In the late 1990s, when the first cheap bus from Chinatown, New York, Boston, in the Chinese quarter began to run only a few people have the impact they had on the bus industry as a whole. It was not a service that came to the public. It aims at a target group of people – recent Chinese immigrants – that at a cheap travel between the two cities to visit family, shop or at work. Growth in this biological phenomenon. The public heard of the “Chinatown bus” by word of mouth. He took quickly, and soon the market was flooded with other companies providing similar services on a wide range of compounds.
It would be wrong to say that the only reason that these companies was based on the prices. Of course, that was the biggest attraction for travelers. However, we must say that the service that the carrier offers traditional bus was ready for the competition. In truth, the “full service” offers the traditional bus companies in the value of premiums? Hardly. Customer service not at all levels, the bus was not a comfortable waiting room, coaches are often shabby, and service has suffered delays.
Years after the introduction of the first in New York to Boston road, it is interesting to examine how it supports the bus, in its entirety. Overall, it appears as an independent company and the traditional media are, on average. The independent, ask for more equipment, more join the security standards and regulations, and tariffs. At the same time, traditional airlines have been forced to increase prices very competitive and usually for a further expansion of its business. Greyhound and its partners have tendency to enhance the competitive position on the popular New York, Boston and New York-DC streets. Furthermore, these roads are the only ones where customers not to pay $ 4 large online supplement fee, usually on the website of the Greyhound. They have greatly reduced the promotion of the prize, and it usually requires the customer in advance to make reservations online (purchase tickets at the exit can be almost twice as expensive that through their website).
What is with the standards for safety? This is the point, namely the debate in the industry. There are numerous reports of violations of safety is definitely false statements and practices in the security field. However, it seems not that the affairs of the safety of these companies are really worse than any other bus carriers subject to the same provisions of the federal government. Thanks to intense lobbying efforts in 2004 a special working group was set up by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which controls in the “Collection” (Chinatown) bus. Despite the increase in the inspections, the FMCSA survey pointed out that transport companies have approximately the same rate of violations of other types of carriers after his agency authority3. This May be a sign that the uncertainty of market participants or their safety.
Fortunately, bus travel is generally very safe, method of transport, with an annual mortality of only 22 of the last 10 years. No bus killed that day in relation to Chinatown bus carriers. Mishaps often responsible for all areas of industry – the buses, which are under the direction of the carriers, the charter and tour companies1 2nd No concrete Chinese research suggests that the buses have a higher incidence of problems, the other operators.
It is important to note that what was once a small niche in the overcrowded bus service is a segment. For all carriers lump-sum grant under this model at low cost in the same group would be a mistake. The quality of services offered to businesses very differently. Some are fly-by-night concerns, others have in the large companies with many employees and bus fleets.
Another development is that Chinese migrants are no longer the only actors in this segment of the bus industry. Several so-called “Chinatown” buses owned by Jews Hassid. In addition, many charter bus companies are in line with a business model with the same low cost as Chinatown bus.
Chinatown bus industry has evolved from a simple man with an operation that is part of the bus. In all likelihood, the development of industry is not complete. We probably change to see Chinatown, the legal effect as the carriers do business. The competition in this field, which are poorly managed operators are expected to be forced out of the party. The traditional carriers must continue to be competitive prices and also to find new ways of competition. It is clear that customers are happy that the waiver of a variety of services for traditional carriers to save money.
1Police: Driver fatigue factor probably fatal bus accident
Monday 28 November 2005 Posted: 7:15 am EST (12:15 GMT) http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/27/california.bus/
2T bus burns in Everett; 4 Fire is in 5 weeks
No driver injured; officials seek cause
By Lucas Wall, Boston Globe, 6 October 2005
3 Statement by Annette Sandberg, FMCSA administrator, before the Committee of the Chamber on transportation and infrastructure committee on the roads, transportation and pipelines. Washington DC, March 2, 2006
Tags: bus industry, bus travel, chinatown bus, travel industry