With inter-city bus travel gaining steam, what's a city without a bus station to do?

Since Greyhound suspended its bus service in Canada in 2021 and the large terminal in the heart of downtown London was shuttered, other bus companies have stepped into the void to get people from city to city with one major issue — where to park when they're picking up and dropping off riders.

Companies such as Onex, FlixBus and MegaBus are now in the London market, shuttling passengers between here and Windsor, Toronto, Kitchener and Ottawa. Each has to negotiate with the city or private landowners about where their buses can stop. 

"Typically when we go into a market like London, our first contact is to the city. We want to make sure that we're working in tandem with them and we try to stop in a place that the city thinks is a good place to stop. We really trust City staff to know their city the best," said Andrew Schloss, a government relations associate with FlixBus.

That bus company stops in front of the convention centre on York Street, as well as on Western University campus to get riders. 

MegaBus stops on campus, as well as at the Flying J parking lot on Highbury Avenue. Onex, a small player owned by brothers in the GTA, has stops near Victoria Hospital, downtown and at an Esso gas station near White Oaks Mall. 

"For us, money is secondary. We want people to have a great service," said Onex owner John Samuel.

Because they're not pulling into a major terminal, Onex bus driver Christina Clarke says drivers are constantly vigilant about where they are stopped and how they're impacting traffic. 

"People see this giant bus and they make assumptions that we're big and not paying attention, but we are aware of traffic around us," she said. 

Curbside model more nimble

London is recognized as a "regional mobility hub" so city staff are happy to help facilitate drop-off and pick-up spots for companies, said Doug McRae, London's director of transportation and mobility. 

"We are happy to help them find a location that works for them and a location that works for the traffic demands of that area as well," he said. 

Often, companies are referred to London Transit, which already has bus stops that the bigger buses can pull into, McRae said. Onex stops near Victoria Hospital on Wellington and Commissioners, allowing passengers that come from other cities to specialist appointments easier access, said Samuel. 

The lack of a major terminal actually makes it possible to offer better service with more flexibility, said Schloss. 

"The curbside model is the future, especially in Ontario, where the model for a long time used to be a large hegemonic bus company that owns the buses, the terminal, the food service there, the parcel service. That model is incredibly expensive and not where the market is anymore," he said.

"Now, there's much more competition, and every company has to find their way. Curbside stops are much more efficient and easy, and to support the large increase in service, we have to be more creative." 

Having 10 or 15 people get on or off at each stop is much quicker than having 40 or 50 people doing so, Schloss added. 

The city also works with smaller community routes, such as those that operate between London and Ingersoll, Strathroy and Stratford, to help facilitate stops, McRae said.