Comments on: How One Bus Stop Encapsulates The American Immigrant Experience http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/ The Neat Side of the Web Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:35:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: AKx http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-611529 AKx Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:00:11 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-611529 I live around chinatown and have taken these buses and I must say... those ladies that sell the tickets are incredibly loud and rude. All they want is your money and as soon as you buy a ticket, they just shoo you away. The buses almost never leave on time because they try to fill up the entire bus. So if they say they're leaving at 4, they'll end up leaving at 4:30 to 5 just so they can fill an extra 2 seats. I recently discovered Boltbus.com which is generally the same price or cheaper depending on when you book the tickets but I'd definitely prefer that over the chinatown buses. I live around chinatown and have taken these buses and I must say... those ladies that sell the tickets are incredibly loud and rude. All they want is your money and as soon as you buy a ticket, they just shoo you away. The buses almost never leave on time because they try to fill up the entire bus. So if they say they're leaving at 4, they'll end up leaving at 4:30 to 5 just so they can fill an extra 2 seats. I recently discovered Boltbus.com which is generally the same price or cheaper depending on when you book the tickets but I'd definitely prefer that over the chinatown buses.

]]> By: JamesM http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-605816 JamesM Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:23:00 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-605816 I've taken many of the busses in Chinatown from Philly to NYC (and back)... and well, the ones I've taken seemed to be well maintained, the drivers weren't psychotic on the road and the company staff were nice and helpful. $20 both ways is hard to beat. IMHO, the best part is getting to Chinatown in both cities. Loads of activity and culture surrounding it. I always looked forward to taking the bus up to NYC and then walking through Chinatown to get to where I was going to in NYC. I've taken many of the busses in Chinatown from Philly to NYC (and back)... and well, the ones I've taken seemed to be well maintained, the drivers weren't psychotic on the road and the company staff were nice and helpful. $20 both ways is hard to beat. IMHO, the best part is getting to Chinatown in both cities. Loads of activity and culture surrounding it. I always looked forward to taking the bus up to NYC and then walking through Chinatown to get to where I was going to in NYC.

]]> By: whantmoore http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-604360 whantmoore Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:27:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-604360 The fact is most people a only know of the fung wah but true be told there are many buses in that area of NYC that go to Philly, DC, Boston, and Virgina Beach. There are many companies some even have websites so you can buy your tickets. I have seen things transported from one city to another and non of what they were transporting was either illegal or unsafe. From a Native NYC The fact is most people a only know of the fung wah but true be told there are many buses in that area of NYC that go to Philly, DC, Boston, and Virgina Beach. There are many companies some even have websites so you can buy your tickets. I have seen things transported from one city to another and non of what they were transporting was either illegal or unsafe.

From a Native NYC

]]> By: Dani http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-602972 Dani Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:47:35 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-602972 Lenny Nero, it's true that these buses can be slightly shady at times, but it's more the people on them than the bus company themselves. But that's life, full of sketchy people (some call them 'eclectic'). The chance that you'll get in an accident in your own car driving from Philly to NYC (or NYC to Boston) is probably just as likely! Unfortunately, many people don't drive or own cars, or they do and just can't afford to. Asking a friend/parent/whoever to drive you over 200 miles is unlikely to result in a positive outcome and a round-trip train ticket is almost four times as expensive as the Chinatown bus. So some of us (especially poor students such as myself) have no choice but to take these buses. I've taken them several times to various destinations and have had no problems other than sitting next to a large woman who screamed into her cellphone about how much she hates her Aunt for the entire two hour ride. Lenny Nero, it's true that these buses can be slightly shady at times, but it's more the people on them than the bus company themselves. But that's life, full of sketchy people (some call them 'eclectic'). The chance that you'll get in an accident in your own car driving from Philly to NYC (or NYC to Boston) is probably just as likely! Unfortunately, many people don't drive or own cars, or they do and just can't afford to. Asking a friend/parent/whoever to drive you over 200 miles is unlikely to result in a positive outcome and a round-trip train ticket is almost four times as expensive as the Chinatown bus.
So some of us (especially poor students such as myself) have no choice but to take these buses. I've taken them several times to various destinations and have had no problems other than sitting next to a large woman who screamed into her cellphone about how much she hates her Aunt for the entire two hour ride.

]]> By: Lenny Nero http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-602528 Lenny Nero Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:50:57 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-602528 I forgot to mention, I'm a bus repair shop worker, and I keep abreast of the various accidents in our industry. These cheapo buses are involved in so many safety systems failures its unreal. In fact, Fung Wah already has the feds and the state looking at them after two of their buses lost front wheels due to improperly tightened wheel nuts, and another that got in an accident due to improperly maintained brakes. I'd never EVER ride one of these things. I forgot to mention, I'm a bus repair shop worker, and I keep abreast of the various accidents in our industry. These cheapo buses are involved in so many safety systems failures its unreal. In fact, Fung Wah already has the feds and the state looking at them after two of their buses lost front wheels due to improperly tightened wheel nuts, and another that got in an accident due to improperly maintained brakes. I'd never EVER ride one of these things.

]]> By: Lenny Nero http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-602520 Lenny Nero Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:48:15 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-602520 So, lets see, at $15/rider, 55 riders per trip, thats $825 gross per one way trip. Minus $119.75 for diesel (generously assumes 9mpg, and 220mi to Boston,) minus $76 for the driver's salary, and you're left with $629/trip. And that doesn't include insurance(up to 15000/yr), maintenance, tolls or taxes on the income. Something stinks in that picture. Either they're doing this just for charity, or there's something ELSE getting transported in those buses for the real money. So, lets see, at $15/rider, 55 riders per trip, thats $825 gross per one way trip. Minus $119.75 for diesel (generously assumes 9mpg, and 220mi to Boston,) minus $76 for the driver's salary, and you're left with $629/trip. And that doesn't include insurance(up to 15000/yr), maintenance, tolls or taxes on the income. Something stinks in that picture. Either they're doing this just for charity, or there's something ELSE getting transported in those buses for the real money.

]]> By: Ali S. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-602155 Ali S. Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:02:25 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-602155 I remember using one of these bus services when I had to stop in NY and grab one to get to Philadelphia. It was actually a pretty quick drive too! :) I remember using one of these bus services when I had to stop in NY and grab one to get to Philadelphia. It was actually a pretty quick drive too! :)

]]> By: Adam Stanhope http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-601968 Adam Stanhope Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:24:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-601968 The Fung Wah! South Station to Canal Street in less time than it would take to park at Logan, go through security, fly to LaGuardia and town car to Manhattan. All this for $13! Wooooo! Dave - are you in Boston? The Fung Wah!

South Station to Canal Street in less time than it would take to park at Logan, go through security, fly to LaGuardia and town car to Manhattan. All this for $13!

Wooooo!

Dave - are you in Boston?

]]> By: Jake D. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/08/how-one-bus-stop-encapsulates-the-american-immigrant-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-601913 Jake D. Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:29:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16693#comment-601913 Isn't the one from Boston to NYC called the Fung Wah? Or is that all the buses. My friend from Boston comes into New York all the time on it. She says it's a lot of students, because students don't have much money. Isn't the one from Boston to NYC called the Fung Wah? Or is that all the buses. My friend from Boston comes into New York all the time on it. She says it's a lot of students, because students don't have much money.

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