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===2013 controversy=== ===2013 controversy===
In 2013, Suburban Express filed 126<Ref name="ArsNonstop">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/non-stop-to-schadenfreude-suburban-express-u-turn-on-reddit-lawsuit/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Nonstop to schadenfreude: Suburban Express’ u-turn on reddit lawsuit | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=2013-05-02}}</ref> tort and contract damage lawsuits against customers it alleged violated its terms of service by printing out multiple copies of their tickets or using them on the wrong dates.<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013" /> Many of the lawsuits were filed in ], 30 miles from campus, which defendants claimed was done intentionally to disqualify students from free legal aid from the university.<ref name="SubEx_NG1">{{cite news| url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-04-26/bus-firms-lawsuits-criticized.html | work=The News Gazette | title=Bus firm's lawsuits criticized | first=Will | last=Brumleve | date=2013-04-26}}</ref> Suburban Express claimed that Ford County was chosen for its open calendar and available parking.<ref name=Ruff>Ruff, Corinne. Daily Illini. April 28, 2013</ref> In early 2013 a customer said on Facebook and told the student newspaper he witnessed a bus driver tell a foreign student "If you don't understand English, you don't belong at the University of Illinois or any 'American' University'."<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013" /><Ref name="SubEx_Techdirt" /> Afterwards, the witness to the event received a letter from Suburban Express saying he owed $500 in liquidated damages and was banned for life.<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013" /><ref name="SubEx_Techdirt">{{cite news| url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130429/07194422871/bus-company-threatens-redditor-with-lawsuit-meets-ken-white-runs-away.shtml | work=Techdirt | title=Bus Company Threatens Redditor With Lawsuit, Meets Ken White, Runs Away | first=Timothy | last=Geigner | date=2013-05-02}}</ref> On the company website, Suburban Express called the student "a bullying, self-important brat," and claimed his actions were intended to promote a student ride-sharing website that was planned, but since aborted.<ref name="SubEx_Techdirt2">{{cite news| url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130515/05513523093/suburban-express-goes-double-nothing-their-aggressive-behavior.shtml | work=Techdirt | title=Suburban Express Goes Double Or Nothing On Their Aggressive Behavior | first=Timothy | last=Geigner | date=2013-05-17}}</ref> In 2013, Suburban Express filed 126<Ref name="ArsNonstop">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/non-stop-to-schadenfreude-suburban-express-u-turn-on-reddit-lawsuit/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Nonstop to schadenfreude: Suburban Express’ u-turn on reddit lawsuit | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=2013-05-02}}</ref> tort and contract damage lawsuits against customers it alleged violated its terms of service by printing out multiple copies of their tickets or using them on the wrong dates.<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013" /> Many of the lawsuits were filed in ], 30 miles from campus, which defendants claimed was done intentionally to disqualify students from free legal aid from the university.<ref name="SubEx_NG1">{{cite news| url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-04-26/bus-firms-lawsuits-criticized.html | work=The News Gazette | title=Bus firm's lawsuits criticized | first=Will | last=Brumleve | date=2013-04-26}}</ref> Suburban Express claimed that Ford County was chosen for its open calendar and available parking.<ref name=Ruff>Ruff, Corinne. Daily Illini. April 28, 2013</ref> In early 2013 a customer said on Facebook and told the student newspaper he witnessed a bus driver tell a foreign student "If you don't understand English, you don't belong at the University of Illinois or any 'American' University'."<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013" /><Ref name="SubEx_Techdirt" /> Afterwards, the witness to the event received a letter from Suburban Express saying he owed $500 in liquidated damages and was banned for life.<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013" /><ref name="SubEx_Techdirt">{{cite news| url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130429/07194422871/bus-company-threatens-redditor-with-lawsuit-meets-ken-white-runs-away.shtml | work=Techdirt | title=Bus Company Threatens Redditor With Lawsuit, Meets Ken White, Runs Away | first=Timothy | last=Geigner | date=2013-05-02}}</ref> The company said the incident did not occur and attempted to fine another student for disruption, who said he was trying to talk to the bus driver about their behavior.<ref>http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-30/judge-allows-bus-company-refile-some-claims-against-passengers.html</ref>
On the company website, Suburban Express called the student "a bullying, self-important brat," and claimed his actions were intended to promote a student ride-sharing website that was planned, but since aborted.<ref name="SubEx_Techdirt2">{{cite news| url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130515/05513523093/suburban-express-goes-double-nothing-their-aggressive-behavior.shtml | work=Techdirt | title=Suburban Express Goes Double Or Nothing On Their Aggressive Behavior | first=Timothy | last=Geigner | date=2013-05-17}}</ref>


