Tour Buses Obscure The Sights

“On a clear day, you can see” … well, thanks to many tour bus industry owners, you may not even be able to see across the street! There are eleven major tour bus companies in the Big Apple. All were required to retrofit their vehicles by January 1, 2007. A recent report from the Department of Environmental Protection concluded that only one company (Gray Line New York City Tours) of the eleven tour companies performed any emission upgrades "by the deadline" … and that was only on 19 of their 206 vehicles! To date, six companies have taken initial steps for vehicle conversion, three have taken no steps whatsoever and one has gone out of business. Double-decker tour buses can emit up to six times the pollution of city buses and other buses up to 25 times. All bus companies continue to operate without fines or any serious threat of license revocation. The DEP states it’s compiling a new report that will likely show better conversion compliance. Imagine the numbers it might have shown if city-imposed deadlines were actually enforced! However, it would seem in this instance that the concern for the greening of our city is less important than the "green dollars" tourism brings.

Staten Island – NYC Tourist Attraction?

Most tourists stay in Manhattan when visiting New York City. Admittedly, that’s where most of the city’s famous attractions are. However, Gray Line is starting a Staten Island Tour. As a New Yorker, I know there’s much to be seen and enjoyed in every borough. But Gray’s $15.00 ticket price might seem high to most out-of-towners to see an “unfamiliar” place … maybe even to most New Yorkers familiar with Staten Island as just a stepping stone to New Jersey.