Saturday, 6 August 2016

The New Face of Competition for Intercity Buses


Shofur, an Atlanta-based startup, is debuting the app- and online-based service to and from Austin just a few weeks afterlaunching its bus lines between Dallas and Houston. The company markets itself as an alternative to trains and planes, and it's geared toward business and leisure travelers.

Shofur, which initially launched about three years ago, joins Megabus and Vonlane in offering rides between the Texas cities in buses that are typically more comfortable and modern than Greyhound buses. Shofur buses have Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining seats and, like and airline, you can pick your seat and upgrade if you want more space and features.

Co-founder and CEO Armir Harris said his company offers a more tech-integrated bus service that allows riders to track buses in real-time and get alerts if a bus is behind schedule.

Shofur doesn't own the buses, which cost around $600,000 each. Instead, it works with third-party coach services that often don't have enough riders and are looking to increase demand. Shofur has added new features to differentiate from other bus lines, including instant reservations and a more robust peer review system to make sure bus amenities and services go well.

"A bus is a bus, and it can only improve so much," Harris said. "But this gets at the inefficiencies in this antiquated system that's been in place for years."

When drivers sign in to the app, the app clocks the time and the actual driving time to ensure drivers get plenty of warning before they bump up against federal law that limits how many hours they drive each day. Most of the buses Shofur connects riders with are 2010 or newer. It also has an agreement with parking garages near its pickup spot at the University of Texas to offer riders a place to leave their cars.

Harris said Shofur was built on $800 of his own money. The company hasn't raised venture capital or taken out loans, he said.

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