Today I learned that Megabus has left Columbus. And it's not coming back. I'm a little bit in shock and a little bit heart-broken. For anybody who doesn't know what Megabus is, it's a low-cost bus service that provides transport between cities with cheery, blue and yellow double-decker buses, ...for which the fare is determined by how far in advance one purchases one's ticket. The fares start at $1.00 for the first few people who purchase tickets on any date, then the fares go up as the bus fills up. As anybody who regularly reads this blog knows, I love Megabus, and I travel by Megabus several times a year to Chicago to visit my daughter and her husband. Ever since I discovered this gem of of the public transportation genus, I've been a regular right-down evangelist of the Megabus, singing its praises for, among other things, its economical pricing (we've paid as low as $45 for a round-trip ticket to Chicago), roomy, super-comfy, nap-inducing seats, ...clean on-board restrooms, electrical outlets, free WIFI, glass sun roof, ...and the fact that we've never had a Megabus driver who wasn't friendly, helpful, and a bit of an entertainer (though I've always figured they must learn their schtick and funny lines from the Megabus handbook, or something).
But last week Megabus ceased service to and from Columbus because, according the company, Columbus routes were not profitable. So now I have to find another means of getting from Columbus to Chicago. Oh, I know there are other available modes of transport between the two cities; people have traveled from Columbus to Chicago and back long before Megabus came on the scene and they will continue to do so now that it's gone. But the thing is, for me a Megabus trip was more than just a means of getting from point A to Point B. I loved the whole process: Walking out the front door in the early morning, Tom and I carting our suitcases through the neighborhood, here, as it used to look before they widened the road last year, ...to the stop for the COTA bus (as our city bus is known),
...with a transfer in Whitehall along the way,
...stopping for breakfast across from the Ohio Statehouse at our favorite bagel shop,
...to the Megabus stop, where we board with our fellow travelers. I enjoyed the ride, watching the city go by through the windows, ...and through the glass roof,
...or working, ...or sleeping, ...or watching the Ohio and Indiana scenery roll by. I enjoyed our quick truck-stop lunch break,
I liked traveling in community with my fellow journeyers, passing some time in conversation with one or another.
...then taking the subway,
...one of the local hostels where we stay during our Chicago visits, the IHSP, ...or the Urban Holiday Lofts, ...where, after our long day's journey into night, ...we travelers can gratefully rest our heads. ...but after meeting Claire and Miguel somewhere for dinner, of course. (Sigh). It all just won't be the same without the Megabus.
Aw well. Bye-bye Megabus. Hello Greyhound, I guess.
3 Comments
Mj
1/19/2017 07:43:41 pm
How sad they're leaving Columbus. I'm wondering what markets they're profitable in.
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Patti
1/19/2017 07:48:01 pm
Good question, Mary Jane!
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4/29/2024 05:22:37 am
I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your incredible travel blog. Your dedication to providing valuable insights and practical advice has made my travel experiences so much richer. Whether I'm planning a solo adventure or a family vacation, I know I can always count on your blog for inspiration and guidance.
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