Cincinnati Transportation Tips by BeatChick Top 5 Page for this destination

Traffic Hotline #

I keep this phone # in my cell phone and call usually before I leave the house or on the way to work, the O'CONNOR ACCIANI and LEVY TRAFFIC HOTLINE:
(513) 749-ROAD
(513) 749-7623

From this phone number, you can get traffic feeds from 700 WLW Traffic Reports. Apparently, it's very popular because some busy mornings it takes 10 minutes before getting through.

Also, it appears the info changes every 15 minutes.

You'll generally find traffic heaviest on I-75, I-71 & I-275 from 7:30-9am & 4-6pm. I-75 & I-71 are the 2 major interstate highways cutting through Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, while I-275 is the ring road that surrounds Cincinnati, cuts briefly into Indiana, and loops down into Kentucky providing access to the local airport in Covington (CVG).

Mode: AROUND

Phone: (513) 749-ROAD

Type: Car/Motor Home

Website: http://www.700wlw.com/pages/onair_traffic.html

Megabus

Megabus is an ultra-budget way to travel; the first 10 seats go for $1. This last trip I paid $46 R/T from Cincinnati to St. Louis; cheaper than driving!!

I used Megabus early March to get from Cincy to Chicago. It was fine getting there; unfortunately, on the way back we were met with a heavy snowstorm (it may have even been classified as a blizzard). This was the maiden voyage for our driver from Chicago to Cincinnati (she'd driven other routes but not this one). She was a complete professional! We arrived late downtown Cincinnati but we arrived in one piece.

It was a pretty good experience overall. I met several different types of people on the bus, from college students to a corporate exec who lives in Cincinnati and works in Chicago (uses the inexpensive Megabus as transport to & fro). Very interesting people, overall, and conversations with them helped to pass the time.

The only thing I found a bit disturbing was the attitude of the Union Station in Chicago (see 2nd photo). Fortunately, I'm a rebel, said "posters be d****d" and camped out inside during the cold weather. :D

I also just came back froma trip to St. Louis where I took the Megabus from Cincy to Chicago, then from Chicago to St. Louis and back the same way (well, only backwards).

They have 3 areas they cover:
Midwest - Chicago is the hub center with destinations as far north as Minneapolis/St Paul, as far west as Kansas City, Mo, as far south as Memphis, TN, and as far east as Cleveland, OH
Northeast - NYC is the hub center for this region and goes as far north & east as Boston, as far west as Toronto, ON, as far south as Baltimore, MD
West Coast - the hub center here seems to be LA and goes as far east as Vegas, as far north as Oakland (where I hail from), and as far south as San Diego/San Ysidro

The only problem with Megabus is that none of these regions intersect. For instance you can go as far north & east in the midwest to Cleveland but you won't be able to go from there to the North East to get to say, NYC.

The great thing is that they run from downtown to downtown (i.e. 4th & Race, Cincy, Union Station in both Chicago & St. Louis).

Although the seats themselves aren't that comfortable, I find that if you take the night run there are so few people you catch lay down on one seat and stretch your legs out to the one across the aisle!

Photos: May 14, 2008

Mode: TO

Other Contact: 877-462-6342

Phone: 877-GO2-MEGA

Type: Bus

Website: http://megabus.com/us/