Academia Has Spoken: Inter-City Buses Are Coming Back

Posted by ABA President & CEO Peter J. Pantuso, January 4, 2008

Most of the time when our industry wants information on its vital statistics, we have to commission an outside research expert to do it. The money we've spent on studies from MJ Bradley and Nathan & Associates has produced invaluable research and illuminating reports. But outsiders occasionally express skepticism at the findings showing the importance of our industry to society. Bought and paid for by the bus association, they argue, so it's not as credible as, say, a medical finding published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Well, those skeptics can argue with the facts about our wonderful industry no more. Thanks to an independent study recently issued by DePaul University's School of Public Service, which has unassailable academic credibility, what we know to be true has now been corroborated by respected academics: Motorcoaches are surging in popularity among consumers.

The independent research study, titled "The Return Of The Intercity Bus: The Decline and Revival of Scheduled Service to American Cities, 1960-2007," was authored by Professor Joseph P. Schwieterman, PhD and several researchers.

The study found that motorcoach travel at the end of 2007 "was enjoying a significant rebirth and was expanding throughout the country at the fastest rate in more than 40 years." That's not the industry talking. That's from a professor and his researchers looking at the issue independently.

"Our research shows that this growth is being driven by improvements in service and strong consumer demand," the study reveals. "As a result, more growth will likely occur in the years ahead."

The study cites several reasons for the positive outlook: "The industry is engaged in more aggressive marketing than in previous years and reaping the benefits of persistently high fuel costs." Additionally, the industry is capitalizing on its strategic communications "campaign to build awareness that it is an environmentally friendly ('green') travel choice."

The study cites many remaining challenges for the industry, from illegal curbside operators to heavily subsidized federal transit systems. But nonetheless, the report concludes, "the intercity bus is again off and running - and regaining respectability among the traveling public." The full study is available at: www.depaul.edu/~chaddick [1], and I hope every ABA member takes the time to read it.

Outside researchers, with no motive to research anything more than what the recent trend in bus travel is, have confirmed what we all knew. Now that the ivory tower has spoken, let's hope transportation planners and elected officials listen closely.