these buses at Union Station, even better. Of course, Amtrak would fight it every step of the way. Hmmm, maybe they already did!

By: John

John — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:43:01 +0000

This is exactly what happened in Boston due to lobbying from Peter Pan and Greyhound, who jointly run Bolt Bus. Check out this boston globe oped.
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2004/06/18/peter_pan_is_a_bully/

What happened was the two big guys colluded to force the chinatown busses into the south station terminal with all of the other busses, but then only let them use one of the 29 gates. L'enfant is supposed to have two gates, so it is likely going to be about the same.

By: cminus

cminus — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:55:31 +0000

FYI, or FDC2NY'sI anyway, Jack Evans isn't a member of the Committee on Public Works and the Environment.

By: sara.h

sara.h — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:40:38 +0000

i was looking at the mega bus website yesterday for a ticket for an upcoming trip to NY, and it looks like they're moving their stop from 11th and G to Union Station. Their site lists the departure point from DC as Union Station, and then has a link to "Important Info" that says that until July 16 the buses will depart from 11th and G.

@ Adams Morgan: i catch the bus at 11th and G every day. I agree that it's a huge pain when the Bolt Bus and the Mega Bus hog the Metro bus stop and I have to walk into the street or fight for a place to stand on the sidewalk. Also, there is trash overflowing from the trash cans because of everyone unloading all their garbage from the 4+ hour trips.

By: IMGoph

IMGoph — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:38:21 +0000

i see the point of those who are arguing that the SW location doesn't put the best face of the city forward. dropping people off in the hustle and bustle of chinatown is exciting. the l'enfant area is just dead.

safetywise, though, it's a wash. you're just as likely to get held-up or pick-pocketed in chinatown as anywhere else.

By: Adams Morgan

Adams Morgan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:19:01 +0000

As someone who has to fight through the folks stacked up 20 deep sometimes waiting for the Bolt and/or MegaBus at 11th and G St., NW to get to and from my office each day, I say welcome to Southwest.

And don't even get me started about these buses using the MetroBus stops forcing folks to walk (or wheel their wheelchairs) into the street to catch MetroBus....