Intercity Bus Passengers See Service Evaporate

The downward spiral for intercity bus service continues months after Coach USA, one of the nation’s biggest operators, filed for bankruptcy. Shortly after, Megabus announced it would suspend service in many of its markets, leaving passengers in a lurch. 

In a piece for Streetsblog USA, Aaron Short outlines the history of modern intercity bus service and its struggle to maintain service after the pandemic, as well as its impacts on passengers who depend on it.

The disruption is the latest blow to a long-overlooked segment of the transportation sector that has failed to recover since the pandemic, been picked apart by private equity, and received little assistance from federal and state governments.

Meanwhile, bus stations with amenities are shuttering around the country as Greyhound sells off its properties, forcing bus passengers to wait for buses on poorly lit sidewalks or parking lots with no access to restrooms, shelter, or ticket agents. Few cities, such as Washington, D.C., are actively supporting intercity bus service by providing space for buses at major transit stations.

But that isn’t the case for most cities. “In some parts of the country, Megabus’s absence could prompt people to purchase vehicles or lead to less travel for job opportunities, education, and health care.”