Older News 2

OLDER NEWS (continued)

DEFINITELY NOT AN UPGRADE

The May issue of Cycle Sports magazine is out, and the good news is that it includes a Long Ride / Hill Climb supplement. The very bad news is that this version is a pale imitation of what we’ve been used to. Instead of a full-color glossy 100-page pamphlet, this year we get essentially a small two-color calendar with few photos and no maps, and a list of events in the back. So the information is here, and that’s useful, but this is no longer one of the highlights of the year in cycling magazines. Hopefully Cycle Sports will realize what a major disappointment this is for us and they’ll go back to the original style next year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Best wishes for a great ride through 2019, the Year of the Pig (or on tiny roads in the wilderness areas of Japan, it would be a wild boar).

JANUARY MAGS

It’s that time of year, when the major cycling magazines release their January editions, and although the trend has always been for winter editions to focus on new models and training in preparation for the spring, there are a few routes here and there. Bicycle Club covers the Nishi-Izu Skyline (60-70km) and Cycle Sports has routes in Wakayama and Oita (plus a piece on bike-packing with a hammock!). Vol. 49 of Jitensha Biyori covers a two-day 80km route through Matsue and its lakes (Shinji and Nakaumi) on the Japan Sea coast. And both Bicycle Club and Cycle Sports offer yet more goodies: Bicycle Club includes a small carry-bag with a shoulder strap, and Cycle Sports offers an intriguing “neck warmer” of lightweight scarf-like material that we intend to try when it gets a bit colder.

A DEFINITE PLUS

The two major cycling monthlies have been a disappointment this autumn in terms of touring information, so we’ve had to go back in time a bit. The 21st issue of the quarterly magazine BICYCLE PLUS was actually released LAST autumn, but somehow we missed it. Subtitled “Popular Touring Course Guide,” it summarizes its content as “from ultra-orthodox meccas to little-known hideaways” which translates to 22 routes from all over the country, mainly the Kanto, Chubu and Kinki regions. In addition to these routes, it also features

- four “cycling map” routes from maps prepared by various local communities

- a long Kansai route from Yokkaichi to Ikeda near Osaka

- a report of a tour on the Okhotsk coast of Hokkaido (but with no map!), partly on dirt/gravel roads

- a brief report on the annual “Japanese Odyssey” ride (http://www.japanese-odyssey.com/) in which riders use any route to pass 12 checkpoints on Honshu and Shikoku

- and a couple of solo touring reports.

Well worth checking out. The larger bookstores should either still have copies or be able to order it for you.

ROUTE 158 UPDATE

In our recent special report on cycling through tunnels in general and tunnels in the Japan Alps in particular, we gave special attention to National Route 158 which is one of the major routes that connects cities in the Japan Alps. As it had been awhile since we’d cycled through the tunnels, we wanted to see how dangerous it was (or felt) to do so, and also to confirm whether or not bicycles are allowed to go through the monster Abo Tunnel, a toll road whose English name is Abo-Toge Road (some motorists have reported seeing cyclists in that tunnel).

Our detailed report is here. The tl;dr is (a) no to that question and (b) if you decide to cycle through these tunnels, there is definitely a correct direction in which to do so, and that direction is Takayama => Matsumoto and not the other way around.

BE KIND, REWIND (YOUR RESV)

Was talking to the proprietor of a youth hostel in Japan today and he mentioned in passing that foreigners sometimes reserve months in advance, but the number of foreign travelers who cancel their reservation when they’ve decided to stay elsewhere is around 0% — he says they simply don’t show up. Needless to say, this is unconscionable. Please, if your plans change, be sure to cancel any reservations you’ve made.

MAGAZINE UPDATE

Autumn used to be when Japanese cycling magazines often put out special features or even standalone guides with cycling routes. In recent years, they’ve stopped doing that, and this autumn’s magazines have hardly any route information. However, the new ”Let’s Enjoy Cycling” magazine-style guide (Japanese title: Saikuringu o Tanoshimu Hon”) makes up for that in spades. The subtitle says it’s the “Kansai edition” and it appears to be the only one, although presumably there will be at least a Kanto edition to follow. It features 30 routes throughout Kansai and a special in-depth section on the Shimanami route between Honshu and Shikoku.

