GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The Megabus will soon roll through Grand Rapids.
But competitors of the low-cost transit company known best for its blue buses and $1 fares say the new West Michigan route that travels between Detroit and Chicago is no threat.
Amtrak, Greyhound and Indian Trails say Megabus passengers are left unsheltered and exposed to harsh weather because they are typically picked up at parking lots and sidewalks.
Indian Trails Vice President Chad Cushman tells The Grand Rapids Press that Megabus’ popular $1 fare marketing is a “gimmick” that “very few passengers will get.”
But Joseph P. Schwieterman, director of DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, says Megabus’ low overhead has allowed quick expansion during the last six years. Meanwhile, competitors have had to invest in facilities investments and other projects.
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Information from: The Grand Rapids Press, http://www.mlive.com/grand-rapids
