How exactly does inter-state bus travel work?

[Broletariat]

Lets say I lived in NYC and wanted to take buses all the way to Houston. How exactly does that work?

[ellipsis]

lots of buses, lots of layovers. grey hound books all the tickets for you.

[Broletariat]

lots of buses, lots of layovers. grey hound books all the tickets for you.
Ehh what if I needed to abruptly leave without any prior notice.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Are you fleeing the law and/or Mafia?

[Magón]

You go to the ticket counter, ask for the next bus to Houston and buy it. There's nothing to it. It's like buying a Plane ticket.

Just don't bring a bag onto the bus that's more than 50lbs because they'll have to stuff it under the bus, and you can't put it in one of the overhead baggage holders.

[Broletariat]

Are you fleeing the law and/or Mafia?
Of course not officer.

[ellipsis]

You go to the ticket counter, ask for the next bus to Houston and buy it. There's nothing to it. It's like buying a Plane ticket.

Just don't bring a bag onto the bus that's more than 50lbs because they'll have to stuff it under the bus, and you can't put it in one of the overhead baggage holders.

Yah don't check ur bag, my cousin lost all his shit comming to sf on greyhound because he checked his duffle.

Go to port authority and pay in cash, give a fake name and gtfo of the city.

[Decolonize The Left]

Ehh what if I needed to abruptly leave without any prior notice.

Pack your bags, two of them - one backpack to keep in your seat and one larger bag to stow overhead (but make sure it's not too big, under 50lbs). Make sure you have all the stuff you'll need. Keep the stuff you'll use on the bus (books, writing paper, toiletries, medicine, etc..) in your backpack so you don't have to get up to get your bag. Make sure you place your bag above your seat and keep your backpack near you at all times. Keep your money and valuables on your person.

Go to the counter and pay in cash for the next bus to your destination or a destination near your destination. Then wait and get on the bus. If you're concerned about someone finding out where you went, give a fake name and travel via public transportation to the bus depot. Call ahead and make sure someone is waiting for you where you're headed or that you know of hotel neat the bus depot, or some place to crash when you get there. When you arrive get out of the bus depot and go to your destination, don't linger.

Just remember to be calm and assertive when you're traveling. Folks know how to identify good targets to ripoff and swindle and the more confident you seem the less likely you will be approached with a scam. Do not accept anything from anyone on the bus and don't buy anything from anyone. Keep to yourself and you should be fine.

- August

[Kamerat]

Weird that you need instruction on how to ride the bus in the US.
Is it really that bad? Is it so much theft and such on gray hound buses?

[Magón]

Pack your bags, two of them - one backpack to keep in your seat and one larger bag to stow overhead (but make sure it's not too big, under 50lbs). Make sure you have all the stuff you'll need. Keep the stuff you'll use on the bus (books, writing paper, toiletries, medicine, etc..) in your backpack so you don't have to get up to get your bag. Make sure you place your bag above your seat and keep your backpack near you at all times. Keep your money and valuables on your person.

Go to the counter and pay in cash for the next bus to your destination or a destination near your destination. Then wait and get on the bus. If you're concerned about someone finding out where you went, give a fake name and travel via public transportation to the bus depot. Call ahead and make sure someone is waiting for you where you're headed or that you know of hotel neat the bus depot, or some place to crash when you get there. When you arrive get out of the bus depot and go to your destination, don't linger.

Just remember to be calm and assertive when you're traveling. Folks know how to identify good targets to ripoff and swindle and the more confident you seem the less likely you will be approached with a scam. Do not accept anything from anyone on the bus and don't buy anything from anyone. Keep to yourself and you should be fine.

- August


You'd be surprised how many people are paranoid on taking a interstate bus. Nobody talks to anyone, unless they're drunk or fucked up on something, or just really, really friendly. (Which happened to a friend and me while we were passing through Denver on a 5hr layover, that chick was a little whacked out on something. LOL)

Plus, last I checked, you're only allowed 1 bag on the bus with you, all others must be stowed away underneath the bus and you have to stand out and wait while they unload the bags. That's why it's best to just take one, take double or even triple the money you plan on taking, because then if you are splitting from somewhere, you can just buy extra things in your destination or one of the many layover places you'll probably be stopping at when it's from NYC to Houston.


Weird that you need instruction on how to ride the bus in the US.
Is it really that bad? Is it so much theft and such on gray hound buses?

Not really, but you'd be surprised on how many ex-cons are forced (because of money) to take a interstate bus. But it is always safer to make sure your shit isn't fucked with, which isn't very likely since when the bus stops to say get food or have a piss break, everyone must get off the bus. No exceptions.

[Wanted Man]

Weird that you need instruction on how to ride the bus in the US.
Is it really that bad? Is it so much theft and such on gray hound buses?

Yeah weird, as if the US is some kind of incredibly exotic place where anything can happen to you. But maybe I don't quite understand how it works over there.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Yeah weird, as if the US is some kind of incredibly exotic place where anything can happen to you. But maybe I don't quite understand how it works over there.

The "anything can happen to you" quotient is probably significantly higher in Greyhound bus terminals, actually. At least some of them that I've had the misfortune to be around.

[ellipsis]

Yeah weird, as if the US is some kind of incredibly exotic place where anything can happen to you. But maybe I don't quite understand how it works over there.

You'd be surprised the kinda shit that people do to traveling folk. I picked up a hitch hiker you told me that a guy in a pick up told him to throw is bag in the back and then drove off, probably just to fuck with a crustie hippy in his red neck town in texas.

Im guessing the OP is a younger fellow hence the need for extra instruction.

I'll repeat DO NOT CHECK YOUR BAGS ON GREY HOUND. they have a huge warehouse in texas full of lost bags, kinda like in indiana jones.