Hundreds of area travelers this Thanksgiving holiday opted to take the bus instead of a train, car or plane.
The area leading up to Megabus and Bolt Bus stations on the 3100 block of JFK Boulevard in Philadelphia was packed with holiday travelers.
Megabus was founded just six years ago and last week carried its 22 millionth passenger. Bolt Bus arrived on the scene two years ago and it too is thriving.
Both carriers start fares as low as a dollar a ride, with most tickets topping out at $15 or $20 each way.
For passengers, this is no frills travel.
Ticketing is handled online and you'll probably handle your own baggage. Seating is first come first serve and unlike the plane or train, there's no food service.
And for some, the outdoor terminal can be a drag.
"I've never had the rain, but the wind and the bitter cold - the cold is tough for me. I really need to bundle up if I'm going to be out here," one passenger told FOX 29's Bruce Gordan.
The schedule is extensive and on this pre-holiday scramble, a lot of extra buses were added.
As far as the crowds go, many of the passengers are younger.
Megabus says 40 percent of its passengers are age 18-39, but the word has gotten out to moms and dads, too.
Like any mass transit system, these buses are at the mercy of the weather, traffic and other unforeseen developments.
For example, buses going into or out of New York City around rush hour are bound to be late.
But a growing number of travelers seem more than willing to put up with some minor inconvenience to save some money.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:14 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:14:04 GMT
Parents at a Port Richmond playground say they fear for their kids' safety. They feel intimidated by a street person living, nearly full time, in the park!
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Roseline Conteh was inside the Salvation Army's 22nd and Market street thrift store Wednesday morning doing what she often did, buying clothing to send back home to Sierra Leone.
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An unspeakable crime in Southwest Philadelphia. The details are very disturbing. Police say a man who is a paraplegic has been stabbed and his genitals severed by another man, after the two got into an
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The Rolling Stones will perform in Philadelphia on Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Fans will undoubtedly buy memorabilia to remember the event. One item being sold at an auction will surely catch
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An armed deli robbery is caught on camera. Two brazen gunmen held up the store owner with the man's kids right nearby. It's scary enough having armed gunmen storm your business.
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In Chester County, there was damage caused by severe storms as they ripped through the area this afternoon. It did not take long but it did quite a bit of damage.
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South Philly neighborhood parents are so worried about cars speeding down their street while kids are at play that they installed their own speed bumps.
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New Jersey is considering changing the requirements to be a teacher in the Garden State. A proposal would require prospective teachers to have at least a "B" average in college before they get certified.
New Jersey is considering changing the requirements to be a teacher in the Garden State. A proposal would require prospective teachers to have at least a "B" average in college before they get certified.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:51 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:51:37 GMT
Parents and Philadelphia staff members are going on a hunger strike. Hunger strikers will camp outside Governor Tom Corbett's office in Philadelphia until the system gets additional funding.
Parents and Philadelphia staff members are going on a hunger strike. Hunger strikers will camp outside Governor Tom Corbett's office in Philadelphia until the system gets additional funding.
Megabus, founded just six years ago, carried its 22 millionth passenger last week.
