US Coachways: Charter Bus Travel Contributes to Greener, Less Costly and More Festive Family Reunions
Large-Scale Gatherings Dominate Summer Family Travel; Transportation Planning Emphasizes Eco-Friendliness and Cost
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- With US families seeking more cost-effective means of summer travel and family reunions growing in popularity, charter bus travel bookings are on the rise. According to US Coachways (http://uscoachways.com/), a leading bus charter business serving the Northeastern Seaboard, as well as Illinois, Texas, DC, Atlanta and California, bus charter has increased each year over the past five years, particularly for family reunion coordination.
"Our family reunion bus charter business has grown trifold over the past five years. Consumers are making decisions about transportation and vacation planning that strongly consider convenience and cost. There's a growing mindfulness about green modes of travel that are influencing transportation modes as reunion planners and participants focus on their personal and collective impact on the environment," said Edward Telmany, CEO of US Coachways. "Charter bus travel's carbon emissions are a fraction of a family car's emissions in relation to carrying 50 passengers in 10 vehicles. And when compared with plane travel, bus travel has 1/5 the emission impact. We're seeing younger families from urban and suburban areas spearheading their group travels with charter bus rentals to reflect their choice as enlightened and eco-friendly travelers."
The average family reunion budgets $6500 on the transportation of its members. Family members participating in reunions typically come from 4 states to convene. With transportation costs figured into the overall budget of each reunion, which averages $200-$400 per person to produce for three days, finding less costly modes of transportation is critical in keeping costs down.
On average, bus is the cheapest form of transportation across all modes. Bus tickets cost 50% to 55% less than Amtrak train tickets. A bus trip costs 30.9% less than car travel. Additionally, traveling via bus saves nearly 80% compared to traveling by plane.
The carbon emissions savings associated with bus travel are also high. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a couple traveling by bus will cut their carbon emissions by almost 50% compared to car travel and by 55% to 75% compared to plane travel.
"One of the first questions our bus charter team members receive from inbound queries is how 'clean' bus travel is compared to car or plane travel," explained Telmany. "Bus charter travel has increasingly become accepted by all age groups as not only more festive and convenient as compared with other transportation modes, it's also seen as greener and for that reason, hipper, than other modes of travel."
Eco-Friendly Travel Tips
Be a Responsible Traveler: Planning a family reunion? Here are a few ways to reduce the reunion and its members' carbon footprint. A little planning pays off for the planet in a big way.
Support Eco-friendly Hotels: Green hotels are environmentally friendly properties that institute programs in order to save water, save energy and reduce solid waste. Check out the Green Hotels Association for more information.
Be a Traveler, Not a Tourist: Eat at local restaurants, shop in local markets and attend local events. Money spent in the community stays in the community.
Chart a Green Course: Beaches, national parks, and scenic views make for "green" fun. Plan the trip around low-impact activities and resources whenever possible.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Every square mile of the ocean has 46,000 pieces of floating plastic in it. Use reusable BPA-free water bottles that can be refilled along the way, instead of single use bottles. Consider creating personalized water bottles for reunion memorabilia.
Fuel for Thought: Carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by an average of 85% per passenger mile for every person who chooses a charter bus instead of driving separately. Think green, think charter bus.
About US Coachways
US Coachways bus charter services provides clients with quick, reliable, and easily secured transportation to anywhere in the continental US. Their goal is to provide their clients with a charter fleet that is luxurious, desirable, and stocked with innovative buses and limousines. US Coachways has more than three decades worth of experience in supplying large and small vehicles to transport Americans to and from all around the country. In addition to being on the list of government-approved agencies, US Coachways partners with Rutgers University Athletics, Six Flags Great Adventure, Camp Groupon, and Circle Line Sightseeing.
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SOURCE US Coachways
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