Coach USA bus strike affects Cornell graduation travelers

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Ithaca, 23 May 08 -- Late Thursday night, as a midnight strike deadline approached, an Ithaca-bound bus driver pulled to a stop at the Binghamton bus station and told his passengers they would not be able to finish their trip -- at least not on the bus. At midnight, drivers, mechanics, and ticket agents for Coach USA, which operates Short Line bus service from New York City to Ithaca, went on strike after a proposed contract was voted down.

One bus passenger, heading to Ithaca for his sister's graduation at Cornell University on Sunday, had to call and ask her to come pick him up at an unfamiliar bus depot, an hour away.

The strike, in addition to fouling inter-city transportation between the New York metro area and several Central New York cities for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, including Ithaca and Binghamton, made a mess of commuter transit in the southern part of the state. Coach USA's web site offered travelers with suggestions and contact info for some alternatives.

• Coach USA strike & refund info

The company says all valid, unused, full-fare tickets during the strike period will be refundable, and the expiration date for commuter tickets will be extended by the duration of the strike.

Greyhound, Trailways, and Rockland Coach will honor valid Shortline tickets for travel between points served by those companies.