|
|
| BoltBus Long Island RENAME to "7Bus"... why? (277167) | |
 |
|
| Home > BusChat | |
[ Post a New Response | Return to the Index ]
|
| (277167) | |
BoltBus Long Island RENAME to "7Bus"... why? |
|
|
Posted by Gold_12th on Sun Jun 16 12:49:54 2013   It may have only launched locally six months ago, but BoltBus Long Island will soon vanish from Long Island roadways. In its place will be 7Bus, a rebranded BoltBus clone under the same leadership that operated the Long Island to Manhattan shuttle service. Operated by Bohemia-based Classic Coach, BoltBus Long Island has been making daily roundtrips to New York City from Riverhead, Ronkonkoma and Melville since December. BoltBus currently runs 14 daily roundtrips each weekday and eight or nine roundtrips Saturdays and Sundays, offering such amenities as leather seats, electrical outlets and Wi-Fi. The weekday morning and evening commuter runs sell out consistently. Michael Schoolman, president of the local BoltBus operation, said Classic Coach decided to drop the license agreement with BoltBus in order to expand the transportation system’s offerings. “We had a really good relationship with them,” Schoolman said of BoltBus. “We just wanted to offer more than their systems allowed, like commuter passes, intra-island travel and tourism packages. So we came out with our own brand.” 7Bus, named after the amount of money most commuters will spend for a seat on one of its buses – $7 – will operate using all of the same buses and drivers as BoltBus. The same routes will still be run with the same frequency, although 7Bus will add a stop in Southampton to its current slate of destinations. The actual location of the Southampton stop has not been decided as of yet, Schoolman noted. “We’ve gotten a lot of requests for service out there,” he said. “We’re going to run it year-round.” That Southampton stop will be one of the tie-ins for 7Bus’ new tourism packages, which could include outings to the beach and winery tours. In addition, under the new system, intra-island travel from Melville to Southampton, for example, will now be possible. 7Bus will also be adding two new stops in New York City as well. Riders will be able to be picked up at 47th Street and Lexington Avenue and dropped off at 47th Street and 3rd Avenue. The bus service currently stops on Third Avenue at 40th and 59th streets. Schoolman said a couple of buses have been wrapped in the new logo so far, but the real switchover won’t take effect until late June. Launched in 2008, BoltBus services commuters in the Northeast and Northwest, offering one rider a $1 fare – hence the company slogan, “Bolt for a buck” – although other fares are based on seat availability and demand, following the airlines’ model of yield management. The $1 fare lottery will be done away with under the new 7Bus system, although Schoolman said there will be far more $7 fares available than previously. 7Bus is also working on incorporating stops in Nassau County, although no points have been selected as of yet, Schoolman said. - http://libn.com/2013/06/07/boltbus-long-island-rebranding-as-7bus/#ixzz2WOm48UbO - 7bus - 7bus.com - Classic Coach - classictrans.com |
|
|
| (277184) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Sun Jun 16 22:19:51 2013, in response to BoltBus Long Island RENAME to "7Bus"... why?, posted by Gold_12th on Sun Jun 16 12:49:54 2013. Yup, been seeing a few of them running around lately. A good friend informed me of the change over earlier this week. |
|
|
| (277186) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by RailBus63 on Sun Jun 16 22:28:41 2013, in response to BoltBus Long Island RENAME to "7Bus"... why?, posted by Gold_12th on Sun Jun 16 12:49:54 2013. The 'why' is because they decided to end the licensing agreement with BoltBus. |
|
|
| (277187) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by JAzumah on Sun Jun 16 22:51:55 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by RailBus63 on Sun Jun 16 22:28:41 2013. It sounds like they did not get the pop they needed from the BoltBus name. However, commuter passes are an excellent step forward. |
|
|
| (277189) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Mon Jun 17 00:51:02 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by JAzumah on Sun Jun 16 22:51:55 2013. It's all finally starting to happen. Commuter buses on LI are the next big thing |
|
|
| (277201) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by RailBus63 on Mon Jun 17 09:10:14 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by JAzumah on Sun Jun 16 22:51:55 2013. No disrtespect to Long Island, but I didn't understand why GLI/PP would cheapen the BoltBus brand with this service. Based on the anecdotal feedback I've heard, BoltBus is probably the best regarded of the discount bus services right now - the brand should be reserved for services between major metro areas. |
|
|
| (277202) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by RailBus63 on Mon Jun 17 09:11:25 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Mon Jun 17 00:51:02 2013. It's long overdue. Hopefully, the powers-that-be don't find a way to squash it to avoid the competition with the LIRR. |
|
|
| (277204) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by Tony Clifton on Mon Jun 17 10:14:50 2013, in response to BoltBus Long Island RENAME to "7Bus"... why?, posted by Gold_12th on Sun Jun 16 12:49:54 2013. The article clearly states "why". |
|
|
| (277205) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Mon Jun 17 11:49:43 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by RailBus63 on Mon Jun 17 09:11:25 2013. They can't. They pretty much set up the system without realizing it. HOV lanes, park and rides. I'm wondering what other corridors could utilize commuter buses on the island. I've got a couple in mind |
|
|
| (277206) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by Gold_12th on Mon Jun 17 12:23:04 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by Tony Clifton on Mon Jun 17 10:14:50 2013. No...really? Whineberg? |