This guide appears to be part of a series that includes enjoying walking, hiking and “mountain walking” (yama-aruki). It has as much information as a stand-alone book guide, and at 880 yen it’s also a bargain. In bookstores now; get your copy before they’re all gone.

BIKEBAG UPDATE

We’ve updated the Bikebag article in our new FEATURES section to include the latest information on bikebags available in Japan.

JAPAN ALPS TUNNELS

Here’s our special report on cycling through tunnels in general and tunnels in the Japan Alps in particular.

There is also a new “FEATURES” item in the main menu that brings together some of the special reports that we’ve presented in the past (and will present in the future) — both those related directly to cycling and “off the bike” reports on other aspects of traveling in Japan.

THREE-PEAT???!!!

Unbelievable. For the third time in almost as many months, Bicycle Club magazine offers a high-quality bag included free with the magazine.

This one is a shoe bag. It’s large enough for even the largest size shoes, has breathable mesh sides to allow ventilation, and has a circular carry strap as the picture on the front of the magazine shows:

The issue also features an Editor’s Choice list of 400 best bicycle products (apparently to celebrate their 400th issue) and a 55km route along National Route 413 to Lake Yamanaka. BC’s major competitor, Cycle Sports, is no slouch either, this month featuring a long section on the increasingly popular “gravel bikes” (road bikes designed for off-road riding) with two short routes and some intriguing advice on finding off-road routes —such as look for "detour" markers in front of tunnels that often point to the old pre-tunnel road, and try using old maps (!). But still: this month as well, the bang-for-buck award has to go to Bicycle Club. On sale for the next month, but get yours ASAP before they sell out.

WHOOPS THEY DID IT AGAIN

Two months ago we told you about the May edition of Bicycle Club magazine which included a free cycle pouch. Well, not two months later they've done it again — the July edition also includes a similar pouch! (Lots of extra material left over?) This one appears to be of the same sturdy construction and is designed to fit along the top of the (horizontal) top tube where it connects to the handlebars. Here’s the photo on the cover showing how it fits on the bike:

The issue also includes an extensive section with tips on how to tackle long (100km plus) rides and a nice article on a challenging route straight up through the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama. The magazine and pouch will cost you ¥1000 and will be on sale for the next month, but pick up your copy soon before they run out.

LONG RIDE / HILL CLIMB 2018

Time files — already late March and that means it’s time for the May issue of Cycle Sports Magazine and its event guide booklet for “long ride” and “hill climb” events in Japan throughout the year. This year’s 98-page booklet features a few more ads (including the back cover again, unfortunately — no more of those lovely double covers for the booklet, it seems) but is otherwise the same, with great photos and a comprehensive introductory section on how to use bike bags to carry your cycle to the event. This year’s premier long-distance ride is undoubtedly the mammoth 22-day ride entirely around the 2400km perimeter of Hokkaido in July. As usual, the booklet is FREE with your purchase of the ¥890 magazine.

But this year is very different in that, surprisingly, the May issue of the competitor Bicycle Club magazine offers SERIOUS competition to the Cycle Sports issue, and you’ll probably want to run out and pick up both of them.

The magazine includes a lovely detachable booklet on the new “B.B.Base” train with bicycle racks that’s designed specifically to help cyclists explore the Boso Peninsula in Chiba (not cheap, but looks like fun), with detailed course guides for the various options. There’s a smaller official guidebook for the Japan Bicyclist Club Federation (JBCF), one of the organizations in the Japan Cycling Federation, which seems to contain info on primarily pro-level races but also includes lots of information on specific races and a whole section on “Cycling Around Tochigi.” If that’s not enough, within the magazine is a small box containing an actual triangular cycle pouch! All of this FREE with your purchase of the ¥1000 magazine.

Both of these issues just went on sale and will be in stores for the next three weeks or so, but you should go out NOW to be sure to get them. Belatedly we note that the RB Sports used bookshop in Tokyo’s Jimbocho area that used to have a ton of back issues of cycling magazines has closed, so there’s no central repository for back issues any more. So don’t delay.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here is the nengajo (traditional New Year’s Card) for 2018. Hoping you (make that WE) all have great rides in 2018.

NEW ROUTE - AMAKUSA

A new route, Kagoshima => Nagasaki up Kyushu’s western coast through the Amakusa islands, has been posted. Nuts & Bolts will be added in a few days.

