Over the past three years I’ve lived in New York City, I’ve become intimately acquainted with one of its least showy but most enduring institutions. The Port Authority Bus Terminal shuttles about 200,000 passengers daily to their various destinations all around the country. I take a Peter Pan Bus up to Western Massachusetts every few weeks to visit my girlfriend. It is a journey that at first seemed endless and exasperating but has since grown into a sort of a ritual. Putting aside the daunting duration of the trip, the prospect of traffic jams, the excitement of seeing my girlfriend, and all of the other personal feelings that color the experience, riding the bus means taking part in a longtime tradition whose legacy and impact continue to evolve.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the completion of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a project envisioned by Mayor LaGuardia which took over ten years to come to fruition. Since 1950, the terminal has more than doubled in size and capacity and seen the addition of a mall, a bowling alley, and ramps linking it to the Lincoln Tunnel. Still, expansion continues: the current plan involves building a 42-story office building atop the terminal.

But it is not only Port Authority itself that continues to grow. In an article for the Wall Street Journal (June, 2009), Anne Chaker cites a study by Joseph Schwieterman of DePaul University, claiming that while the number of passengers on US airlines declined by about 10% in the previous quarter, the number of inter-city bus departures increased by the same factor. Schwieterman attributes this phenomenon directly to the recession (and thus higher price of other forms of transportation) and to related efforts being made by bus companies to re-attract business commuters by providing a more luxurious riding experience.

Because of its markedly cheaper price in comparison to air and train, bus travel has long been clouded by a reputation of low-end and low-income. This is perhaps why many other college students join me on my trips to Massachusetts on Peter Pan. Nevertheless, thanks to the bleak state of the economy and advent of luxury coaches like Megabus and Bolt, which sport plush cushions and wi-fi access, the demographics of bus travel may be in an important moment of a flux. A month ago, I rode back to New York from Boston on Megabus; almost everyone had open either a laptop or a handheld and there was a mix of young people, families, and businessmen.

In addition to providing cheap seats in hard economic times, recent research suggests that buses also offer a “greener” alternative to other forms of travel. According to “Getting There Greener,” a 2008 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, “Even at today’s average occupancy rates, your carbon footprint will be a mere 0.17 pound for every mile you travel on a motor coach—the smallest footprint of any mode for people traveling alone or with a companion.” In other terms, the report finds that a passenger reduces his or her carbon footprint by as much as 85% just by choosing the bus over a conventional private vehicle. While such an ethical incentive may not be the primary motivating factor for many, it nevertheless bolsters the already-strengthening position of inter-city bus travel, especially as other businesses and industries continue to “go green.”

Despite the economic and environmental motivations, the bus is no walk in the park (how could it ever be?). It takes me about five hours to reach Hampshire College from Port Authority, a trip which can be done in under three by car. After meandering our way out of Manhattan through the East Side, and stopping at New Britain, New Haven, and Hartford, I almost always have to change buses in Springfield. Even by bus station standards, this one is particularly grimy despite being the official hub of Peter Pan. The onboard experience is usually pleasant enough, especially if you have two seats to yourself. I’ve grown accustomed to the gentle rocking of the coach; place a thick sweater against the window and if the sun hits you just right, it’s easy to fall asleep.

Occasionally there is a fellow passenger who either provides amusing entertainment or quickly turns the ride into a Kafkaesque nightmare. Once, immediately after pulling out of Port Authority, the man sitting next to me requested to use my cell to call his phone company. It turned out that his ex-girlfriend had access to his personal information and credit card and had decided to vindictively put a hold on his phone plan. Within a few minutes of his calling the company and complaining, she would inevitably cancel it again. This happened repeatedly over the course of the trip; by the end, the man was uttering quiet and sincere death threats to the girl on my phone, which I then meekly accepted as reward for my compliance.

Despite its idiosyncrasies, riding the bus from Port Authority is an experience worth having at least once—if anything, because it is kind of liberating. My friend and I once decided on a whim to take the 3:30 AM bus to Boston to surprise a group of high school friends who were congregating for the weekend. In a day and age when air travel is complicated and expensive, the bus offers motive and means for journeys of a more impromptu nature. One of these days I plan to go on a 48-hour, round trip bus adventure to Nashville to check out the music scene. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Sources:
Anne Marie Chaker. Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Jun 18, 2009. pg. D.1
http://www.panynj.gov/bus-terminals/pabt-history.html
Union of Concerned Scientists, “Getting There Greener.” UCS Publications: 2008. http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/greentravel_report...