Passengers waiting at the Fung Wah Lines ticket window on Canal Street and the Bowery in Manhattan

Chinatown bus lines, also called 野雞車 (yě jī chē, which translates as wild chicken trucks) in Chinese, refers to the private transportation industry that has arisen in the Chinatown communities of the East Coast of the United States since 1998. Similar Chinese American-run bus services are cropping up on the West Coast. Fung Wah Ticket Booth, Manhattan © 2004 Matthew Trump (User:Decumanus) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Fung Wah Ticket Booth, Manhattan © 2004 Matthew Trump (User:Decumanus) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The gate to Montreals Chinatown which has Chinese, Japanese and Korean restaurants inside the complex. ... A Chinese American is an American who is of ethnic Chinese descent. ... // Original meaning and etymology The original meaning of the term coach was: a horse-drawn vehicle designed for the conveyance of more than one passenger — and of mail — and covered for protection from the elements. ...

The companies typically use large (50 to 60 passenger) buses comparable to those used by other passenger bus lines and often screen movies for riders.

History

A 2000 Coach bus in NYC, August 2004

The first company to offer such services was the Fung Wah Bus, which began routes between New York City and Boston in 1998.^[1] The bus service was originally intended for transporting ethnic Chinese restaurant workers from one Chinatown to Chinatowns in other cities. Now, some bus lines are also used to transport large groups of mainly Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants to and from casinos such as Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, which are located in Connecticut. These gambling buses build upon the popularity of older bus routes to Atlantic City that also targeted Asian American customers.^[2] A Chinatown bus (2000 Coach/New Century Travel) shortly after depositing its passengers in NYC. August 2004. ... A Chinatown bus (2000 Coach/New Century Travel) shortly after depositing its passengers in NYC. August 2004. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fung Wah Bus Transportation Inc. ... Nickname: Big Apple, City that never Sleeps, Gotham Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613 Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... For other uses, see Casino (disambiguation). ... Categories: Casinos | Hotels of the United States | US geography stubs ... The Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino located in the village of Uncasville in the town of Montville, Connecticut, U.S., is the worlds second largest casino. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Map of Atlantic City in Atlantic County Coordinates: Country United States State New Jersey County Atlantic Incorporated March 1854 Mayor Bob Levy Area    - City 44. ...

Given their relatively competitive fares to the mainstream Greyhound Lines, it has become popular among non-Chinese customers as well, especially students. The bus service has gained such popularity that it was mentioned in several articles in the New York Times and on the radio programs Marketplace and Morning Edition on National Public Radio. Recently, competition has come from the Jewish-owned Washington Deluxe and Vamoose, both of which have mostly non-Chinese customers.^[3][4] Unlike the Chinatown buses, however, these bus companies observe the Jewish Sabbath and do not run on Friday nights or Saturdays. Greyhound Lines is the largest intercity common carrier of passengers by bus in North America, serving 2200 destinations in the United States. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Marketplace is a radio program that focuses on business, the economy, and events that influence them. ... Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio (NPR). ... Offical NPR logo National Public Radio (NPR) is an independent, private, non-profit membership organization of public radio stations in the United States. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination...

Increasing popularity has also lead to increasing regulatory interest. In September 2004, the City of Boston required Chinatown bus services to shift their operations from the city's Chinatown to the South Station transportation terminal. September 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: September 2004 in sports Events Deaths in September • 27 Tsai Wan-lin • 24 Françoise Sagan • 20 Brian Clough • 18 Russ Meyer • 15 Johnny Ramone • 12 Fred Ebb • 11 Peter VII of Alexandria • 8... South Station front entrance. ...

Operation

Passengers waiting to board the Travel Pack bus to Boston in Manhattan

In addition to New York City and Boston, several bus line companies also link to the Chinatowns of Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Doraville in the Atlanta, Georgia area, and other cities. On the West Coast, buses link the Chinatowns in the San Francisco Bay area, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles Chinatown and the San Gabriel Valley, and the Las Vegas Chinatown and casinos. Passengers waiting for the Travel Pack bus to Boston on Mulberry Street in Manhattan, Aug. ... Passengers waiting for the Travel Pack bus to Boston on Mulberry Street in Manhattan, Aug. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Cradle of Liberty, the City That Loves You Back, the Quaker City, The Birthplace of America Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor... Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: Federal District District of Columbia Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) City Council Chairperson: Linda W. Cropp (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack Evans... Nickname: Hotlanta, The Big Peach, The ATL, A-Town Location in Fulton County in the state of Georgia Coordinates: Country United States State Georgia Counties Fulton, Dekalb Mayor Shirley Franklin (D) Area    - City 343. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... A view of downtown San Jose, the self-proclaimed Capital of Silicon Valley. ... New Chinatown, Los Angeles postcard, late 1940s Chinatown in Downtown Los Angeles, California, (Chinese: 洛杉磯唐人街/luò shān jÄ« táng rén jiÄ“, Vietnamese: khu Hoa kieu, thanh pho Los Angeles) was originally located less than a mile from its current location. ... The Chinatown of Las Vegas, Nevada is a series of large shopping centers with ethnic Chinese and other pan-Asian businesses on Spring Mountain Road, with the original called Chinatown Plaza. ...