JAPAN ALPS TUNNELS

About to post a new route in the next few days — oddly enough, not the long-promised and long-delayed one (but that one will be coming soon as well).

Before that: we received this email from reader RC with a very on-target warning about cycling through tunnels in the Japan Alps:

Maybe it’s common to cycle in tunnels in Japan but as a newb to tunnelling I found it pretty harrowing. The traffic on route 158 moves ridiculously fast and touring with a bunch of stuff I am not up to that speed so I opted for walking along the absurdly narrow walkways which were covered in water, mud and other stuff oozing out of the tunnel walls. Anyway as you can imagine it was a pretty awful 5-6Km. Just might be good to highlight it to other readers who may not be familiar with the wormhole to hell experience. Had I known I might have gone from Takayama instead of from Shioriji.

She’s right, and we’ll reword those sections to put greater emphasis on how nasty and potentially dangerous those long tunnels can be. They’re clogged with trucks and other traffic, and the narrow walkways are really unsuitable for even walking with a bike, much less riding. If you do elect to cycle through tunnels in the Japan Alps (particularly Route 158 between Matsumoto and Takayama), make sure you have a powerful headlight AND rear light and wear the brightest and most reflective clothing you can find.

Footnote: a minor point, but the actual “wormhole from hell” was a friend’s nickname for the last tunnel before Kamikochi on local Route 24, which had to be seen to be believed. But it no longer exists — it’s been replaced with a bright, modern tunnel that’s much nicer to cycle through.

SUMMER SOURCEBOOKS

July is here, and with it the official start of summer and a whole crop of Japanese cycling magazines with great information on cycle-traveling. All of these are in the bookstores now; get yours before they’re gone.

Issue 20 of this bimonthly magazine is devoted almost entirely to “bikepacking” — backpacking with a bike — and is chock full of lovely photos, many of them taken in Nagano. After many pages of detailed equipment and packing suggestions, there is an article on Route 418 from Nagano through Gifu to Fukui, and several "solo touring" reports.

The August issue of always-reliable Cycle Sports has an in-depth (30 pages!) feature on “touge” or mountain passes with truly stunning photos, plus pieces on the 210km ride around the island of Sado and a two-day ride from Nipponbashi through Nikko to Sukagawa.

The August 2017 (summer) issue of this long-running magazine (this is Issue 86!) is devoted to cycle-traveling, divided into four sections: "Cycletrain x Camp" "Ferry x Island" "Pottering x Goshuin [cycling to different temples and shrines and collecting the seal stamps]" and "Overseas x Triathlon" (in Honolulu). Additional features: a 1-page piece on the new cross-Honolulu bike route and bus bike racks, a multipage photo shoot with cover model Akane Hotta, and shorter articles on the Eroica (north of Mt. Fuji) and Tour of Japan events.

Jitensha Biyori, another venerable cycling magazine (published since 2005 and up to Issue 42), has come out with a special “road bike starter’s guide” supplement that features several touring routes (Shimanami and circling Lake Biwa and Mt. Fuji) and brief descriptions of others, as well as a cycling event guide for 2017 and cycling photo shoots with cover model Saori Watanabe.

REVISED OKAYAMA VILLA ROUTE

The revised four-villa Okayama Villa route is finally up; sorry for the long wait (the Intertubes have apparently changed the way they handle video). if there are any issues accessing the videos, please be patient; we’ll try to resolve them as soon as possible.

LONG RIDE HILL CLIMB 2017

How time flies— already the end of March. We’ve got two new routes stacked up and ready to go if only IRL would cooperate. But we would be remiss if the first thing we did upon coming out of hibernation wasn’t to let you know that the May issue of Cycle Sports magazine is out, and with it the annual Long Ride / Hill Climb special supplement. This year’s version foregoes the double cover (there’s an ad on the back, rats) but the contents are mostly unchanged: 95 long ride events and 84 hill climb events, with elevation maps for the former and course maps for the latter. Rather than include a big map of Japan showing the locations, they just have a list of them by area, so you’ll have to investigate the locations for yourself. Still, this is the most complete guide of its kind, and it’s absolutely FREE with your purchase of the magazine (890 yen). It should be noted that the magazine itself has a very nice article on routes around Japan, and the previous month’s Cycle Sports (April), which is probably still available at used magazine places or bookshops like Tokyo’s R&B Sports, had a nice article with 17 “circle routes” around Lake Biwa, Awaji, Lake Hamana etc.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The 2017 nengajo (traditional New Year’s Card) is now at the top of the main page, with suggestions for things to do on your travels in 2017. Here’s hoping for many great rides this year.

