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Bieber Transportation Group
Founded1946
DefunctFebruary 8, 2019
HeadquartersKutztown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Service areaLehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, New York City
Service typeIntercity bus, charter bus, tours
Websitearchived page

Bieber Transportation Group was an American bus company based in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, operating intercity commuter buses, charter buses, and tours. The company provided bus service from the Reading and Lehigh Valley regions of eastern Pennsylvania to Philadelphia and New York City. The company was founded by Carl R. Bieber in 1946. Bieber ended operations on February 8, 2019.

Service

A Bieber bus at S. 10th and Filbert Streets in Philadelphia

Prior to ending operations in 2019, Bieber Transportation Group provided intercity commuter bus service from points in eastern Pennsylvania to Philadelphia and the intersection of 8th Avenue and 39th Street in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City. Service was provided daily along a route running from Reading and the Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia and a route running from Reading and the Lehigh Valley to New York City. Bieber offered one-way and round-trip tickets along with commuter books offering multiple tickets for commuters to use in a 30-day period.[1][2]

Bieber also offered tour bus service to domestic and international destinations, including casino excursions to Atlantic City.[3][4] The company offered charters for groups for single-day or multi-day trips along with weddings, airport transfers, casino excursions, and cruise ports.[3][5]

Stop locations

City Stop location(s) Source
Allentown, Pennsylvania Allentown Bus Terminal [6]
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania LANta Metro Mart [6]
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem [1]
Hellertown, Pennsylvania Top Star Exxon (tickets)
Hellertown park and ride (bus stop) 		[6]
Kutztown, Pennsylvania Bieber Bus Terminal [6]
New York City 8th Avenue and 39th Street [6]
Philadelphia Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal [6]
JFK Boulevard between Broad and 15th streets (pick-up only)
30th Street Station
Quakertown, Pennsylvania Top Star Exxon (tickets)
Quakertown park and ride (bus stop) 		[6]
Reading, Pennsylvania Inter-City Bus Terminal [6]
Wescosville, Pennsylvania Charcoal park and ride [6]

Fleet

Bieber Transportation Group had a fleet of 54 buses, which included several luxury coaches. The fleet consisted of tour buses manufactured by Motor Coach Industries, Prevost, and Van Hool that can seat between 33 and 56 passengers. Amenities on the buses included heating and air conditioning, restrooms, PA system, DVD players, and AM/FM CD stereo.[7]

Fleet Number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Notes
119 1952 GMC PD-4103
121 1954 GMC PD-4104
122 1955 GMC PD-4104
126 1956 GMC PD-4104
128 1957 GMC PD-4104
133 ? Prevost H3-45
134 ? Prevost H3-45
141 1960 GMC PD-4104
175 1964 GMC PD-4106
181-182 1965 GMC SDM-5302
199 ? Eagle ?
302 ? GMC PD-4106
332 ? MCI MC-7
342 1972 MCI MC-7 Preserved by the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center.
357 ? Eagle Model 05
373 1972 MCI MC-8
383 ? MCI MC-8
397 ? MCI MC-8
406 ? MCI MC-8
407 ? MCI MC-8
409 ? MCI MC-8
410 ? MCI MC-8
429 ? MCI MC-8
430 ? MCI MC-9
443-444 1981 MCI MC-9
  • VINs
    • 443 - 1M89CM8A7BP035875
    • 444 - BP035876
504-505 ? MCI 102-A3
515 1989 MCI 102-A3
  • VIN - 1TUFCH8A9KR006889
  • To Capitol Trailways #?.
516 ? MCI 102-A3
517-519, 521-522 ? MCI 102-A3
524-526 1991 MCI 102-B3
527 ? MCI ?
529 ? MCI 102-DL3
530-532 1996 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
533-534 1997 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
535-536 1998 MCI 102-EL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
537-540 1998 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
541 ? MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
542-543 1999 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
544-545 1999 MCI 102-D3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
546-547 2000 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
548-549 2000 MCI 102-EL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
550-553 2001 MCI D4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60
554 1998 MCI 102-DLX Tour Bus Cummins ISM
563 1999 Prevost H3-45 EX Detroit Diesel Series 60
567 ? MCI J4500
569 ? MCI 102-DL3
570 ? MCI 102-D3
572 ? MCI 102-D3
573 ? MCI D4500
575-577 2001-2002 MCI E4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Ex Campbell Bus Lines 11, 13 & #?.
578-581 2003 MCI E4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Ex Campbell Bus Lines #?, 16, #? & 14.
582-583 1999 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Ex McCarter Coach & Tour 545 & 546.
585 2000 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
586-587 2007 MCI D4505 Detroit Diesel Series 60
588 2007 MCI E4500LX Caterpillar C13
589-590 ? Krystal Enterprises KK35
591 2000 Prevost LeMirage XL-45
592-594 2007 MCI D4505 592, 594:

Detroit Diesel Series 60 593: Caterpillar C13

597-598 2014 MCI D4505 Cummins ISX
599-600 2015 Van Hool CX45 Detroit Diesel DD13
601 2016 Prevost H3-45 EX Volvo D13
603-605 ? Van Hool CX35
997 2005 MCI J4500 Leased from Academy Bus Lines 1431.
998 2016 TEMSA TS 45 Cummins EPA10
4003 2003 Blue Bird Ultra LF Cummins ISB
4006-4007 1998 Nova Bus RTS-06

(T70-606)

Detroit Diesel Series 50 Ex-Red Rose Transit Authority 101, 103.

