| Revision as of 01:36, 20 June 2011 editFastily (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled100,543 edits decline speedy - not blatant spam← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:36, 24 June 2011 edit undo130.126.37.157 (talk) Removed excessive details, ad text, slights to other carriers, articles about owner riding Concorde. Added controversies.Tag: references removedNext edit → | ||
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| | ceo = | | ceo = | ||
| | leader_type = Owner | | leader_type = Owner | ||
| | leader = Dennis Toeppen | |||
| | leader = Dennis Toeppen<ref>''Champaign man takes one of the last Concorde trips''; Lynda Zimmer. News-Gazette Staff Writer. News Gazette. Champaign, Ill. Oct 29, 2003. pg. B.5.</ref> | |||
| | website = http://www.suburbanexpress.com | | website = http://www.suburbanexpress.com | ||
| }} | }} | ||
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| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| Students of the ] (UIUC) have had a variety of transportation options over the life of the university. In the early 1980s, most students wishing to travel to the Chicago area used ] (]s), ] (]es) and ]. | |||
| Suburban Express was founded in 1983 by Doug Toeppen, a precedent-setter in ] lawsuits.<ref>http://domainshane.com/the-original-cybersquatter-lives-right-down-the-road/</ref> The company used a "virtual" company ], in that it did not own any buses or facilities. Instead, it contracted buses from established carriers, sold tickets through a travel agent, and used public streets and suburban malls as its bus stops.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}} | |||
| The first charter of six buses carried about 300 students to the Chicago suburbs for the ] break in 1983 undercutting Greyhound's prices by $4 to $8. |
The first charter of six buses carried about 300 students to the Chicago suburbs for the ] break in 1983 undercutting Greyhound's prices by $4 to $8. In the spring of 1984, UIUC refused to allow Suburban Express ticket sales at the university travel center because the school received a ] for selling Greyhound tickets.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} | ||
| In 1984, Greyhound also contacted the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) which initiated two separate investigations of Suburban Express. The first ICC investigation in Spring of 1984 found Suburban Express to be operating a regular service without the ICC's approval. In response Suburban Express changed the operation to a private charter for UIUC students and staff excluding it from ICC jurisdiction. The second investigation was in fall of 1984 and found the company to be operating according to ICC rules.A ] ensued between Suburban Express and Greyhound, and by February 1985 both sides had reduced round trip ticket prices from $36 to $14.75. {{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} | |||
| By October 1985, UIUC allowed sales of Suburban Express tickets at the travel center to recover revenue lost by the decline of Greyhound tickets. As of 2003, annual ridership was approximately 55,000 passengers<ref>http://www.suburbanexpress.com/bulletpoints.html</ref>. | |||
| Suburban Express eventually displaced Greyhound as the most popular mode of transportation to/from the Chicago suburbs.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}} In 1989, Greyhound pulled out of the Champaign-to-Suburbs market altogether.<ref>Russell's Guide September 1999 - GLI Schedule 397 removed from publication</ref> Suburban Express added ] in Charleston, IL to its route structure in 1985.<ref name="farewars"/> Illinois State University was served 1989-1993, 2003–2007, and 2009–present. As of 2003, annual ridership was approximately 55,000 passengers<ref>http://www.suburbanexpress.com/bulletpoints.html</ref>. | |||
| Similar ventures were formed at other midwestern universities to transport students to the Chicago suburbs. | |||
| * HoosierBus serves ] and ] and was founded in 2003 by two University students.<ref>https://www.hoosierbus.com/about.html</ref> | |||
| * Catch A Ride, Inc. serves Indiana University, founded by a parent of IU students.<ref>http://www.catcharide.com/about.html</ref> | |||
| * Burbsbus.com used to serve Iowa | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| == |
==Controversies== | ||
| *''Fare wars - Bus service run by student butts heads with Greyhound''. Dan Rozek. ]. Chicago, Illinois. Sunday, October 20, 1985. Page 20. (Large article about the company, covers 3/4 of the page. Discusses the creation of the company, two attempts by the Illinois Commerce Commission to shut it down and fare war with Greyhound.) | |||
| Suburban Express has been accused of blacklisting customers for speaking poorly of the company <ref>http://www.reddit.com/r/UIUC/comments/eo54r/absolutely_ridiculous_bus_ride_home_on_suburban/</ref> and disseminating potentially libelous literature to discredit rival companies <ref="http://thesquire.blogspot.com/2006/08/subtle-as-lead-brick.html"></ref>. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 16:36, 24 June 2011
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 | |
 Illini Shuttle, operated by Suburban Express, at Illinois Terminal in Champaign, Illinois. | |
| Founded | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 714 S Sixth Street Champaign, Illinois 61820 |
| Service area | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa |
| Service type | Intercity coach service |
| Destinations | 5 Universities served and Chicago suburbs |
| Owner | Dennis Toeppen |
| Website | http://www.suburbanexpress.com |
Suburban Express is a bus company which serves five midwest universities; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Purdue, and the University of Iowa. Weekend services transport students from all five campuses directly to several suburban Chicago locations.. The Illini Shuttle runs every day from Champaign to the Chicago Airports of O'Hare and Midway and the suburbs.
History
Suburban Express was founded in 1983 by Doug Toeppen, a precedent-setter in cybersquatting lawsuits. The company used a "virtual" company business model, in that it did not own any buses or facilities. Instead, it contracted buses from established carriers, sold tickets through a travel agent, and used public streets and suburban malls as its bus stops.
The first charter of six buses carried about 300 students to the Chicago suburbs for the Thanksgiving break in 1983 undercutting Greyhound's prices by $4 to $8. In the spring of 1984, UIUC refused to allow Suburban Express ticket sales at the university travel center because the school received a commission for selling Greyhound tickets.
In 1984, Greyhound also contacted the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) which initiated two separate investigations of Suburban Express. The first ICC investigation in Spring of 1984 found Suburban Express to be operating a regular service without the ICC's approval. In response Suburban Express changed the operation to a private charter for UIUC students and staff excluding it from ICC jurisdiction. The second investigation was in fall of 1984 and found the company to be operating according to ICC rules.A price war ensued between Suburban Express and Greyhound, and by February 1985 both sides had reduced round trip ticket prices from $36 to $14.75.
By October 1985, UIUC allowed sales of Suburban Express tickets at the travel center to recover revenue lost by the decline of Greyhound tickets. As of 2003, annual ridership was approximately 55,000 passengers.
References
- Special Weekend Service Between U of I and Chicago Suburbs
- Illini Shuttle service between Champaign and Chicago Airports
- http://domainshane.com/the-original-cybersquatter-lives-right-down-the-road/
- http://www.suburbanexpress.com/bulletpoints.html
Controversies
Suburban Express has been accused of blacklisting customers for speaking poorly of the company and disseminating potentially libelous literature to discredit rival companies <ref="http://thesquire.blogspot.com/2006/08/subtle-as-lead-brick.html"></ref>.