BIG NEWS ON OKAYAMA VILLAS

(official and unofficial)

We’ve just become aware of some VERY good news regarding the Okayama International Villas!

(Read on...)

(top: view from Ushimado Villa room)

(bottom: Fukiya lower village)

The economic crash of the late 2000s resulted in the loss of prefectural support and the closure of all but two of the six original villas. Hattoji and Shiraishi are still around, but Koshihata, Takebe, Ushimado and Fukiya were closed. Koshihata was the northernmost and most remote one, and — although it was lovely — its loss is lessened by the fact that the other farmhouse villa (Hattoji) is still around. Takebe was always in our opinion the least successful villa, uncomfortably located right next to a larger tourist facility with a shared hot springs. But the loss of the spectacular views from Ushimado and (especially) the wonderful Fukiya villa with its three-story-high bath really hurt, and we’ve never given up hope that one day they might return.

With the dramatic increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan, we decided that it was time to reach out to the Okayama prefectural government and see if there was any interest in reopening them and reviving the villa concept.

Koshihata and Takebe seem to be gone for good. But the great news is that Ushimado and Fukiya have reopened as privately operated facilities! (Fukiya as recently as March of this year). They’re no longer foreigner-only official villas, which means you can’t reserve them by calling the official villa number, but the original facilities (including shared kitchens) seem to be intact, and they’re still very reasonably priced given the quality.

Fukiya is now Eleven Village:

http://elevenvillgae.jimdo.com

(no, I don’t know what the name means, either)

Price for room-only w/o meals is ¥5000 per person for the first night, ¥4500 per night if you stay 2 nights, and ¥4000 per person for 3 or more nights. And since you’ll definitely want to stay at least two nights, that makes the price not so different from villa days.

(By the way, Eleven Village can also provide meals!)

Ushimado retains the original Japanese name, Ushimado Kokusai Koryu Villa:

http://nippon-olive.info/mall/villa/

Nothing seems to have changed. (They even have a link to the original English villa pamphlet on the new site!) The pricing is identical to International Villa days: ¥4000 for solo occupancy and ¥3500 per person for two in a room.

(Note that there’s next to no English on either of these sites. Hopefully something can be done about that.)

We will be visiting these facilities at the earliest possible opportunity to confirm things, and then reworking our Okayama Villa route to link these four villas together. Due to the distance between Hattoji and Fukiya, we plan to scout out a suitable facility in between for cyclists who don’t want to cycle that distance in one day.

JAPAN ALPS BUS UPDATE

Still putting the finishing touches on a new long route, and shortly after that we’ll have a new “Off The Bike” feature on Takayama! In the meantime, there’s yet more good-good-bad-news on bike bus transport to the Japan Alps:

-Good news: Nohi Bus going between Tokyo or Osaka/Kobe and Takayama still accepts bagged bicycles with no problems whatsoever. It’s a bit confusing since their website lists two phone numbers, first Nohi Bus in Takayama and then a number for Kintetsu Bus (which which they share some routes). If you have trouble reaching Nohi (as I did) and call the Kintetsu number and ask whether bagged bikes are allowed even on Nohi buses, the Kintetsu people will say categorically no — since that’s the Kintetsu policy. Don’t be fooled: bagged bikes ARE allowed on Nohi Bus routes.

-As usual, Alpico to and from Matsumoto is more of a mixed bag. I confirmed the following directly with the Alpico office in Matsumoto: (1) Routes are still shared by Alpico and Hankyu, with the time slots generally assigned to one company or the other on a fixed basis. But not always! So you have to check each time. (2) Currently, the afternoon bus leaving Matsumoto for Kyoto/Osaka is handled by Alpico, so cyclists can take that one. (3) But the bad news is that the morning route from Osaka/Kyoto to Matsumoto is now handled by Hankyu, and the afternoon bus gets you to Matsumoto just before 10:00 at night. If that’s inconvenient, you may have to find another way to get to that part of the Japan Alps.

