Prison Gap Bus Service

yanigirl · #1 01-13-2003, 10:25 AM

JUST WANTED TO LET ALL MY FELLOW NY PEOPLE TO KNOW NOT TO USE THIS BUS COMPANY. WE TOOK IT ON FRIDAY NIGHT UP TO AUBURNE/CAYUGA AND OUR BUS BROKE DOWN FOR OUR RETURN HOME. WE WAITED FOR AN HOUR TO FIND OUT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FROOZEN OVER. APPARENTLY THE DRIVER KNEW HE WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF OR IT WOULD FREEZE. THE MOTEL HE WAS STAYING IN WOULD NOT LET HIM KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILE HE WAS IN HIS ROOM. THIS "INTELLIGENT" GUY TURNES IT OFF ANYWAYS AND COMES TO FIND IT WOULD NOT START AS EXPECTED. WE WERE ALL STRANDED. LUCKILY ONE OF THE VAN SERVICES CAME AND A CAR SO THEY WER ABLE TO TAKE 3 OF US BUT LORD KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE. I AM SO PISSED. THE ONLY THING THEY KNOW HOW TO DO RIGHT IS COLECT THE MONEY AS SOON AS YOU GET ON THE BUS. THE LAST TIME I WENT THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING AND WE FROOZE DAMN NEAR TO DEATH. MY SON NEARLY HAD AN ASTMA ATTACK. THE OWNER IS DUE BACK AT AROUND 12 AND I HAVE A FEW CHOICE WORD. SO WORD TO THE WISE IF YOU WANT TO RIDE WITH HEAT AND MAKE IT BACK HOME FIND ANOTHER SOURCE OF TRAVEL!

sherri13 · #2 01-13-2003, 10:27 AM

WHAT A PAIN IN THE A**! SO SORRY TO HEAR YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS- HOPE SOME OTHERS WILL BENIFIT FROM YOUR HEADS UP-

gina · #3 01-13-2003, 10:28 AM

damn that is f***ed up! thanks for postin it though yani...mean to say but glad you were one of the three wo didn't have to remain stranded!

jnv512 · #4 01-13-2003, 01:11 PM

Prison Gap is the worst. Johnny used to tell that if it was a choice between using Prison Gap or not visiting, that I shouldn't visit. And you know they would never give up a visit.

KREEMIE · #5 01-13-2003, 01:28 PM

Yes Yes YES,

Prison Gap is the worst,money hungry people in the world.they charge me 50 dollars to go to gouverneur correctional facility and the bus has no damn heat.one time my bus started smoking not once but twice.this was around thanksgiving day.what a visit.no heat for the whole 8 hours and a bunch of cold crying babies.
i agree with you 100%.they either need to lower there prices or get new buses.there the worst i tell you.the man comes on the bus armani down or versace down, all tailored out and we cant get expensive rides.some parents bring 2 to 3 kids and besides the arguing about why someone is saving a empty seat for someone who is not even on the bus, the bathroom is stinking the whole 8 hours.eventhough the B----y a-- Lady who gets free rides who calls herself the coordinator makes the announcement "DO NOT SH-- IN THE BATHROOM".they still do it.Prison Gap Sucks For Sure.

Prisonbodega · #6 04-24-2003, 02:19 AM

Operation Prison gap is a great bus service, Now some People say $50 is alot, But if you go on gray hound or amtrak you will pay double that and the cab fee to get to the prison, Now if the bus did not start then, Sometimes things happen, That does not mean that they are the worst bus service out there, Because if thats so why would they be doing this for over 25 to 26 years, They must be doing something right, Now in 25 years there must have been a few break downs and i know how that feels, when you are stuck and want to go home, But in this world things happen, Now if the company the rented the bus to prison gap would have put gas antifreeze in the gas tank then that would never happen, Now why would he leave the bus running for eight hours, That makes no sences what so ever then you would have blamed him for running out of gas, He had no wins with you at all, I know people that take prison gap every week and never has a problem, I am sorry for your ordeal But as they say things happen.