Many competitors offer discount prices that undercut the major bus lines. Typical fares between East Coast cities range from $10 to $20. The industry has become highly competitive with companies offering hourly service between major cities. The Appalachian extensions of these lines tend to offer less of a price advantage: in August 2006, one-way fares from New York to Pittsburgh on the Chinese-owned All State were $35 compared with $45 advance through Greyhound Lines, while tickets from State College, Pennsylvania to New York were $35, compared to $46.00 for Greyhound.(Source: Greyhound website)^[5] Greyhound Lines is the largest intercity common carrier of passengers by bus in North America, serving 2200 destinations in the United States. ... State College redirects here. ...

Chinatown busses also run express, usually making no stops between the departure and destination points. This typically results in shorter travel times. The aforementioned trip from State College, PA to New York City takes about four hours on the chinatown bus, compared with over seven hours on Greyhound.

The use of such lines is very informal. Often ticket booths are walk-up windows on the street, or are located inside restaurants and bakeries throughout a given Chinatown community. Some lines even simply collect cash-payment after passengers have boarded the bus. With the exception of Boston, the lines use no stations of their own. Passengers are usually directed to wait along a given curbside for the arrival of the bus, although many companies offer waiting areas at or near the pickup points. Several bus stops are also near major hotels and in the parking areas of major Chinese supermarkets. In New York, several bus lines pick up passengers on a stretch of Forsyth Street at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge (marked as "88 East Broadway" on itineraries). The sidewalk here, between Canal Street and East Broadway, serves as a de facto terminal. Toms Restaurant, a restaurant in New York made familiar by Suzanne Vega and the television sitcom Seinfeld A restaurant is an establishment that serves prepared food and beverages to order, to be consumed on the premises. ... Bakery foods A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, cakes and similar foods. ... Supermarket produce section A supermarket is a store that sells a wide variety of goods including food and alcohol, medicine, clothes, and other household products that are consumed regularly. ... Forsyth Street runs from Houston Street south to East Broadway in Manhattan. ... The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn. ... New York Citys main Chinatown meets Little Italy at Canal Street. ...

The bus routes have expanded with three bus companies now running between Manhattan Chinatown and Virginia Beach/Norfolk. Today's Bus has a station in Norfolk and Tiger Travel has one in Virginia Beach. A Chinese lion helps usher in the 2006 Chinese New Year. ... Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ... Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ...

Selected events

• In 2003 and 2004, a string of bus arsons, driver assaults, and murders in New York City were linked the possible infiltration of Asian organized crime gangs into the industry.^[6][7]
• A June 18, 2004 editorial in the Boston Globe criticized Peter Pan Bus Lines' attempt to use its virtual monopoly on gates at Boston South Station to shut out competition from Fung Wah Bus.^[8]
• On March 18, 2005, a Boston-bound Chinatown bus operated by Travel Pack stopped and evacuated its passengers on the Massachusetts Turnpike shortly before bursting into flames. No one was injured. The Boston Globe covered the incident.
• In July 2005, Fung Wah Bus, a Boston-New York carrier, attracted the attention of the Massachusetts attorney general for illegally refusing to transport handicapped passengers. The Boston Herald covered the matter.
• On August 16, 2005, a New York-bound Fung Wah bus caught fire on Interstate 91 near Meriden, Connecticut. Though the passengers later criticized the driver for being unhelpful and untrained in evacuating the bus, all passengers were eventually evacuated and no injuries were reported. ^[9]
  • After the August 16 incident, the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy instituted a policy of holding three surprise inspections per month on all bus companies that leave South Station in Boston. New York senator Chuck Schumer proposed a four-point federal plan that includes surprise inspections and creating a national safety standard for bus operators. New York may institute a similar policy; however, inspections would be difficult in New York because the buses do not all leave the city from the same location. WNYC ran a short news story on the topic.
• In February 2006, a surprise inspection on Forsyth Street in New York's Chinatown resulted in two Washington-bound buses being pulled temporarily out of service and a driver running away from authorities.
• On August 15, 2006, a Shun Fa bus travelling from New York to Pittsburgh crashed; 10 passengers were seriously injured, with 5 requiring hospitalization. One person was killed.^[10]
• On September 6, 2006, a Fung Wah bus rolled over and caused minor injuries to 34 passengers. Excessive speed was cited as a factor and the bus company was fined.^[11][12]

