Carlos - The China Town bus - 11/16/2007

There are a few ways of getting to and from the metropolises of the Northeastern United States. My commutes typically come in the form of New York - Philadelphia. For such a short trip the best alternatives, for a car-less traveler such as myself, are train or bus. The rail system, as usually happens, is monopolized. Furthermore, it seems that the monopoly, Amtrak in this case, prefers to charge higher prices and quite a few empty seats than lower prices but a full train.

For thrifty passengers – I again include myself here – the better option is the bus. While the train will get you to your destination in an hour and a half, the bus typically will take just a little over two hours, for less than a quarter of the price. There are two main bus options, Greyhound and what are known as the Chinatown buses. The former is the state regulated intercity bus company, the later is quite different.

The Chinatown buses have gained substantial prominence in the last few years. The thriving microeconomic engine that they have created was recently analyzed in the Economist magazine. They are, by far, the best option if you care about five dollars. For ten dollars, they will take you from one urban sprawl to the next. Chances are, however, that the ride will not be the most comfortable.

While I have had some “good” rides, you should never be surprised of the following:

- Very rude oriental hosts
- Lots of yelling by the ticket salespeople-- “Firaderfia, Firaderfia, New Yor…”
- A clogged restroom which, it would seem, has been forgotten by the janitor or maintenance crew
- Fumes from said clogged restroom. These are particularly bad in the back seats. Avoid the back seats at all cost! I once sat on the back seat; the fumes were so bad, they stuck to my clothes with such potent strength that my girlfriend would not touch me when I met up with her.
- Bus floor wet with who-knows-what
- Seafood being hauled in the bus’ luggage compartments from one Chinatown to the next
- Other merchandize, food or otherwise, being transported
- Police preventing the buses from leaving given the fact that the bus company has not yet paid something-or-another. I have often thought that they do not actually have a bus company permit
- Some smelly, rude, or otherwise disagreeable fellow travelers (no all)

My recommendations if you are planning on taking these buses
- Hope you get a “good ride”
- Pack light and carry everything with you on your lap
- Get there early and sit up front
- Be ready to fight, tooth and nail, to get onboard the bus (listen to some Korn if need be)