Royal Bus Lines
Encyclopedia
Royal Bus Lines is a private bus service in Atlanta
, Georgia
which operates on Buford Highway
and Roswell Road, servicing Perimeter Mall
and other surrounding areas. The bus stops primarily at existing MARTA
bus stops. The company provides 100,000 rides monthly, with gross revenues of over $1 million annually. It represents one of the first private mass transit companies to provide service solely within Atlanta.
The bus service was founded in August 2001 by Carlos A. Ochoa and David Vasquez. They founded the company to directly compete with MARTA by provide better bus service to the Hispanic immigrant population on Buford Highway. The bus fare is only $1.50, 50 cents cheaper than MARTAs fare. Additionally, all drivers speak both English and Spanish. The company also strives to provide more frequent service than the MARTA bus route. However, unlike other metro Atlanta public mass transit agencies, there are no free transfers available between the Royal Bus and MARTA. Over half of the buses are owned by their drivers who act as subcontractors to Smith.
Although MARTA has stated that the existence of Royal Bus Lines is not a threat to its service to Buford Highway, there have been several instances of altercations between MARTA and Royal bus drivers and accidents between MARTA and Royal buses as they compete for the same bus stop. Both organizations have been found financially liable for causing accidents between each other's buses. Ochoa has installed cameras on his buses to document improper behavior by MARTA buses; a newspaper article reported that Ohcoa had video footage of a MARTA bus driver making obscene gestures and grabbing his groin. A more serious dispute occurred in April 2005 when a physical dispute occurred between drivers stopped at a red light--the MARTA driver alleged coins were thrown at him by the Royal bus driver, and the Royal bus driver said a soda bottle was thrown at him by the MARTA driver.
Royal buses have also been targeted for vandalism. Three of its buses were burned shortly after the company had provided free bus service to a pro-immigrant rally.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
which operates on Buford Highway
Buford Highway
Buford Highway is an international community along and on either side of a stretch of Georgia State Route 13 in DeKalb County, Georgia. It begins just north of Midtown Atlanta, continues northeast through the towns of Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville, and ends northeast of the Perimeter at the...
and Roswell Road, servicing Perimeter Mall
Perimeter Mall
Perimeter Mall is a super-regional shopping mall in Dunwoody, Georgia, just north of Atlanta, near the highway interchange of Interstate 285 and Georgia 400....
and other surrounding areas. The bus stops primarily at existing MARTA
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the ninth-largest in the United States. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting...
bus stops. The company provides 100,000 rides monthly, with gross revenues of over $1 million annually. It represents one of the first private mass transit companies to provide service solely within Atlanta.
The bus service was founded in August 2001 by Carlos A. Ochoa and David Vasquez. They founded the company to directly compete with MARTA by provide better bus service to the Hispanic immigrant population on Buford Highway. The bus fare is only $1.50, 50 cents cheaper than MARTAs fare. Additionally, all drivers speak both English and Spanish. The company also strives to provide more frequent service than the MARTA bus route. However, unlike other metro Atlanta public mass transit agencies, there are no free transfers available between the Royal Bus and MARTA. Over half of the buses are owned by their drivers who act as subcontractors to Smith.
Although MARTA has stated that the existence of Royal Bus Lines is not a threat to its service to Buford Highway, there have been several instances of altercations between MARTA and Royal bus drivers and accidents between MARTA and Royal buses as they compete for the same bus stop. Both organizations have been found financially liable for causing accidents between each other's buses. Ochoa has installed cameras on his buses to document improper behavior by MARTA buses; a newspaper article reported that Ohcoa had video footage of a MARTA bus driver making obscene gestures and grabbing his groin. A more serious dispute occurred in April 2005 when a physical dispute occurred between drivers stopped at a red light--the MARTA driver alleged coins were thrown at him by the Royal bus driver, and the Royal bus driver said a soda bottle was thrown at him by the MARTA driver.
Royal buses have also been targeted for vandalism. Three of its buses were burned shortly after the company had provided free bus service to a pro-immigrant rally.