N.B.-based tour and charter co. takes delivery of 1st new MCI J4500
The Sussex, N.B.-based Optimum Ride began with a single MCI 1972 MC-5B purchased in 2000. Today, the company’s operations serve the growing tourist destinations in the Canadian Maritimes.
On Oct. 10th, Keith marked a milestone by adding a brand new, 2018 MCI J4500 coach — the first all-new coach the 17-year-old New Brunswick tour and charter company has ever owned.
2 min to read
On Oct. 10th, Keith marked a milestone by adding a brand new, 2018 MCI J4500 coach — the first all-new coach the 17-year-old New Brunswick tour and charter company has ever owned.
Motor Coach Industries (MCI) notes building a successful motor coach business takes years of hard work and a constant eye on what the market wants. It also takes smart investment in equipment, which Jonathan Keith founder of Optimum Ride has practiced since the beginning, adding a pristine pre-owned MCI model each year.
On Oct. 10th, Keith marked a milestone by adding a brand new, 2018 MCI J4500 coach — the first all-new coach the 17-year-old New Brunswick tour and charter company has ever owned. Optimum Ride celebrated with clients, staff and friends at an open house.
“I’m a true bus man now — it’s a huge milestone for us to move up to this all-new coach,” said Keith, a former builder, who always wanted to give motor coach transportation a try. Today, with 35 full- and part-time employees and a 19-vehicle fleet including 16 MCI coaches.
The Sussex, N.B.-based operator began with a single MCI 1972 MC-5B that he purchased in 2000. Today, the company’s operations serve the growing tourist destinations in the Canadian Maritimes. Optimum’s territory includes popular spots such as St. John, a port city that features the New Brunswick Museum and the historic St. John City Market's many food stalls. To the southwest is Reversing Falls, where rapids flow backwards at high tide.
“Right now, our clientele includes corporations, cruise tourists, universities, school groups, inbound tours and athletic teams,” said Keith, who, with his background in construction, designed its headquarters and motor coach maintenance facility himself.
Keith, who still drives and has taken the company as far west as Kansas City and Edmonton and all the way down to Florida, loves the passenger experience the most.
“Meeting the people and driving are the most fun part of our business — it’s great to show them this part of our country,” he says. “There’s always one of our coaches somewhere. I know people are pretty astonished a bus company would grow in our little town, and to take them throughout the U.S. and Canada is very rewarding.”
The totally re-envisioned 2018 J4500 includes a reconfigured lavatory and air-intake system that produced 20 inches of new floor space, allowing for best-in-class legroom. In addition to many new options, new standard touches include the latest design in indirect LED lighting, puck-style spotlights and striking entryway illumination.
Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
Fred Ferguson, president and CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA), discussed how the industry prepares for emergencies, the growing recognition of motorcoaches as critical infrastructure, and steps operators can take to strengthen disaster readiness.
From advanced driver-assist systems to upgraded passenger amenities, leading manufacturers are refining proven coach platforms to meet evolving operator and rider expectations.
The Tidewater Current is the first east-to-west Virginia Breeze route, expanding access to key destinations including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Williamsburg, Richmond, Charlottesville, Staunton, and Harrisonburg.
As the American Bus Association marks its 100th year, a new ABA Foundation report highlights the Marketplace’s role as a key revenue engine for the bus and group travel industry.
