Is Greyhound always this awful? (airlines, trip, drivers, old)

[UrbaneAspects]

I did it back when I was teen like last time was 2 years ago...but give me any other vehicle and I just couldnt be arsed with a greyhound. Forget the buses, many of the stations arent in good areas...and you have suspicious chracters walking back and forth pass the bus stops. Not my ideal way to travel.

[Scrubbybear]

I've heard about the convicted felons getting on Greyhound straight from prison. I'd rather rent a car because in the last 30 years or so it seems the old bus company isn't picking up the kinds of folk I wouldn't mind sitting next to. Amtrak is no picnic either but it's more reliable than Greyhound and generally cleaner.

[recycled]

It's sad that most parts of the US don't have better and more city to city travel options by bus or rail. In the early 1970s I traveled all over the US on the big dog. They sold Ameripass tickets for something like $99 where you could go anywhere in the country within a period of several weeks, so I did. Yes, I was young at the time and could somehow get a little sleep on the bus. Never had any problems or big complaints, and it was quite the adventure at the time. Not nearly as good today, it's true that Greyhound services are struggling in many places.
I wish the US had a city to city bus system that was somewhere close to what Mexico has. Mexico has several competing private bus lines with express routes between most medium to large cities. You can take first class or luxury class buses for reasonable prices which are reliable, comfortable and clean. It's a pretty hassle free way to get around if you don't feel like driving a car all over the place.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Yes, the era of bus travel is long gone; the allure, if it ever was, of bus travel was just about the time the Federal Government began to build up the interstate system. Back in the 50s and 60s, it was okay to do so, not now. However, sometimes either money is an issue, or schedule. You can try to book on an airline to no avail, but the bus system seems to always be there.

The problem is that way back when there was competition. If you didn't like Greyhound there were other companies. Now all you have is Greyhound. They can give as poor a service as they want and you don't have another company to turn to. Sad. I have taken Greyhound back when, and actually enjoyed the trip. No longer...

[sskkc]

The last time I took Greyhound was 19 years ago. It was a 12 hour hellish ordeal (they oversold the seats, belligerent passengers) for what was supposed to be a 4 hour trip. They would not let us off the bus to use a payphone. When I arrived in Chicago, my uncle was there - furious. It caused a HUGE family rift - apparently Greyhound told my aunt and uncle the bus had arrived on time and they were wondering where the HE** I was. My aunt STILL doesn't believe me about that experience.

I wouldn't take Greyhound again no matter what... if I HAD to travel and couldn't drive or fly - I'd rather hitchhike.

[sun queen]

Everyone I know who is forced to take Greyhound always give it a very bad report even if they are traveling a short distance, so I think it is always unpleasant at the very least.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by UrbaneAspects

Forget the buses, many of the stations arent in good areas...and you have suspicious chracters walking back and forth pass the bus stops..

If the Greyhound stations were in "good areas"---how would the people who can only afford to ride the bus, get to the station, out there next to the country club?

[xlabel]

Now it's not always that bad, usually it's even worse. It took me 17 hours to go 100 miles once from Ocala to Clearwater, FL. The initial bus was over 3 hours late which caused me to miss the last bus from Tampa to Clearwater, so another bus didn't leave until 9 am the next morning and Greyhound will close thier terminal lobbies in smaller and medium size cities, so you could be waiitng overnight, outdoors, amongst the thugs, very dangerous. Another time I missed a connection due to a bus leaving early, they put me on another bus going the same route for awhile and held up the first bus for a few minutes en route so I could get on the right bus. The driver tore up one side of me and down the other with insults, name calling, in front of everyone. He had me by the short hairs, I had to get home, I was so damn angry I decided that when I got to my final destination, I was going to shut his sniveling little weeny mouth but good, arrest or not. My heart sank when I saw the little girlyman grab his coat and briefcase on the last layover before arriving at my hometown, he was done for the day. Greyhound sucks- hitch hike you'll be in safer company and get there faster.

[Glitterific]

I have taken greyhound a number of times, thankfully the trips for the most part have been uneventful. The worse things are the rattling buses and passengers that look like they haven't seen a tub in a few weeks.

I though it was common knowledge drug dealers move dope on the bus since packages aren't checked and they won't be bothered by law enforcement. I don't think they are the ones you have to worry about since I'll bet they don't want anything to do with the police during the bus ride. It's the passengers with some screws loose that may cause some trouble.

I will say they have made the trips a bit faster with less stops thank goodness.

[caligurltotx]

Good point glitterific about drug dealers keeping a low profile. And yes it is the ones with a screw loose that I can't get with. That was my problem when I took Greyhound, some idiot kept harrasing me. I guess he liked me but it was sorta like Charles Manson likin you!!!