BoltBus, a Greyhound-owned bus buisness, is bringing it’s ridiculously cheap ride deals to the Northwest. According to Portland Afoot, the sleek black bus offers wifi and free bike storage for prices ranging from $7 to $9. Also, one passenger in every trip is randomly selected to pay a hefty $1 fare! After brief research on BoltBus’ website, it looks like the trips aren’t god-awfully long, like some Greyhound rides. Looks like you can already start buying tickets on the website. Service start on May 17. No guarantees that your head will stay un-decapitated, though.
if only it went to John Day
BUSES ARE FOR THE 99%. I WILL BE TAKING MY DIRGIBLE TO VISIT OUR RAMBUNCTIOUS SISTER CITY TO THE NORTH.
Is there a windows I can jump out of when we pass Olympia? I don’t need to go all the way to seattle.
Will there be booze and ironic viewings of bad movies on VHS?
I rode a Boltbus between Philly and NYC last year. It was not awful, amazingly enough.
That less than you’ll be charged for a blowjob in the bus terminal!
Some fares are higher than that, actually. I saw $10 and $13 ones, but also $1 (as mentioned), $6, and $8. I think the prices go up as the availability goes down, but it’s hard to tell exactly.
“. . .bringing *it’s* ridiculously cheap ride deals. . .”
Do you need volunteer editors? Disaffectation doesn’t extend to punctuation.
The PDX-SEA ridership should be put on a probationary period with cheap buses, wherein they are forced to ride sketchy Chinatown buses with no wi-fi and unusuable bathrooms that *might* make a pit-stop once during a four-hour ride and are almost as likely to break down.
How the hell is this a profitable business model, are they also running drugs or transporting child prostitutes in the luggage compartment?
As for the business model, and making money. 50 Seats at $7 is $350. $100 for Gas? $100 for Driver, $75 bus maintenance, $25 insurance, $25 to run the website and customer service. $25 profit. I’m thinking there are more costs, and less profit. But it must be possible. It is run by Greyhound, and I’m sure they have the experience to run such a business on the cheap. Maybe they’re doing it for the good of the people (99%). Charity? 🙂
In any event, the timing could not be better. With the mother of my child living in Seattle for the summer, we now have a more affordable option over Amtrak for our child to spend time with both parents.
@techdruid – I thought your $100 estimate for gas was crazy low, but 173 miles at 7 mpg and $4/gallon is $98.85.
So…you win this round. I GUESS! 🙂