Chinatown buses provide inexpensive travel option to NYC
Alysson Cwyk
Issue date: 5/16/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
In Philadelphia, there are two bus lines available for your convenience: Apex and New Century. Both lines travel to New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The Apex station can be found at the corner of 11th & Cherry streets, while New Century is just a block away at 11th & Filbert streets. Both are directly next to the Philadelphia Convention Center.
Apex and New Century bus lines both cost the same price for a round trip ticket to New York, $20, a price that I was more than willing to pay to get me to New York to see the Tegan & Sara concert. Apex leaves every hour, while New Century departs every 30 minutes, with both lines running from 7 a.m. until 11p.m. The travel time is approximately two hours, which is generally quicker than traveling via the SEPTA and transferring to a New Jersey Transit train.
I had made my decision on my mode of travel to New York City-I was definitely going to take a Chinatown bus. How could I pass up a quick and cheap form of transportation?
I chose to take New Century, mainly because it was the closest to my apartment and the weather was horrible on Monday. Around noon, I paid my $20 for a round-trip ticket and hopped onto a 60-person coach bus. The lights were dim and all types of people were scattered throughout the vehicle. Business people in suits, large families, elderly couples, and college students all graced the noon New Century bus to New York City. I was excited to take a break from Philadelphia, experience a new concert venue and travel.
I had heard terrifying stories of Chinatown bus trips to New York, but they didn't scare me away. Really, my traveling experience was quite the opposite of what I was warned about. Here are some of the myths versus realities that I had experienced:
Myth: The Chinatown bus always crashes and it takes forever to get to your destination.
Reality: I have found no reports online of an Apex or New Century bus ever crashing. The bus driver probably drives over the speed limit, and I feel as though we were (safely) driving 80 miles per hour on the New Jersey Turnpike, when we should have been going 60.
Apex and New Century bus lines both cost the same price for a round trip ticket to New York, $20, a price that I was more than willing to pay to get me to New York to see the Tegan & Sara concert. Apex leaves every hour, while New Century departs every 30 minutes, with both lines running from 7 a.m. until 11p.m. The travel time is approximately two hours, which is generally quicker than traveling via the SEPTA and transferring to a New Jersey Transit train.
I had made my decision on my mode of travel to New York City-I was definitely going to take a Chinatown bus. How could I pass up a quick and cheap form of transportation?
I chose to take New Century, mainly because it was the closest to my apartment and the weather was horrible on Monday. Around noon, I paid my $20 for a round-trip ticket and hopped onto a 60-person coach bus. The lights were dim and all types of people were scattered throughout the vehicle. Business people in suits, large families, elderly couples, and college students all graced the noon New Century bus to New York City. I was excited to take a break from Philadelphia, experience a new concert venue and travel.
I had heard terrifying stories of Chinatown bus trips to New York, but they didn't scare me away. Really, my traveling experience was quite the opposite of what I was warned about. Here are some of the myths versus realities that I had experienced:
Myth: The Chinatown bus always crashes and it takes forever to get to your destination.
Reality: I have found no reports online of an Apex or New Century bus ever crashing. The bus driver probably drives over the speed limit, and I feel as though we were (safely) driving 80 miles per hour on the New Jersey Turnpike, when we should have been going 60.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Seth Angeli
posted 5/18/08 @ 3:01 AM EST
Ummm...how was the concert?I tried to get tickets but they sold out too quickly.
danny B
posted 5/19/08 @ 12:29 PM EST
bolt bus is from 30th st station to penn station
Alysson Cwyk
posted 5/21/08 @ 11:39 AM EST
The concert was great! I've seen Tegan & Sara twice in much smaller venues and prefer the more intimate setting, but Terminal 5 was a promising venue that I hope to return to in the near future. (Continued…)
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