In the U.S., the bus is the most common and cheapest form of public transportation. Intercity buses carry more passengers than the Amtrak railroad company and all airlines combined. It is the cheapest way to travel long distances in the United States, used by many Americans and foreign tourists. For the first 300 miles, a ticket costs about $1 per mile. As the distance increases, the average cost per mile gradually decreases, and for $100, for example, you can go as far as 2,800 miles. A trip starting on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday is about 20 percent more expensive than other days of the week.
More affluent Americans prefer to travel by plane or in their own car. And the buses are mostly used by low-income, ethnic, and racial minorities. Because of this, riding an American bus is almost as risky as visiting black ghettos and slums. The travelers once went kayaking in Florida. They took a bus from New York City and do not understand how anyone could steal all their kayaks while they were in transit.
There are dozens of bus companies in the U.S., but almost all of them, with few exceptions, operate in only one region. Only Greyhound operates a nationwide network of bus routes. It has 16,000 buses, departing daily to 3,100 destinations. In addition, the company has partnerships with other bus companies. On a long-distance trip, buses and drivers change from time to time, sometimes using another company’s buses.
In densely populated areas, such as the Northeast or Great Lakes region, intercity buses run at intervals of no more than 1 h. And on trans-American routes, such as from New York to Los Angeles or from Chicago to Montreal, there are only four or five direct buses a day.
All intercity buses are equipped with padded reclining seats and air conditioning, and there is a restroom at the end of the cabin. On long trips, buses make one-hour stops at bus stations or roadside cafes during lunch and dinner.
Having a ticket does not guarantee a seat on the bus. There are no seats indicated in the ticket, and passengers sit on any vacant seats. Sometimes there are more tickets than free seats. Then you have to wait for the next bus. Each passenger can take two bags into the cabin if they fit on the top luggage shelf or under the seat. Two more bags can be checked in for free (for an additional $15 each). Baggage check-in is done at the bus station before boarding the bus. If you are traveling with a transfer, you will need to check your luggage again for the next bus.
Bus fares in the U.S. are formed in about the same way as airline fares. They depend not only on distance, but also on the competition on the route and on the time of year. The standard fare (“walk-up”) from New York to Washington costs about $40 (4.5-5 hours), to Chicago $100 (17 hours), to Los Angeles $140 (62 to 70 hours). Discounts are available for children under 12 (50%), students (15%) and seniors over 62 (10%). In some destinations there are seasonal discounts and discounts on the purchase of round-trip tickets. A discount is also available to those who purchase a ticket in advance. For example, for those who buy a ticket a week in advance, a one-way trip for up to 500 miles will cost less than $50, up to 1,000 miles – $60, 1,500 miles – $70 (every 500 miles more $10, and any trip over 3,000 miles – not more than $110). If you return a ticket purchased at the standard price, 15% of the fare is withheld.
It is advantageous to travel in pairs on U.S. buses. On some routes, if one traveling companion buys a round-trip ticket (at least 3 days in advance), the other can ride for free.
The Ameripass pass entitles you to any number of trips within a certain number of days. For non-U.S. citizens, it costs $150 for 7 days, $200 for 10 days, $230 for 15 days, $320 for 30 days, and $430 for two months (slightly more expensive for Americans). The pass is valid not only on Greyhound buses and several dozen regional bus companies, but also on a number of international lines to Canada. In addition to this nationwide pass, there are also regional passes that apply to only one or a few neighboring states.