Dedicated to long-distance bus, train and car travel
You’ve successfully reserved your ride a month in advance, and now you have the privilege of beginning your journey at the front of the boarding line. Boarding numbers are given out, based on the date of the reservation, with passengers being boarded in groups of ten. When a new bus is boarding at a major station, for example a bus departing NYC’s Port Authority for Dallas, TX, the bus will be seated ten passengers at a time. If you have booked a month ahead of time, you will probably be one of the first 20 passengers seated, so you will have a full selection of the seat and section where you will begin your first leg of your LOOOONG Greyhound Bus ride. With selection comes both the positives and negatives, so which section of the bus is better for a LOOOONG ride, the front, the back or the middle?
The answer largely depends on the passenger. The front of the bus tends to be older, with larger families and more babies and toddlers. You are less likely to have two empty seats for any large stretches of the ride. The benefits to sitting in the front of the bus is the air is a little cleaner, because when the door is opened, any air that circulates will be in the front section. Any time you pull off at a terminal or a rest stop, you will be able get outside quicker, so you can enjoy the rest stop a little longer. It also gets you the best opportunity to quickly buy a sandwich or an item at the truck stop, since any purchase involves a second line at the register.
The back of the bus you have a better chance at securing two seats, since most people select their seat by the time they’re half-way down the aisle. The back of the bus tends to be livelier, and people tend to become friendlier and more acquainted with their neighbor passengers. The downside to the back of the bus is that on many busses, the bathroom will be either rancid smelling, have a broken door that doesn’t close properly, or both. The air does get rather stale in the back of the bus, since there is no escape aside from small vents. If there is anybody getting blind-drunk or wasted on drugs, they will be in the back of the bus, so that can be an issue. You will also be at the end of any lines getting off the bus, which means that if you have ten minutes to smoke, pee and buy food, a passenger sitting on the back of the bus will have the chance to do one or two of those things, while a passenger in the front of the bus can accomplish all three.
Some people claim the front of the bus is cooler, and the back of the bus gets hotter, because of the engine, but I think the bus is generally cool to cold everywhere on a bus, due to the air conditioning, and if the air conditioning is broken, it will be brutally hot in the back. The best way to handle a situation like that is to drink a lot of water and to embrace the sweat and just laugh.
I personally prefer the middle-toward the back of the bus. If I meet interesting people along the ride, I may shift toward the front or the back, but I prefer being at least a third of the way deep into the bus. Sometimes, it will depend on the layout of the bus. How are the seats? Does every row have an outlet? Are there any interesting or attractive people already situated? Are there passengers seated who I want to avoid? During the first half of the ride and in scenic states, I prefer the window. During the corn, wheat and cow states, I prefer the aisle seat to better stretch out my legs. Window seats are a little better for sleeping. Always bring a pillow and a positive attitude. Happy Travels!
What is priority seating on Greyhound?
If you purchased an Economy Extra or Flexible fare, you get Priority Boarding which allows you to be one of the first to board and get your seat. Priority Boarding is also available for purchase at the station. Priority and General Boarding will be indicated on your ticket.
Why are Greyhound buses so cold?
Why are buses kept so unreasonably cold? Low heat in Winter and very high air-conditioning in the Summer. “For me, it was to stay awake on the overnight runs. Also, the windshield reflects the sun like crazy, so I always gotta crank the AC to compensate during the day.”
WHERE Should I SIT On GREYHOUND BUS?
Buses are a common form of transportation. They can range from small, local buses to large, long-distance coaches with multiple levels and various amenities like restrooms or snack bars. No matter which type of bus, there are always seats. And within those seats lie a few secrets that can help you to stay safe and comfortable during your trip.
The first thing to remember is the safest place to sit is usually the back. The front seats are closest to the driver, so if there is an accident or sudden braking, you are more likely to be injured.
But what about when you are sitting in the back? There is a hierarchy of safety, and it starts with the window seat. The side of your body that faces away from the glass will be protected by it during an accident. The next safest place to sit in the aisle seat, as you have an escape route in case of an emergency. And finally, the middle seat is the least safe choice because it leaves you with no protection from the side.