[at-l] Losing your bags on Greyhound

[wb4pan@mindspring.com (Chase Davidson)]

Good Ideas Phil,

	What a happened to me was that my bus stopped for cleaning in Richmond.
Everyone had to leave the bus and we were locked in the terminal without
access and out of site of the buss, until time to leave. I should have
taken my luggage in with me and reloaded it when we left. I had watched
every stop carefully, I made sure I was sitting on the side of the bus
so I could watch my luggage compartment. We stopped in NY to let some
folks off onto the sidewalk. I really stretched my neck making sure they
didn't get my backpack:-) Little did I know my backpack was sitting back
in Richmond:-(. Another idea is to buy a ticket for your pack and let it
ride right beside you.

chase

Phil Heffington wrote:
> 
> Having read emails from other hikers about Greyhound losing their packs,
> etc., I instituted a few personal procedures when I started using them
> for my transportation after my second hike.  Perhaps some of you have
> some additional pointers about the situation, too.
> 
> 1.  If at all possible, put your pack in a box and tape it shut
> completely.  Then, mark "Final Destination:  Port Clinton, PA, etc." on
> every side of the box.  Also, write your name, home address, etc.,
> somewhere on the box.
> 
> 2.  If you are not putting your pack inside a box, then use clear boxing
> tape (You can buy a roll of this at most Post Offices) and wrap your
> pack completely so that there are no buckles, straps, etc., exposed,
> then tape a cardboard destination sign on the pack.
> 
> 3.  Get some reflective tape or stickers (you can find these for a few
> dollars at bycycle shops) and put at least one on each side of the box
> or pack.
> 
> 4.  Keep a small flashlight with you on the bus and look for your pack
> in the luggage compartments at every stop when luggage is unloaded or
> transferred.  The reflective tape should help you spot it quickly if it
> is there, even if you cannot see the whole box or pack.
> 
> 5.  Assume that the bus system will lose your pack.  Be outright
> paranoid about it.  Believe they are conspiring against you to ruin your
> hike.  Think of them as totally illiterate and incompetent.  Use
> whatever it takes mentally for you to justify keeping track personally
> of your pack.  I have found that they are fairly accommodating to
> passengers taking a look at the luggage department when it is opened.
> They know how often passengers lose their luggage on their system.
> 
> 6.  It is a scary thought, but the bus system is not nearly so efficient
> and effective in taking care of your luggage as is the airline system.
> 
> 7.  Keep your pack in sight during any transfers from one bus to
> another.  If you have a two hour layover in some terminal, and there is
> another bus going to your same destination (a local vs. "express" bus,
> for example), they may put your baggage on the earlier bus, and who
> knows what happens to it then.
> 
> 8.  Check the destination tag they put on your bag to make sure it is
> correct.  I had a ticket agent put a Little Rock, Ark. tag on my pack
> one time instead of OKC.
> 
> 9.  Don't sleep through a bus stop.  You must check on your luggage
> whether you are sleepy or not.  They will inadvertently unload it at the
> wrong destination if you are not watching them closely.  You may be able
> to "Leave the driving to 'us'", but you dang sure better leave
> responsibility for your luggage to yourself.
> 
> P.S.  Having said all those nasty things about Greyhound's luggage
> handling, I am convinced that they are one of the best forms of
> transportation to and from many of the sections of the AT.
> 
> 
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