This led<ref name="dailydott">{{cite news| url=http://www.dailydot.com/business/suburban-express-uiuc-reddit-moderator-bus-lawsuit/ | work=The Daily Dot | title=Bus Company Threatens to Sue Redditor Over Bad Press | first=Justin | last=Franz | date=2013-04-29}}</ref><Ref name="troll">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/troll-road-bus-company-posts-dirt-on-complaining-passenger/ | work=Ars Technica | title= This led<ref name="dailydott">{{cite news| url=http://www.dailydot.com/business/suburban-express-uiuc-reddit-moderator-bus-lawsuit/ | work=The Daily Dot | title=Bus Company Threatens to Sue Redditor Over Bad Press | first=Justin | last=Franz | date=2013-04-29}}</ref><Ref name="troll">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/troll-road-bus-company-posts-dirt-on-complaining-passenger/ | work=Ars Technica | title=
Troll road: Bus company posts “dirt” on complaining passenger | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=2013-13-02}}</ref> to a discussion on the subreddit for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign stating: "Don't ride Suburban Express! They're likely to sue you, have terrible reviews, and also this." The "this" linked to a series of anonymous insults to critics of Suburban Express, calling them "lonely virgins," "chronic masturbators" and other derogatory names that the moderator implied were posted by Suburban Express representatives anonymously.<Ref name="troll" /><ref name="Ars-26Apr2013" /><ref name="ArsNonstop" /><ref name="BoingBoing" /> On April 24th, The company threatened to sue a Reddit moderator involved, saying that he was knowingly posting "false and libelous information" and allowing libel to remain "despite clear knowledge... that the materials are untruthful."<ref name="dailydott"/> According to Ars Technica, "internet vigilantes" took down the company website, stole the founder's identity and hacked into his Reddit account.<Ref name="ArsNonstop" /> By May 2nd, the company closed all 125 of its lawsuits, and also withdrew its threat of legal action against the Reddit moderator.<Ref name="troll"/><Ref name="ArsNonstop"/> Troll road: Bus company posts “dirt” on complaining passenger | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=2013-13-02}}</ref> to a discussion on the subreddit for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign stating: "Don't ride Suburban Express! They're likely to sue you, have terrible reviews, and also this." The "this" linked to a series of anonymous insults to critics of Suburban Express, calling them "lonely virgins," "chronic masturbators" and other derogatory names that the moderator implied were posted by Suburban Express representatives anonymously.<Ref name="troll" /><ref name="Ars-26Apr2013" /><ref name="ArsNonstop" /><ref name="BoingBoing" /> On April 24th, The company threatened to sue a Reddit moderator involved, saying that he was knowingly posting "false and libelous information" and allowing libel to remain "despite clear knowledge... that the materials are untruthful."<ref name="dailydott"/> According to Ars Technica, "internet vigilantes" took down the company website, stole the founder's identity and hacked into his Reddit account.<Ref name="ArsNonstop" /> \


In May 2013, after prior cases were dismissed with prejudice, Suburban Express hired a new attorney and attempted to reopen the case. The new attorney also filed similar motions in more than 100 of the previously dismissed cases.<ref name="Ars-19Jun2013">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/06/bus-co-that-threatened-redditor-with-lawsuit-tries-to-reopen-suits/ | work=Ars Technica | title= 116 of the 126 lawsuits were dismissed with prejudice, prohibiting the company from filing similar complaints against the same defendants.<ref>http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-30/judge-allows-bus-company-refile-some-claims-against-passengers.html</ref> By May 2nd, the company closed all 125 of its lawsuits, and also withdrew its threat of legal action against the Reddit moderator.<Ref name="troll"/><Ref name="ArsNonstop"/> In May 2013, Suburban Express hired a new attorney<ref name="Ars-19Jun2013">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/06/bus-co-that-threatened-redditor-with-lawsuit-tries-to-reopen-suits/ | work=Ars Technica | title=
Bus company that threatened redditor with lawsuit tries to reopen suit| first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=2013-06-19}}</ref> Bus company that threatened redditor with lawsuit tries to reopen suit| first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=2013-06-19}}</ref> that filed 22 motions asking that previously dismissed cases be re-opened.<ref>http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-30/judge-allows-bus-company-refile-some-claims-against-passengers.html</ref>


==Services== ==Services==

Revision as of 13:04, 21 September 2013

Illini Shuttle, operated by Suburban Express, at Illinois Terminal in Champaign, Illinois.
Founded1983
Headquarters714 S Sixth Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Service areaIllinois, Indiana, Iowa
Service typeIntercity coach service
Destinations6 Universities served and Chicago Suburbs
Chief executiveDennis Toeppen, President
Websitehttp://www.suburbanexpress.com

Suburban Express is a bus company that serves six universities in the Mid-Western United States. It was founded in 1983 by Dennis Toeppen, then a student of the University of Illinois (UIUC).

Suburban Express has been criticized online for fining customers $100 for using a ticket on the wrong day or for the wrong destination, suing 125 of its customers, and sending legal threats to customers that speak negatively of the company online.

