Thread started by User1 at 05.20.08 - 11:39 pm

Sad news on a service that just started and seemed like it would have really taken here. Not sure why they are giving up already.


Megabus to halt service in L.A.

Despite low fares, ridership remained too low to keep operating in Los Angeles.
By Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 17, 2008
Bargain bus service Megabus, which touted fares as low as $1, said Friday that it would pull out of Los Angeles because of low ridership.

The decision to shut down the hub, which was expected, came less than a year after Megabus began service from Los Angeles to cities including San Francisco and Las Vegas.

"Our approach has been to go into different markets and give it a shot and see how they'll develop," said Megabus President Dale Moser. "If they develop quickly, we'll certainly sustain it. But in this case, the ridership trends aren't growing enough."

Megabus, a subsidiary of Coach USA, will end its service from Los Angeles to San Francisco and Oakland after June 22, and from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, San Jose and Millbrae, Calif., a few weeks earlier, Moser said.

Earlier this year, Megabus halted its service from Los Angeles to San Diego and Phoenix.

Despite spending "thousands of dollars" in advertising, Moser said, the 56-seat buses would sometimes pull out of Los Angeles with as few as 12 riders.

Meanwhile, the service is taking off in the Midwest, where Megabus serves 17 cities and has seen its business increase 137% during the last year, he said.

"We're disappointed too," Moser said. "It doesn't mean at a later date we won't revisit bringing the service back."

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-megabus17-2008may17,0,2008552.story

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Didn't they have a "no bikes" policy?



marino
05.20.08 - 11:58 pm

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They had a "no bikes in one piece policy" you could bring a foldy or a broken down bike n a bag.

Thats sucks about the megabus .. i took it to SFCM15 (sans bike) and I really liked it.



trickmilla
05.21.08 - 12:10 am

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I talked to someone that brought their bike to the bus without boxing it. They let him store it in the baggage area cause it was practically empty.



User1
05.21.08 - 12:29 am

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Used it once to get to San Diego... they had a promotion so I paid like 5 bucks. Was an awesome service but only like 5 other people were on the bus.



modernfuturist
05.21.08 - 12:29 am

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Until June 22nd. Looks like I can still use it the end of this month... wonder if they'll let me take my bike? Since no one, apparently, uses it.



the reverend dak
05.21.08 - 1:37 am

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LOL, YOU WOULD THINK SO, HUH! LOL



eddieboyinla
05.21.08 - 1:39 am

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That bus is scary. I wouldn't ride it, if they payed me; it reminds me of a clown with a sad makeup job.



KataCyklsLA2NY
05.21.08 - 2:02 am

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Well me and Mr Raymond are taking it to Vegas.
Leave 11:30 am live it up all night, jump back on bus @ 6am and sleep all the way home..
Any one else?



deesimple
05.23.08 - 10:41 pm

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I took the Megabus red eye to San Fran last month. 11:30 pm to 6 am. I could not sleep on that bus. Just not comfortable enough. Good luck on your return trip from Vegas.
I'm sorry to see the Frisco run end. I got up there and back for $20.
At that price, I can sleep later.



Creative Thing
05.24.08 - 8:38 pm

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Left at 11:30 am Sat and got back 11:30 am today.
Raining in Vegas but had so much fun.
The bus is clean, 5 hr ride.
Slept like a brick after a all nighter with crazy women we met.Lost my phone 3 different times and was returned to me by random people ..good deeds in Vegas

Ahhhh Las Vegas



deesimple
05.25.08 - 3:26 pm

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