Megabus grew more than 200 percent in 2008

Megabus.com, the first low-cost, intercity express bus service with fares as low as $1 via the Internet, announced that it has served two million customers, in part, due to travelers looking for economical solutions during tough times.

According to a recent study conducted by Chicago-based DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, while nearly all indicators show a slowing economy, intercity bus travel is a booming trend. It is the second year the Chaddick Institute has cited megabus.com as a major force in driving the popularity of intercity bus travel.

High gas prices, the need for alternative travel options, convenience and cheap fares have boosted ticket sales for megabus.com service since its April 2006 launch. Megabus.com currently serves 30 cities across the Midwest and Northeast.

Megabus.com has grown 202 percent in the last year. The Chaddick Institute Policy Study also stated that in 2008 the intercity bus industry posted its biggest one-year gain in service. The Motorcoach Council has called the rise in bus popularity the MegaBus movement.