Needless to say, all of this information is subject to change. Finally, using Japan’s very good package delivery (takkyubin) services to ship your bicycle is always an option. Look for more information on this option to be featured on the KANcycling site in the near future.

HAT TRICK

We’re still putting the finishing touches on a new route (hint: it’s in Tohoku, but probably not the part of Tohoku that you expect). Before that: we’ve been negligent in showcasing the many great articles that appear in Japanese cycling magazines, and we’ll try to do better on that score. Often they deal with bicycle specs or racing performance or other issues that aren’t the primary focus of this site. But several times each year, there are also articles on routes and touring — and three of the November issues that came out this week feature a bumper crop of articles in that, um, wheelhouse. Cycle Sports has an article showcasing a number of 100km “long ride” routes. Bicycle Club has an article featuring 18 mountain pass routes. And almost the entire Bicycle Plus issue is devoted to touring, with a long article on how to equip a bicycle for use as a touring bike and then bike-bag it or ship it to your destination, and two shorter articles on touring in Aizu-Wakamatsu and the Japan Sea islands (with some lovely photos). With two of these issues, you even get bonus freebies: a waterproof pouch in the case of Cycle Sports and a cap in the case of Bicycle Club. On sale now for the next month; get yours before they’re all gone.

(Note: Cycling magazines used to put out route guide booklets on a regular basis, but for the past year or two, with the exception of the annual Cycle Sports long ride / hill climb event guide, magazine freebies have been mostly objects like caps and pouches and the occasional Tour du France supplement. Here’s hoping for a return to the old days.)

U (DON’T) LOCK

A new long-distance route coming very, very soon! In the meantime: here’s how NOT to use a U-Lock. Photo taken at a bicycle parking area that shall remain anonymous for obvious reasons:

The whole point of a U-Lock is to fasten the most valuable part of the bike (the frame) to a solid object, so at least the frame will be there when you get back. This unwary cyclist has, for some reason, fastened the U-Lock only to the bike frame and nothing else, attached an easily cuttable cable to the bike rack and looped both ends of that cable through the lock. One quick snip and bye-bye-bicycle. The safest way to secure the bike would be to (a) pass the U-Lock through both the frame and the rear wheel and fasten it to a solid immobile object and then (b) use the cable together with a padlock to fasten the front wheel to the rack as well. Here’s hoping this cyclist realizes that before it’s too late.

SIGH. MATSUMOTO BUS.

The good news is that Alpico still accepts bagged bikes on its buses (despite the more ambiguous wording in their rules and conditions). But it appears that things have reverted to last spring, in which the 3:00 p.m. bus from Matsumoto to Kyoto/Osaka is now always run by Hankyu, which prohibits bikes on any of its buses. Alpico has an overnight, but due to the greater amount of luggage on those buses, as far as I know no companies allow bagged buses on their overnight bus routes. So cyclists wanting to return from Matsumoto to Kansai will have to overnight in Matsumoto and take the 7:10 a.m. bus. (So you’re forced to see the black castle, eat great soba and drink outstanding local sake — not such a bad thing!) Since that was the status last spring but not last autumn, this may be a seasonal thing; we’ll keep you posted.

OFF THE BIKE: “IPPUKU-NOH”

Our long-delayed special report on the event at a machiya in Kyoto is here.

TIP LINE

Even though we might not always update in a timely fashion due to the constraints of RL (real life), we very much appreciate the information sent to us by readers. And on that subject, thanks to reader JB we belatedly learn that the 40-50k off-road route leading from Manza Onsen to Nozawa Onsen in Nagano Prefecture is now paved! It’s now Prefectural Route 502. On the one hand, that means one of the longest and reportedly best off-road routes in Japan is gone (never did get to cycle it — it was still under snow when I tried). On the other hand, that means road bikes as well as MTB can now cycle it. The site has been updated accordingly. Thanks again, and please keep the tips coming.