|
|
| (277209) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by WayneJay on Mon Jun 17 13:15:42 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by RailBus63 on Mon Jun 17 09:10:14 2013. Agreed. I personally, hold BoltBus in high regards among the discount carriers , and GLI. I don't see where putting their name on commuter service would benefit the brand. If anything, it may hurt the brand. |
|
|
| (277228) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jasonbellamy on Mon Jun 17 19:41:33 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Mon Jun 17 11:49:43 2013. What kind of operating authority do you need to run an intercity intrastate bus in NYS, and how hard is it to get it? |
|
|
| (277238) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Tue Jun 18 00:58:16 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jasonbellamy on Mon Jun 17 19:41:33 2013. NYSDOT, as long as the bus never leaves NYS in the course of its travels |
|
|
| (277278) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jk on Wed Jun 19 08:08:49 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Tue Jun 18 00:58:16 2013. I would gladly take the new service from Ronkonkoma to Melville for work every day then drive. As long as there is frequent service earlier and later then the S110 Suffolk County Express Bus. |
|
|
| (277301) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Wed Jun 19 13:48:01 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jk on Wed Jun 19 08:08:49 2013. The flaw is that the bus will only drop at the park and ride and will not loop around the office park area |
|
|
| (277303) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jasonbellamy on Wed Jun 19 14:18:58 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Tue Jun 18 00:58:16 2013. And does NYSDOT generally treat these like monopoly franchises? Or can anyone who meets the requirements get permission?Somehow I doubt that a startup would be allowed to compete with Short Line or NY Trailways. Is approval from NYCDOT needed to stop on the street? |
|
|
| (277305) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by Mac5689 on Wed Jun 19 14:49:39 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jk on Wed Jun 19 08:08:49 2013. The the proper name for the S110 is 'Suffolk Clipper'. |
|
|
| (277307) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by Mac5689 on Wed Jun 19 15:05:38 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by Gold_12th on Mon Jun 17 12:23:04 2013. Mr. Schoolman does state in the article why Classic Coach is dropping BoltBus“We just wanted to offer more than their systems allowed, like commuter passes, intra-island travel and tourism packages. So we came out with our own brand.” |
|
|
| (277311) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jk on Wed Jun 19 16:51:31 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by Mac5689 on Wed Jun 19 14:49:39 2013. The bus says 110 Express. Nothing about clipper other then the schedule. I take it, I know. |
|
|
| (277312) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jk on Wed Jun 19 16:53:54 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Wed Jun 19 13:48:01 2013. Which is why the S110 takes so damn long to get home. Not a time saver on the way home that's for sure. |
|
|
| (277323) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by Mac5689 on Wed Jun 19 22:14:54 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jk on Wed Jun 19 16:51:31 2013. Tell that to the County and the SCT website. I think the S110 route sign is for the riders so they know that it's part of the bus system, and for record keeping. (Since a coach route run Sunrise Coach Lines was documented as 192 and the route had nothing to do with the county bus system.) |
|
|
| (277367) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jk on Fri Jun 21 08:18:00 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by Mac5689 on Wed Jun 19 22:14:54 2013. My apologies to Mac5689, I noticed last night that the digital sign in the front of the bus did say Suffolk Clipper.Anyway, anything to bring more service to the island in the way of public transit is welcome. |
|
|
| (277375) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by Mac5689 on Fri Jun 21 10:33:00 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jk on Fri Jun 21 08:18:00 2013. Thats alright. I think they probably have a bunch of signs programmed that a driver can put up with the route number S110. |
|
|
| (277393) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Jun 21 13:12:24 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jk on Wed Jun 19 16:53:54 2013. Yes, but without going through the office park how will it actually help anyone? |
|
|
| (277401) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jk on Fri Jun 21 14:20:53 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Jun 21 13:12:24 2013. The S110 runs all through out the office parks and is still lightly used. You see a jump in ridership when gas prices go up, other wise everyone sticks with their cars. There should be some sort of service that runs through out the office parks of Melville/Farmingdale connecting with the LIRR and and Bolt Bus at the park n ride. |
|
|
| (277407) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by JAzumah on Fri Jun 21 15:11:33 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Jun 21 13:12:24 2013. 7Bus will be ZeroBus if they drag everyone through the office park. Office parks need feeders (i.e. on property shuttle vans). |
|
|
| (277419) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jasonbellamy on Fri Jun 21 17:27:15 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by JAzumah on Fri Jun 21 15:11:33 2013. If an office park is designed well, all buildings can be within a 5-minute walk of a through street, which can have bus service that doesn't delay through passengers too much.Once you start throwing in multiple transfers, door-to-door trip times quickly skyrocket to several times as long as driving. |
