OurBus Makes Texas Permanent Transportation Option

AUSTIN, TEXAS — OurBus officials announced Wednesday the company will be a permanent transportation option in Texas, including Austin to Dallas and Dallas to Houston routes starting this week.

The Austin-to-Dallas and Dallas-to-Houston routes are scheduled to start on Dec. 21, OurBus officials said. Texas service will run on Fridays through Sundays, and select weekdays during the 2018 holiday season. In Austin, buses depart from Dean Keeton Street, between Dancy and Lafayette streets at the bus shelter.

OurBus officials said the decision to offer permanent service in Texas was based on the success of the company’s entry into the region with pop-up routes serving university students, leisure travelers and local residents during the Thanksgiving 2018 travel rush.

For details on fares, bus stop locations and schedules, visit OurBus.com.

Yet Texas isn't the only region for expansion. OurBus also will be expanding into the northeast U.S. in the coming days, including:

• Rochester, N.Y. to New York City - Dec. 20
• Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh - Dec. 21
• Clifton, N.J. to Washington, D.C. - Dec. 23
• Washington, D.C. to New York City - express service, Dec. 23

"Our roots are on the East Coast, a very saturated and competitive marketplace,” Axel Hellman, co-founder of OurBus, said in a prepared statement. “Over the last three years, we’ve generated a loyal base of customers, who have crowdsourced travel routes with us, and suggested ways we can improve existing service."

Related story: Tech Company OurBus Launches In Austin

The crowd sourcing aspect of OurBus is based on requests from riders in a specific city or region for bus service, a company representative explained to Patch. Riders provide input on where they would want us to start a bus route, frequency and even bus stop location, the official added.

"So we use crowd sourcing combined with data analytics to figure out where to launch service," she told Patch via email. "In many cases, we launch a pop-up (pilot) route, and based on feedback received from customers riding the pop-up route , we determine whether or not to make the service permanent."

By using crowd sourcing to bring efficient bus service to leisure travelers, students, and families on a budget, OurBus "...is bucking the traditional bus service model, which utilizes a point to point network concept, recognizing that travelers need reliable and efficient transportation that’s close to their home, with less transfers, and less time in the car," officials said in a press advisory.

To suggest a new route, visit: https://www.ourbus.com/RequestRoute.

Hellman said he was excited about the new offerings, and said even more Texas routes will be added next year: "Our new service in the northeast reflects all of the positive feedback we’ve received. We are also looking forward to expanding to more locations in Texas, in 2019.”

Additionally, next month, OurBus is launching service from Washington, D.C. to Norfolk, Va. based on the success of a pop-up route launched during Thanksgiving. Stops will include several in Virginia, including Fredericksburg and Williamsburg.

Officials noted that it's not just the destination they place importance on, but the experience of riding on OurBus. To that end, each bus comes equipped with free bottled water, Wi-Fi, reclining seats and individual charging ports.

The company is now offering the OurBus Select Membership program, targeting students, frequent travelers, and families on a budget. Members will receive $15 off per ride on 10 intercity purchases, for $49. For an updated list of bus schedules and to enroll in the OurBus Select Membership program, visit OurBus.com or download the OurBus app.

About OurBus

"Founded in 2016, OurBus is a technology company specializing in crowdsourced bus routes, offering a revolutionary transportation option for travelers," officials wrote. "We provide an affordable, mobile app-based service that gives people a say in when, where and how they travel with unparalleled customer service from start to finish. Based in New York City, with routes operating around the country, OurBus is dedicated to empowering travelers. For more information, visit us at http://www.ourbus.com."

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>>> Image courtesy of OurBus