Inner-City Bus

I was going through my news feed (like I always do) and I saw a posting on MegaBus and how it undermines High Speed Rail. Of course, this statement hits so out of the ballpark for me (as a Louisianian), that the claim is isolated in my head to a far off world. Yet I can relate. When I left the Midwest, MegaBus had just created a hub in Chicago; and my friends on the East Coast have definitely been using MegaBus for a while... not to mention everyone in Europe.

So what's the problem? MegaBus is still a regional transportation option, and if you live on the East Coast with limited financial means, MegaBus is a great alternative to high speed rail if you have the extra time. Maybe from an East Coast perspective, it does take away ridership numbers on the Acela line... But coming from the Midwest MegaBus was just the next step to strengthen regional transportation. We (my generation ) is pulling teeth to get any kind of regional transit because the 40/50/60-somethings don't think efficient (i.e. attracts low income people). MegaBus is changing the perspective... and might I say fast. I left Indiana five years ago with no MegaBus. Now Chicago hubs lines to all the major cities. The more regional transportation options, the more people will diversify their transportation. Not only is the Midwest expanding MegaBus, they are also upgrading their Amtrak lines, including the nation's second high speed rail line to St. Louis. More options beget more options.

Heck, after seeing the article I didn't look for more articles supporting this theory... I did a Google search to see if MegaBus was looking to expand outside the East and Midwest. A Houston/Dallas/New Orleans hub? Please? While I appreciate Greyhound. I'm a 20-somethings (almost thirty) and totally fall for the more mainstream version of MegaBus. I mean, common. They look cool. They have wireless and TV. AND it's so European (company gone American). Brings me back to my backpacking days.