drver 584 · #7 06-01-2003, 09:16 PM

Do you know of another bus company that goes to RIVERVEIW

Time Travel · #8 06-05-2003, 05:05 PM

Sorry about anyone who has had a bad experience with traveling to see their loved ones on a bus service but sometimes things do happen. With that in mind a new company named Time Travel Transportation will start providing service to most NYC correctional facility's over the next couple of months.

lisac117 · #9 06-09-2003, 08:42 AM

That sucks, to have such an experience like that! I've been riding these buses off & on for about 7 years. I've ridden with Prison Gap, Flamboyant, Grits....while I've got some horror stories too, there's one thing we need to keep in mind. These are MAN MADE machines and bottom line...sh#t happens. That's not to say I don't think these people should keep better maintenance with all the damn money they charge. But...there's gonna be breakdowns, there's gonna be flat tires, etc. YES, the bathroom STINKS. YES, you gotta deal with people who are b#tchy (starting w/the coordinator

)and yeah, it's really uncomfortable to be cramped up on there for 6 hours. BUT....if you take Greyhound or Amtrak, you're going to pay DOUBLE the fare AND...you're NOT going to get dropped off at the front door, either. This is the part of the life we've chosen to deal with. Hugs to you {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

roc city girl · #10 06-09-2003, 10:45 PM

Oh wow! i am sorry to hear about that bus!! I guess i need to stop complaining about me driving 2 hrs to get to Gowanda, and be thankful that my car provides heat in the winter and a/c in the summer and never broke down (knock on wood!)

FaithII · #11 06-09-2003, 11:50 PM

I just posted a thread about how bad a trip I had going to Franklin this past weekend under the Visitation forum. I took F&M because I was fed up with bad service from Prison Gap (ie. confusion while boarding, small busses with no leg room, etc.). F&M was even worse. Our bus was consumed with urine fumes and the driver couldn't stay in his lane. On the way back a lady got left. I have been on a Prison Gap bus where we took a passenger home who they had left at the facility the day before. These companies lack professionalism and organization. The rides can be uncomfortable and unsafe and that is sickening because what choice do I have if I want to see my husband? Do any of you know another company that you like?

roc city girl · #12 06-10-2003, 12:00 PM

Well i am not sure about any bus companys but isn't there a free bus that you can catch once a month provided that your husband gives the info to the prison ministries??? I drive but i once caught the free bus and it was just like a greyhound with tv's and all.
I feel bad for those of you that have to go through that $hit, i wouldn't mind giving rides if you guys were living here and going to Gowanda.I hate driving out there alone.

yanigirl · #13 06-10-2003, 01:12 PM

My son's father did give me a ticket for a free bus but it left at 1:00 am from 42nd street on 9 ave which is not a very safe place to be in the day let alone in the night I rather pay the $40 and be safe.

roc city girl · #14 06-10-2003, 02:02 PM

ohh I totally understand, I dont live in Ny but i know catching any bus at that time is not safe at all. I caught the free bus right from the greyhound station and it was at 5.00am so it was pretty safe from there.

trescheek · #15 06-12-2003, 09:31 AM

I recently moved out of state (Maryland) but before I left NY I took OPG at least once a month. I especially miss it when I make that drive, in the dead of night on deer infested I81. OPG is not perfection but then what is? Like I see others have said, Greyhound and other bus companies charge double and then you still have to taxi it to get to the facility. Thankfully, I've never experienced a problem with a bus breaking down although I have heard horror stories. I do think that if you ever experience an issue like a bus breaking down then the powers that be at OPG are sympathetic to that and they will do what they can if you choose to use them again. Like a free or discounted ride depending on the severity of the incident. Honestly, I admire the owner who after doing a bid of his own, pulled himself up by the bootstraps and started this company b/c he knew there was a demand for this type of service. And yeah, he's making crazy $ but this is America ... that's what this country was founded on ... capitalism.