California Shuttle Bus
California Shuttle Bus is a transportation company providing passenger service in California.[1]
History
The company launched its services in 2003.[2]
The service was initially launched as a $40 one-way service between the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area.[1][2]
In 2008, the company started offering $5 trips but the prices are now in the $25–40 range,[1][3] the $5 fares coincided with the cessation of Megabus service from LA to the Bay Area.[4]
The company has progressively upgraded their services and now runs large 47-seater charter buses once a day. California Shuttle Bus offers a daily "noon" bus everyday except for Tuesdays and Saturdays. The company also offers a "midnight" bus on major holidays. Their buses have GPS tracking so that customers and their friends can call the office to find out more accurate estimated time of arrivals (ETAs) based on traffic conditions as the bus approaches the drop-off locations.
Service
The shuttle offers "reliable and convenient" bus services between Los Angeles and San Francisco/San Jose areas comparable to Greyhound or Amtrak Throughway Buses, the former its main competitor, although due to its success other players have entered the market.[5] In Northern California major stops include the Bayfair BART Station, San Jose Caltrain Diridon Station, San Francisco Caltrain Station, and Downtown San Francisco, and Powell Street Station.[1] In Southern California major stops are at Union Station, Santa Monica, and the 7th St./Metro Center and North Hollywood Metro Stations.[1] The company's bus stops are located at major transit centers, hotels, and downtown areas; this is done for "convenience" so that people can pick more local stops to get picked up at, and the company also tries to find "nicer" bus stops that are safe and comfortable for their passengers to wait and get picked up/dropped off.[6] The company also has marketed itself as safer than flying due to perceptual terrorism safety concerns with regards to flying.[6]
It has been called a "cheap alternative for students" and although originally envisioned to attracted upmarket travels from long waits at airports it has attracted mostly backpackers, senior citizens, business people, and bargain hunters.[2][7][8] Patrons may pay a higher fare to guarantee that their adjoining seat is empty for their comfort.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e Homepage. California Shuttle Bus. 2011. Retrieved 23-04-2011.
- ^ a b c White, Ronald D. (10 September 2003). "Busman Stops at Nothing - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^ New $5 Bus Service Offered By California Shuttle Bus Between Los Angeles and San Francisco. RedOrbit.com. 18-06-2008. Retrieved 230-04-2011.
- ^ Bus line offers Bay Area fare deal Andrea Chang. Los Angeles Times. 24-06-2008. Retrieved 23-04-2011.
- ^ Gas Busters Bus Battle Round 2: Los Angeles to San Francisco. Evan Lips. MainStreet.com. 05-06-2008. Retrieved 23-04-2011.
- ^ a b California Shuttle Bus Launches New Service Between LA and the SF Bay Area. PR Newswire. 03-04-2004. Retrieved 23-04-2011.
- ^ Bus business bustling. Jamie McClintock. Pasadena Star News. 24-06-2003. Retrieved 23-04-2011.
- ^ Megabus, California Shuttle Bus cheap travel options for students. Allysse Delasandro. Walletpop.com. 10-04-2010. Retrieved 23-04-2011.
- ^ TRANSPORTATION; Bus service promises life in the fast lane; Nonstop trips between L.A. and six other cities are to begin next week. Alana Samuels. Los Angeles Times. 31-07-2007. 23-04-2011.
