How about that Ghost Bus Fare to NYC that is so "CHEAP"? Note: The following editorial is excerpted from The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Va. Below it is a response written by a Virginian-Pilot reader. Federal regulators are still playing a roving game of whack-a-mole — involving moles the size of buses — more than a year after a major crackdown on a Byzantine network of low-fare passenger lines with atrocious safety records. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently shut down a Staten Island-based company that had stranded 53 passengers on Interstate 95 south of Fredericksburg (Va.). When its bus broke down, the company failed to send a replacement until the next night; travelers had to stay at a truck stop until then. Regulators checked the background of the company, All Nations Coach, and discovered it was a reincarnation of a company they’d forced to close last year over a long list of safety violations. The story is a familiar one. In recent years, the feds have been battling “ghost buses” — so named because they’re painted white (and easily renamed) and because their owners are so adept at slipping away when they get into trouble. Last year, the FMCSA closed 26 bus lines — including five that operated in Hampton Roads (Va.) after the companies failed to address long-running problems with lax maintenance, poor oversight of drivers and other problems. The crackdown was prompted by several serious accidents along the I-95 corridor, including one near the site of last month’s breakdown and stranding. That accident, attributed to driver fatigue, killed four people and injured 50. Since April, the agency has issued out-of-service orders to 16 companies. It’s also shut down 10 additional lines for safety violations. Clearly, ghost buses are still rolling. The agency needs to continue rolling with them. Competition needed By Henry M. Ryto For a free market to work, there has to be competition. Monopolies normally mean higher prices, and — often — a lower level of service. When the federal government allowed Greyhound to purchase Trailways, it gave Greyhound an effective monopoly on intercity bus travel. In the federal ruling on the merger, the acquisition was allowed on the grounds that (please note, Virginian-Pilot) charter carriers and such could enter the intercity market. Some quick Internet research could have taught the (Virginian-Pilot) editorial board a stunning lesson. Greyhound’s unrestricted round-trip fare for Norfolk to New York City is $130. Most trips require a transfer at either Richmond, Va., or Wilmington, Del. The “ghost bus” carriers charge $60-$70 for the same round-trip, with no change of bus. While skimping on safety and customer service could help explain that....
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 20:24:48 +0000
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