LONG RIDE / HILL CLIMB 2016

Not even the end of March and it’s already here: Cycle Sports Magazine’s annual Long Ride / Hill Climb supplement, listing all such events for the year. This year’s booklet is more than 100 pages (58 LR, 50 HC) covering 70 HC events and 96 LR events. As usual, it features some pages in color and big maps of Japan showing the locations of the events. The big headlines on this year’s covers are “Things to Know (in advance)” for the hill climb section and “Have Fun” for the long ride section. Packed with all sorts of advice, including (on page 13 of the LR section), the contact information for package delivery companies that will ship your boxed bicycle to a location for an event. This is far and away the best magazine supplement of the year, and it’s absolutely FREE with your purchase of the May 2016 issue of the magazine (¥890). Get yours before they’re all gone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here’s hoping for many great rides in 2016.

“IPPUKU-NOH” NO. 2

We promised you an “Off The Bike” report on the recent Noh event at a machiya in Kyoto, and we’ll get to that as soon as RL (real life) allows. But there’s actually going to be a second one this Sunday 12/13, and a few tickets may still be available. Go to https://www.facebook.com/tsunenokai for more info.

UPDATE: CONFUSION RESOLVED

(see below)

It appears that there was no cause for alarm. I just transported my bicycle on an Alpico bus from Matsumoto to Osaka with no protest or comment or even a glance from anyone: not the ticket people, not the bus station people and not the driver. So good news: Alpico to and from Matsumoto (and Nagano, etc.) remains bicycle-friendly bus transport to and from the Japan Alps, along with Nohi Bus to and from Takayama.

WELL, THIS IS CONFUSING

Our periodic check on bus access to Shinshu is getting complicated. As far as I know, Hankyu and Kintetsu, the major players in bus transport, still refuse to allow bikes on board. Alpico has allowed bagged bikes on daytime but not overnight buses. A recent change* to the wording of the Alpico site seemed to indicate that bikes were not allowed on any buses. But a phone call revealed that (a) no, bikes are still allowed on daytime buses on the Matsumoto-Osaka route, and (b) better still, they seem to have reverted to the system of switching off days with Hankyu, which means that every other day Alpico runs the afternoon bus and therefore bikes are allowed (earlier this year that time slot was always run by Hankyu, making it off limits to cyclists). Will it stay that way? Will there be still more changes? Stay tuned.

(* If you want to check the Japanese yourself, it’s the section in red under “Information” at the bottom on this page:

https://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/matsumoto_osaka/ )

(see UPDATE above)

OFF THE BIKE: “IPPUKU-NOH”

One of the big advantages of living in the Kansai area is that you have access to Kyoto and Nara, cities that are still the heart of the traditional culture. Whether on or off the bike, I take advantage of any opportunity to spend time in Kyoto. And here’s one: a friend of the blog has been involved in the formation of a new group devoted to the preservation of machiya — the traditional wooden residences in Kyoto — and machiya culture. The group’s kickoff event is this Sunday, July 5th (click on the poster to enlarge).

The event features a Noh performance and tea ceremony — held, of course, in a machiya. If you’re interested in traditional Japanese culture or just love Kyoto, check it out. And remember, the Gion festival is coming up as well (parade on the 17th and the yoiyama — my personal favorite — on the evening of the 14th - 16th).

(Oh, and if you look at the bottom of the poster for the sponsors and supporters, you’ll see a familiar name...)

BAD NEWS ON BUSES, 2015 EDITION

There’s a bit of bad news for Kansai cyclists looking to get home from Matsumoto by bus. As you’ll recall, the Matsumoto <--> Kyoto/Osaka bus route is serviced by two companies, Alpico and Hankyu. The former allows bagged bicycles and the latter does not. Previously, they traded off days and time slots, so if a Hankyu bus is scheduled to make the run at the day and time you’re trying to travel, you could go a day earlier or later and get the Alpico bus at the same time. Starting this month, however, the 3 p.m. run from Matsumoto back to Kansai is now being handled EXCLUSIVELY by Hankyu — making this time slot off limits to cyclists.

The good news:

(1)I was able to confirm that Alpico will still allow bagged bikes on non-overnight buses. They recommend that you get there early so the luggage compartment doesn’t fill up.
(2)Alpico buses now do the morning run from Matsumoto (which leaves at 6:30 a.m.), so you could spend the night and then leave (very) early the next morning.

Alpico also runs buses to Kansai from places nearby such as Nagano and Chino (near Lake Suwa). However, apparently some of the buses on these routes are Hankyu buses as well, so check carefully before buying your ticket to avoid a nasty surprise at the bus stop.

CLICK HERE FOR OLDER NEWS (continued)