2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Boston Globe is the most widely-circulated daily newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts and in the greater New England region. ... Peter Pan Bus Lines is a long-distance bus carrier that operates in the northeastern states of the United States. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Fung Wah Bus Transportation Inc. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... View of the Turnpike from an overpass by Boston University, facing east (towards central Boston). ... The Boston Globe is the most widely-circulated daily newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts and in the greater New England region. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Interstate 91 (abbreviated I-91) is an interstate highway in the New England section of the United States. ... Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Charles Ellis Chuck Schumer (born November 23, 1950) is currently the senior U.S. Senator from the state of New York, serving since 1999. ... WNYC are the call letters for two public radio stations in New York City. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Bus companies (with areas served underneath their names)

• AABus (Double Happiness)

  Baltimore, NYC

• Apex Bus

  Atlanta, Baltimore, DC, NYC, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Richmond, Rockville

• Boston Deluxe

  Boston, Hartford, NYC

• Dragon Coach - Motor Coach Industries D4500

  Albany, Baltimore, DC, NYC

• Dragon Deluxe - uses Prevost Car H3-45

  Albany, Baltimore, DC, NYC, & State College, PA

• Eastern Travel

  Baltimore, DC, NYC, Richmond, Rockville

• Fung Wah Bus - Van Hool C2045 & T2145

  Boston, NYC

• GotoBus

  Serving over 50 popular destinations in the US and Canada (a strong greyhound compititor)

• Great Wall Bus

  NYC, Cleveland and Harrisburg

• Lucky Star Bus - Setra S-series

  Boston, NYC

• New Century Travel (2000 Coach) - Van Hool C2000 & T2145

  Brooklyn, DC, NYC, Philadelphia

• Premium Bus

  NYC, DC, Baltimore

• Sunshine Travel

  Boston, NYC, Mohegan Sun

• Tiger Travel Bus - Motor Coach Industries E4500

  NYC, Virginia Beach

• Today's Bus - uses Prevost Car H3-45

  Atlanta, DC, NYC, Norfolk, Philly, Richmond

• Vamoose

NYC, Arlington/Rosslyn, Bethesda, DC

• Washington Deluxe - Motor Coach Industries E4500

  NYC, Washington (does not serve either city's Chinatown)

Motor Coach Industries International Inc. ... Prevost Car is a Quebec-based bus manufacturer used by inter-urban operators and tour bus companies throughout Canada and the United States. ... Van Hool NV is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches and trailers. ... Setra S 315 UL Setra (the name comes from selbsttragend) is a manufacturer of commercial buses and a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler. ... Van Hool NV is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches and trailers. ... Motor Coach Industries International Inc. ... Prevost Car is a Quebec-based bus manufacturer used by inter-urban operators and tour bus companies throughout Canada and the United States. ... Motor Coach Industries International Inc. ...

References

1. ^ Mackenzie Carpenter. "'Chinatown bus services' have grown quickly since 1998", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 16, 2006.
2. ^ http://news.pajamasmedia.com/2006/07/27/9860062_Atlantic_City_ca.shtml
3. ^ http://www.chinatown-bus.org/ps/p1/4.html
4. ^ http://vosizneias.blogspot.com/2006/09/williamsburg-brooklyn-ny-discount-bus.html
5. ^ Mackenzie Carpenter. "'Chinatown bus services' have grown quickly since 1998", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 16, 2006.
6. ^ http://leftcenterleft.typepad.com/blog/2004/02/chinatown_bus_m.html
7. ^ http://www.nychinatown.org/articles/asianwk031117.html
8. ^ http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2004/06/18/peter_pan_is_a_bully/
9. ^ http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=98366
10. ^ Milan Simonich. "10 hurt as tour bus crashes", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 16, 2006.
11. ^ http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/09/06/34_hurt_driver_cited_for_fung_wah_bus_rollover_in_auburn/
12. ^ http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/10/31/fung_wah_bus_company_fined_31k_for_rollover/M

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the PG, is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ... The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the PG, is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ... The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the PG, is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ...

External links

• Chinatown-Bus.org Comprehensive list of Chinatown bus lines
• GotoBus.com search portal for bus travel
• IvyMedia.com compare, search and ticket most Chinatown bus lines (40+ bus lines)
• Chinatown Bus Information and other low cost, non-Chinatown bus lines in New York City.
• Murder and Vice on the Lower East Side: A Master's thesis from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism on the Chinatown buses.
• Brief History of Chinatown Bus, Gotobus, Updated in 2006.