Holiday Travelers Turn To Discount Bus Carriers - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Hundreds of area travelers this Thanksgiving holiday opted to take the bus instead of a train, car or plane.

The area leading up to Megabus and Bolt Bus stations on the 3100 block of JFK Boulevard in Philadelphia was packed with holiday travelers.

Megabus was founded just six years ago and last week carried its 22 millionth passenger. Bolt Bus arrived on the scene two years ago and it too is thriving.

Both carriers start fares as low as a dollar a ride, with most tickets topping out at $15 or $20 each way.

For passengers, this is no frills travel.

Ticketing is handled online and you'll probably handle your own baggage. Seating is first come first serve and unlike the plane or train, there's no food service.

And for some, the outdoor terminal can be a drag.

"I've never had the rain, but the wind and the bitter cold - the cold is tough for me. I really need to bundle up if I'm going to be out here," one passenger told FOX 29's Bruce Gordan.

The schedule is extensive and on this pre-holiday scramble, a lot of extra buses were added.

As far as the crowds go, many of the passengers are younger.

Megabus says 40 percent of its passengers are age 18-39, but the word has gotten out to moms and dads, too.

Like any mass transit system, these buses are at the mercy of the weather, traffic and other unforeseen developments.

For example, buses going into or out of New York City around rush hour are bound to be late.

But a growing number of travelers seem more than willing to put up with some minor inconvenience to save some money.

Check the latest traffic conditions on the myfoxphilly.com Traffic page.