So I went on the bus last week and let me tell you I loved it.  First of all, I like that it picks up at the Hilton Garden Inn...so comfortable, inviting waiting area and most of all I felt safe and secure especially as a woman commuting and even if I was travelling with my child.I spoke with a couple of the passengers and most were day trippers except for two that I saw that looked like commuters.  The man who was commuting and going in for a business appointment wished there was an earlier bus that would get him in by 10am but he was able to reschedule and the $1 price was the reason of the rescheduling otherwise he would have gone in with Jitney and he wished there was a bus that left before the rush hour.  He was going in with Bolt but returning with Jitney.The other woman I spoke to said she also wished there was a bus earlier than the 10:30 am in between the 6 ish and 10:30 because she wanted to spend the full day in Manhattan and 4 hours is really not enough.....she preferred a later bus than the 5:20 like a 6ish or 7ish ...she goes in to the theater at least twice a month on the weekends and the last bus at 8:20 is still too early.  she wished there was an even later one.  She will be using your bus versus the train she said it is seedy and she feels disgusted after being on the train.  I personally loved it.  Just my style.  It was relaxing, accommodating and less stressful.  I do not believe I would use it from Ronkonkoma honestly it gave me an eery feeeling.  I would rather drive then.  It is not for me.  When I used to commute via express bus years ago (when I lived in Nassau County and worked in Manhattan) I always picked the bus stop with the better scenery.  I would always pick up my bus at 57th and Mad or 42nd & Sixth...Though there were bus stops closer to my office in NYC (back then) I always walked the extra four blocks to wait at another pick up point.  but that is just me.  On the way back all the passengers were headed for Riverhead but the bus still stopped at Ronkonkoma.  Is that a mandatory stop?  Even if there are no passengers on for Ronkonkoma ...does the bus still have to stop there????  Would they be able to bypass this stop?  we actually got in later, I wish it was 7:30 but we have no control in traffic.  Like one woman said maybe if they left the city at 6 they probably would have gotten to Riverhead around the same time as the 5:20....I suppose the rush hour is called the "Rush" hour for a reason.  The return is a little cumbersome, especially if you live East of the Hilton Garden Inn when you exit the hotel parking lot one has to drive west to go back east on rt58 but I would rather have the bus stop at the hotel than any other place....It is just so much nicer, safer and welcoming....it is the right mix with this bus quality and service.Bolt Bus will succeed and I am glad it was launched. 

12/17/2012 8:25 PM | 2 Votes