Hi All! My husband just got trasferred from Downstate up to Franklin Correctional Facility, which is up on the boarder of Canada. I needed to take a bus and saw a number for F&M, I called hm and they go up to Franklin for $45 R/T....I've read alot of horror stories about Prison Gap and I don't want to get on F&M if other's have had bad experiences... Can anyone tell me about them??? Or recommend a good bus service that goes up to Franklin?

I appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!

Hey Rollergrl2, I have taken F&M before and to me it is not that bad. Matterfact I'm taking it tonight. I'm about to leave in about an hour or so. From the way some people have described these buses that go up to facilities, I was expecting the worse. They showed movies on the way going and coming back and they stopped for dinner afterwards. The only complaint I might have was the fact that the seating room could be larger, but that's with any bus service to me b/c I'm tall. Over all I would recommend F&M. Oh, the other problem is people don't really explain anything to you, so if its your first time and you don't know the routine, you better ask questions. Such as when is pick-up, you don't want to get left behind. From what I hear some bus services are quick to leave you, but F&M made sure you sat in the same seats as going so if your partner isn't cold-hearted they'll say that your missing; Hopefully you won't have that problem. HAPPY TRAVELING!!!!! Let me know what service you decided to take.

Ladypayne,

Thanks for the info. I went up to Franklin on Friday night and I took Queensbridge tours. They were good and I did have to ask alot of questions since it was my first time. The only bad thing was that the bus was a little cold. I had a great visit and since that's all I was concerend about nothing else probably would have mattered. I'm going back in two weeks, I haven't decided what bus service I'll take yet. I don't care which one as long as I get there and get home in one piece with as little hassle as possible.

I hope you have a good visit too!!

Rollargrl2

Just stoppin in to tell about my ride up with United Brothers (contact info ~Corky ~ ~917~731~4286). He's got a seating system so there's NO overbooking and NO seat saving. If you call after he's booked a full bus he got a standby system and he'll let you know you're on standby. He runs the book himself, not the coordinator. Speaking of coordinator, his coordinator is an alright lady -- no power-crazy, stank-tail chick there, and I feel she coordinates so well that she should be on salary. She accounts for everyone after a stop because Unity Bros. are NOT trying to leave anyone. Might I mention Saturday morning two people on the OPG bus got off at a wrong facility (Wyoming) and when they realized it and went outside, their bus was gone!! See, that's that bullshit. So the lady who works the hospital center drove them in her car to their correct facility. The weather wasn't bad so the ride went smooth. Corky drives the bus himself and he does Groveland/Livingston and Wyoming/Attica EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT FOR SATURDAY VISITS. With more air freshener than the law allowed and no pee drops on or around the toilet, the bathroom was and remained fresh and clean. Corky picks up then brings you back to a convenient stop in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan and we made no stops going and one food stop returning which is good b/c they just wanna get you where you're going without all the extra. HOWEVER, if somebody has to do #2 or change your sanitary, he will pull over with a smile and a laugh so you can handle that in a public bathroom. Someone in an earlier thread mentioned contests on the bus during the ride back home. Four people get a chance to win and I was one! Winners get a non-transferrable coupon worth ten bucks off a future ride so the next time I go I'm goin for $30 instead of $40, providing, of course, I don't lose my coupon. Comfortable ride, clean environment, movies, alert driver so no swerving on the road. Also, cordialness on the bus seemed to be contagious b/c I heard no arguing, cussing, cell phones ringing or the like -- just talk, smiles, laughter, and when the movies are playing -- quietness. I'd really like to take my husband that last January food package this weekend but b/c his visit falls on Sunday I'm choosing FedEx to get it there rather than spending that $50 with OPG to get me and the package to the facility. I love my husband as much as the next, and I go thru my fair share of bullshit in this prison game trying to meet NYS DOC requirements fars what my husband can and can't have. I don't need the bullshit on my ride there an back too! I'm not bashing Prison Gap, I'm just not up for the bullshit, that's all.

F&M is not that bad. i took it to Chateaugay. i would recomend it. have fun... nd be safe. it does get cold on the bus. so be warm

The best bus to go up there is United Bros. You get a seat # when you make your reservation. F & M is good but.. they only thing I hate is that they play loud movies and then music all they way up and back.. it's hard to get good sleep...

Please send Corky a BIG Hello from PTO and Pam:)...we should be seeing more of Corky and United Brothers here at PTO in the NEAR future!!!