Where Another Dollar Will Get You...

The BoltBus, which began offering one-dollar-each-way trips from Washington, D.C., to New York City this past weekend, already has competition. MegaBus (which, in 2006, began offering 17 U.S. trips around the Midwest) just announced that it will also offer $1 trips from New York City. Beginning May 30, MegaBus will offer trips from New York's Penn Station to D.C.'s Union Station, as well as trips from New York to Toronto, Boston, Atlantic City, and Philadelphia, all for $1.

Once on board, bus officials show (kid-friendly) movies. Much like the BoltBus, tickets cost $1 plus a 50 cent booking fee. As tickets are purchased, the amount will go up and can cost as much as $40 each way.

Fear not, non-East Coasters—the MegaBus already offers $1 trips around the U.S., like its Los Angeles trips to Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose. The Midwest has heaps of $1 stops, too, like Ann Arbor, Michigan; Louisville, Kentucky; Columbus, Ohio; and Kansas City, Missouri.

We've also heard that passengers who book tickets for travel between NY and DC on May 30 through June 5 get to ride for free! So bus companies are going from offering $1 trips, to free trips . . . will they be paying us to travel next?

Photo: MegaBus