Transmission is Allison V731RH

4008-4009 2002 Gillig Low Floor 40'

(G18D102N4)

Cummins ISC Ex-University of Michigan 3012, 3010.

Transmission is Voith D864.3E

18144 1990 MCI 102-C3 Detroit Diesel 8V92TA Ex-Capitol Trailways 18144.
18151 1993 MCI 102-C3 Detroit Diesel 8V92TA Ex-Capitol Trailways 18151.
18160 1989 MCI MC-9 Ex-Capitol Trailways 18160.
18162 1997 Prevost LeMirage XL-45 Ex-Capitol Trailways 18162.
18173 2000 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Ex-Capitol Trailways 18173.
18174 1997 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Ex-Capitol Trailways 18174.
18176 2002 MCI D4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Ex-Capitol Trailways 18176.
18177 2000 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Ex-Capitol Trailways 18177.
18178 2001 MCI G4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Ex-Capitol Trailways 18178.
? ? MCI F3500 Suffered burn damage and was scrapped.
? 2008 Dodge Sprinter Mercedes-Benz

Partnerships

Bieber Transportation Group served as the exclusive motorcoach carrier for sports teams such as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and the Reading Royals. The company also provided transportation to the sports teams of Muhlenberg College and DeSales University. Bieber formerly maintained a transportation relationship with Kutztown University athletics.[7]

History

20th century

Carl R. Bieber Sr. opened a trucking company in Kutztown in 1928. He gradually added buses to his fleet; in 1946 the company began charter bus service from the Lehigh Valley.[8] In 1976, Bieber's son Carl R. Bieber Jr. took over the company. Company founder Carl R. Bieber died in 1991.

21st century

In 2001, Bieber Jr. sold the company to Steven G. Haddad, who kept the Bieber name. Bieber Jr. died on June 10, 2005, at the age of 62.[9] Bieber acquired competitor Capitol Trailways in 2008.[10]

In October 2016, Bieber suspended service on a route from Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville to Reading and Philadelphia.[11] In March 2018, Bieber ended bus service along a route connecting York, Lancaster, Pottstown, Limerick, and Norristown to New York City.[8][12]

In 2017, Bieber paid a $20,000 settlement to the U.S. Department of Justice for failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2018, the Internal Revenue Service filed a $915,736 lien against Bieber while the state of Pennsylvania filed a $187,143 lien against the company. In May 2018, a Berks County judge ordered Bieber to pay First National Bank of Pennsylvania $450,968 as part of a lawsuit.[8] Bieber put their bus terminal in Reading up for sale in 2018.[13]

On July 28, 2018, the Bieber bus stop in New York City moved from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to 383 Madison Avenue at East 47th Street due to an unpaid $214,000 bill to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for use of the terminal.[14] Bieber had previously missed payments to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and was threatened with termination notices in 2008, 2010, and 2012; with the termination in 2018 being permanent.[8] Trans-Bridge Lines took over Bieber's gate at Port Authority Bus Terminal and implemented service from Wescosville and Hellertown to New York City.[14]

On August 20, 2018, the stop in New York City moved to West 31st Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.[15] Starting August 27, 2018, Bieber buses heading toward New York City ran to the Weehawken Port Imperial ferry terminal in Weehawken, New Jersey, where a NY Waterway ferry provided a connection across the Hudson River to New York City; the ferry ride was included in the price of the bus ticket.[16] On November 6, 2018, Bieber buses resumed direct service into New York City with a stop at the intersection of 8th Avenue and 39th Street, with service to Weehawken Port Imperial discontinued.[17]

On February 8, 2019, Bieber abruptly cancelled all bus service and later announced that the company was going out of business after 72 years due to decreasing ridership and increasing expenses. During the closing, employees of the company were having trouble getting their paychecks and were seen packing up their belongings at the company headquarters in Kutztown.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Daily Bus Service to Philadelphia, PA". Bieber Transportation Group. January 8, 2017. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  2. ^ "Daily Bus Service to New York City, NY". Bieber Transportation Group. January 8, 2017. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Staff (April 19, 2013). "Innovative Operator Profile: Diverse Service, Strategies Bring Success". Metro Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  4. ^ "Travel Tours". Bieber Transportation Group. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  5. ^ "Charter Bus". Bieber Transportation Group. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Bus Stations". Bieber Transportation Group. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "About Us". Bieber Transportation Group. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d Coughlin, Matt; Wagaman, Andrew (July 21, 2018). "Port Authority on booting Bieber buses: 'It's final'". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  9. ^ Solomon, Wendy (June 13, 2005). "Carl Bieber, former owner of bus company, dead at 62". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  10. ^ undefined (2008-12-31). "Capitol Trailways sale approved". PennLive.com. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  11. ^ "Bieber to end Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven bus runs". WFMZ. September 28, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  12. ^ Mekkel, Tim (July 27, 2018). "New partnership restores daily bus service between Lancaster and NYC". LancasterOnline. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Berks-based Bieber bus line out of business after 72 years". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. February 8, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Bieber sets new pick-up, drop-off point in New York City". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  15. ^ "Bieber changes drop off and pick up locations in New York City". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  16. ^ "Ferry ride to become part of Bieber's trip to New York City". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  17. ^ "Bieber Tourways set to resume direct service to New York City". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. November 5, 2018. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
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