Buses have been a transportation staple for many years, with a beginning history as far back as the 1820s. The first charter bus was introduced in France and pulled by horses. From then to now, buses have been through a plethora of changes, the first of which being the inception of steam buses in England less than 10 (ten years) after the debut of the horse-drawn bus charter. Trolleybuses came next, originating in Germany in the 1880s, and by the mid-1890s, the Germans had pioneered the motor bus. Between then and now, improvements have continued to occur on pace with the rise of the automobile in general.
These days, charter bus transportation may not be your first thought when you are trip planning, but charter bus rentals aren?t as uncommon as you may believe. In fact, buses account for 751,000,000 passenger trips every year! This could be due to the fact that there are far more bus terminals across the United States than there are airports or train stations; five times more charter bus terminals than airports and six time more bus charter terminals than train stations, to be precise. With 751 million passengers annually, charter bus rentals are responsible for helping more Americans travel some years than commercial airlines.
The demographic for charter bus rentals may not be exactly what you expect, either. In 2012, over half of bus charter passengers were students and seniors. That being said, 49.9% of passengers that same year were adults and young adults. Women, statistically, account for 55% of the people traveling via bus charter, with men filling in the remaining 45% of charter bus transportation participants. Statistics such as this shatter the stereotype that charter bus lines are used mostly for school field trips and senior tours.
In context, it is not difficult to understand why charter bus transportation is prevalent in the United States. In rural areas in particular, charter bus lines provide flexibility that is not otherwise available. More than 14 million rural occupants have only the option of buses as public transportation. Passenger railroads and planes do not service these areas, meaning millions of Americans would not have access to public transportation if it were not for the option of bus charter.
Charter bus rentals do much more than just provide transportation. They also provide an economic boost for areas where the charter bus lines stop, as goods and services in the area must be available for passengers at each stop. In addition, charter bus transportation requires continual maintenance and upgrades to the buses themselves. When you consider goods and services, new bus sales, and equipment for charter bus lines? maintenance, this industry provides employment for nearly 800,000 people.
Whether you require transportation for your family vacation, school trip, or family reunion, charter bus rentals offer an affordable viable solution. Charter bus transportation is also a great option for the more than 72% of the United States that is considered rural, as charter bus lines are in many cases the only option for passengers looking to travel long distance. Regardless of your needs and despite any preconceived notions you may be harboring, bus charter is still an important and thriving part of the American transportation industry.