The Return of Intercity Bus Service

Afteralmost disappearing- when was the last time you were on a intercity bus? – the bus is now the fastest growing way to travel.

Innovative bus companies like Megabus and Bolt Bus offer convenient service, comfortable seats with power outlets, WiFi access and super cheap fares purchased online.

The buses dont use a bus station, they pickup curbside at locations listed on their websites. This makes it very easy to quickly add or reduce service.

The sweet spot for the service appears to be in mid-range trips of around 200-300 miles. These are too short for air travel but too long to easily drive.

The new intercity bus lines are a great example of using business model innovation to reinvent an industry. With gas prices increasing and more focus on reducing green house gases, the outlook for intercity bus travel is quite positive.

Theres been a flurry of articles on this topic, including:

Business Week – good overall coverage of the buses
Switchboard – looks at the buses from a public policy point of view
New Geography – detailed look from a policy and environmental standpoint
The Economist – likes the buses but arent sure if they will thrive long term

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