Before air deregulation, the TSA, and hijackings to Cuba, flying was expensive and the general public could not afford to fly. They took the bus for long trips. I am curious as the nature of long distance bus travel these days. Having been to Mexico, farm animals ride the bus as well. I am not talking about Charter services or the Party Bus to casino country. Experiences of Sig Forum members?

When I got back stateside in 2004, I had to ride Grey Hound from Fredericksburg, VA to Charleston, SC to go pick up my car. That trip alone is responsible for me never getting onto another bus and since I have seen firsthand the types of people that get onto and off of a Amtrak train, I will avoid that as well. I certainly don't have any love for an airplane (or its passengers), but I can wash the nasty off of me within 24 hours of leaving my home if I fly. Can't do that when travelling cross country on a bus. My MIL travels from Phoenix, AZ to Guadalajara Mexico by bus at least once a year and I cannot imagine doing that. Buses are cesspools and I avoid them at all cost!

My last commercial bus trip was around 1980. From Birmingham to Huntsville and back. I'd wager that would be my last unless some pretty extraordinary circumstances arise.

I hate mass transit. Use it when I have to, because I have to. The wages of being a practical sumbitch. Occasionally.

The last bus station I was in was in California.
It is the only place I have ever been in where I actually held my pistol in my hands (under a folded jacket)in a waiting room.

Last time I took an Amtrack, you could still smoke in the club car. Maybe I did one trip after they stopped that. I'm not sure I was old enough to even buy smokes then, but they didn't check.

I've never stepped foot on a greyhound. Don't expect I ever will.

I'll probably do an Amtrak trip one day so the kids can ride on a train. Or I'll just spend a few hundred dollars and go to Tweetsie. I'd rather breathe in lungs full of coal smoke than smell the "Amtrak" smell...

I can't imagine a bus smelling any better.

abut the only difference between the bus and flying these days is the longer trip time.

Other than interesting people, the biggest negative is that it takes 2-3 times as long to get anywhere than if you drove yourself. I've rode a Greyhound several times when my vehicle was not reliable.

The last time I was in a bus station was when I was in college and I was there to rescue a young lady who was stranded and needed a ride home ( now she is my wife of 37 years) won't be going back unless there is some really bad thing going on!

Anyplace I can take a bus, I can drive faster - and maybe even cheaper. Not interested, thanks.

-Rob

this guy




Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZkouut-9RQ

Dec 1971. Dayton OH to N.Warren PA. Longest 14hrs of my young life.

I think everyone should do it once to understand why you never want to do it again. My last experience was over 30 years ago. Haven't been back.

My parents put me on the "dog" to Scottsbluff from Denver when I was a kid to visit relatives. Probably like 45 years ago. It didn't seem that bad back then. An adventure for a pre-teen boy.

Coming back from Korea in late 1959, I took Greyhound from Seattle to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Took forever. Couple behind me on the bus was a GI and his Korean bride returning from Korea. She was eating every piece of junk food he would buy her. Somewhere in Idaho or Montana bus hit a big bump and she puked. Felt bad for the bus driver who had to clean it up.

Wish I had taken the train to see more of America.

I've taken the death bus/chinatown bus from NY to Boston or DC to NY before. It was OK--mostly young people. It was a straight shot, with only an occasional rest break.

Perhaps taking the bus would make me appreciate flying

In 1972 I rode a Greyhound Bus from near St. Louis, Missouri to Los Angeles round trip to visit a friend for vacation. If I remember right it took a little over 48 hours with layovers and that was the express bus. It was an interesting trip to say the least with fights, drunks, hookers, some nice people, junkies,odd people that must have escaped the loony bin...I haven't been on a bus since but thinking back it was a heck of an experience.

[quote]n 1972 I rode a Greyhound Bus from near St. Louis, Missouri to Los Angeles round trip to visit a friend for vacation. If I remember right it took a little over 48 hours with layovers and that was the express bus. It was an interesting trip to say the least with fights, drunks, hookers, some nice people, junkies,odd people that must have escaped the loony bin...I haven't been on a bus since but thinking back it was a heck of an experience.[/quote

Your comment made me wonder if Hunter Thompson ever wrote about the bus before he went to live with the Hells Angels. Maybe a modern day gonzo journalist could write about taking the Greyhound.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ZSMICHAEL,

Last time for me was in 1968 after Thanksgiving. I waas on a Eastern plane flight from Boston to Greenville S.C. Four engine turbo prop. Weather forced a diversion to Atlanta. Eastern gave me a bus ticket from Atlanta to Greenville. Left around midnight and seemed like it stopped every 20 miles or so in a small town or no town that I could see. Variety of passengers, smells, and noises. Swear I heard a chicken clucking!
Lots of drinking, pot smoking, and judging from the sounds occasionally some carnal activity. Bus was always full, as it dropped off and pucked up passengers. Only time the whole night it got quiet was when the bus stopped and several deputies walked down the aisle shining their flashlights in everyones face. Several tried to hide their face or pretend they were asleep. Guess who got rousted?
Human drama at its lowest. Trip took about 10 hours, seemed like forever, and I barely got to my first class on time, ROTC drill! Never again!