|
|
| (277423) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Jun 21 20:53:29 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jk on Fri Jun 21 14:20:53 2013. N95 used to run the office parks, SUNY, and the station, but it was axed a few years back. That could easily have done the park and ride. Even then though, I find it hard to believe that anyone from LI would actually switch from one bus to another at the park and ride. The only solution is a better routing through the offices, otherwise a bus serving that purpose alone is DOA. Even then, I'm surprised anyone really rides the S110. By the time you park your car and walk to the bus, you could be halfway there already |
|
|
| (277424) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Jun 21 20:54:24 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by JAzumah on Fri Jun 21 15:11:33 2013. Agreed, 7Bus can't do the office park loop. I'm just saying, it's screwed either way as far as carrying intra-island commuters goes. |
|
|
| (277425) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Jun 21 20:58:26 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jasonbellamy on Wed Jun 19 14:18:58 2013. Ummm, there are plenty of start ups that compete with Shortline and Trailways. There are chinatown buses to Albany, Kingston, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, etc. NYCDOT approval for a curbside location is an issue currently under review. I think they may have JUST passed it, but some here will say it's invalid because it interferes with interstate commerce and that federal law trumps state law (I do not subscribe to this) |
|
|
| (277431) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by Mac5689 on Fri Jun 21 21:53:14 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jk on Fri Jun 21 14:20:53 2013. I'm actually surprised that the S110 wasn't axed during the 1997 budget problem (which saw the S74 axed.), especially since there was a news article back when the route was operated by Harran and used coach buses, that said how poorly the route was doing ridership wise. (My guess is that the S110 was first funded by the money the county saved by cutting routes in 1989/1990, since the S110 started running in 1993) |
|
|
| (277433) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jasonbellamy on Fri Jun 21 22:39:31 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Jun 21 20:58:26 2013. I thought all the upstate startup buses have a stop in New Jersey so they can pretend it's interstate, and avoid the requirement for NYS operating authority. |
|
|
| (277439) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by hound on Sat Jun 22 00:58:55 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by JAzumah on Fri Jun 21 15:11:33 2013. With the fares that 7Bus is quoting on it's new website for intra-island trips, I highly doubt they will attract much ridership. Do they think someone is going to park their car in Melville & pay $17 to go to Southhampton?, or $12 to go from Ronkonkoma to Riverhead? They can't be serious. |
|
|
| (277444) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by JAzumah on Sat Jun 22 08:04:14 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by jasonbellamy on Fri Jun 21 22:39:31 2013. You don't need to stop in another state to be interstate. You just have to cross state lines. Toll receipts can provide evidence of your path. |
|
|
| (277445) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by JAzumah on Sat Jun 22 08:04:47 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by hound on Sat Jun 22 00:58:55 2013. Cheaper than a cab! |
|
|
| (277447) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by Train2104 on Sat Jun 22 08:36:38 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by hound on Sat Jun 22 00:58:55 2013. The fares will likely change. Right now, it seems that Riverhead to/from X is always $12, whether X is NYC, KO, or Melville. |
|
|
| (277453) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by ctrabs74 on Sat Jun 22 14:38:51 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by JAzumah on Sat Jun 22 08:04:14 2013. Such as traveling from Binghamton non-stop to Manhattan via I-81 to Scranton, then I-380/80 through Poconos and North Jersey? |
|
|
| (277462) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by JAzumah on Sat Jun 22 20:12:53 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by ctrabs74 on Sat Jun 22 14:38:51 2013. Bingo! (no pun intended) |
|
|
| (277484) | |
Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why? |
|
|
Posted by jasonbellamy on Mon Jun 24 00:36:37 2013, in response to Re: BoltBus Long Island RENAME to ''7Bus''... why?, posted by hound on Sat Jun 22 00:58:55 2013. I'm not going to book a commuter trip days in advance like an intercity trip. As long as the buses are mostly empty, they shouldn't screw walk-up passengers with high fares.I rode the service this weekend. I had no idea when I'd be ready to leave the city, so I couldn't book ahead of time -- there's no way I'd wait 2 hours for a bus. I got to the stop about 15 minutes early, and called BoltBus just to confirm that a bus was really going to show up. It didn't help that the only sign at the bus stop said Hampton Luxury Liner. They told me the next trip was 2 hours away. I asked about the upcoming trip, and they said it was too late to book a ticket, and I had to pay the walk-up fare. $15 for a bus to Melville makes no sense, when the off-peak LIRR fare is $10.75. And then the bus got stuck in really bad LIE traffic all the way across Queens. So compared to the train, the bus was less frequent (which is the most important factor for transit), more expensive, and slower, and both stations had fewer amenities (no taxis, rest rooms, etc). I can't see it succeeding unless they make some major changes. |
|
|