History

Early history

Suburban Express was founded in 1983 by Dennis Toeppen, with an initial investment of $600. At first, the University of Illinois would not sell Suburban Express tickets even though they were half the cost, since it received a commission from competitor Greyhound. By spring semester 1984, Suburban Express had 20-30% of the market-share for the Chicago to Champaign route. A price war led both Suburban Express and Greyhound to cut prices by more than fifty percent. Greyhound initiated two Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) investigations against Suburban Express: one in spring 1984 and one in fall 1984. In 1985, Dennis Toeppen charged Greyhound with "predatory pricing" for lowering their Friday to Sunday campus service from $43.70 to $14.75. The two had matched ticket sales by 1985. The travel center began selling Suburban Express tickets to compensate for lost Greyhound commission revenues. Suburban Express’ service expanded to Eastern Illinois University in 1985 and to Illinois State University to 1989. In 2004, Lincolnland Express (also known as LEX) entered the bus market, and began to compete with Suburban Express, until it went out of business in 2012.

2013 controversy

In 2013, Suburban Express filed 126 tort and contract damage lawsuits against customers it alleged violated its terms of service by printing out multiple copies of their tickets or using them on the wrong dates. Many of the lawsuits were filed in Ford County, 30 miles from campus, which defendants claimed was done intentionally to disqualify students from free legal aid from the university. Suburban Express claimed that Ford County was chosen for its open calendar and available parking. In early 2013 a customer said on Facebook and told the student newspaper he witnessed a bus driver tell a foreign student "If you don't understand English, you don't belong at the University of Illinois or any 'American' University'." Afterwards, the witness to the event received a letter from Suburban Express saying he owed $500 in liquidated damages and was banned for life. The company said the incident did not occur and attempted to fine another student for disruption, who said he was trying to talk to the bus driver about their behavior.

On the company website, Suburban Express called the student "a bullying, self-important brat," and claimed his actions were intended to promote a student ride-sharing website that was planned, but since aborted.

This led to a discussion on the subreddit for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign stating: "Don't ride Suburban Express! They're likely to sue you, have terrible reviews, and also this." The "this" linked to a series of anonymous insults to critics of Suburban Express, calling them "lonely virgins," "chronic masturbators" and other derogatory names that the moderator implied were posted by Suburban Express representatives anonymously. On April 24th, The company threatened to sue a Reddit moderator involved, saying that he was knowingly posting "false and libelous information" and allowing libel to remain "despite clear knowledge... that the materials are untruthful." According to Ars Technica, "internet vigilantes" took down the company website, stole the founder's identity and hacked into his Reddit account. \

116 of the 126 lawsuits were dismissed with prejudice, prohibiting the company from filing similar complaints against the same defendants. By May 2nd, the company closed all 125 of its lawsuits, and also withdrew its threat of legal action against the Reddit moderator. In May 2013, Suburban Express hired a new attorney that filed 22 motions asking that previously dismissed cases be re-opened.

Services

Suburban Express serves six Midwest universities: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Purdue University, University of Iowa, and Indiana University. Weekend services transport students from all six campuses directly to several suburban Chicago locations. The Illini Shuttle runs every day from Champaign and Urbana to the Chicago airports of O'Hare and Chicago suburbs. Suburban Express is a "virtual" bus company, in that it does not own any buses or facilities, but instead contracts buses from other carriers.

Suburban Express has a negative reputation on Yelp and Reddit, where customers claim the company has "cutthroat business practices," such as fining, banning and suing customers that allegedly violate its terms of service. The terms of service state that customers may be charged a $100 fine in the event the ticket is used for the wrong day or the wrong route. Students also claim that the organization bans, fines and threatens to sue customers that speak negatively of the company online. According to the company, "we have a few very simple rules: Bring a printed ticket. Don't try to get on a bus you can't get a ticket for because it's sold out by using a ticket for another date. Don't try to get two rides when you have only paid for one. Don't try to ride with a counterfeit ticket."

References

  1. ^ Gallagher, Sean (2013-04-26). "Express to Internet Hate: Bus company threatens redditor with lawsuit". Ars Technica.
  2. ^ Doctorow, Cory (2013-04-27). "Suburban Express bus-line sends bullying, cowardly legal threat to Reddit, discovers Streisand Effect". Boing Boing.
  3. ^ Rozek, Dan (1985-10-20). "Fare wars - Bus service run by student butts heads with Greyhound" (PDF). Daily Herald (Arlington Heights).
  4. Dodson, Don. "Go Suburban-Leave the driving to entrepreneur." The News-Gazette. April 8, 1990
  5. Taylor, Barbara. “Greyhound pricing illegal, bus service officials claim.” The Daily Illini. Feb. 16, 1985
  6. . Vol. GLI Schedule 397. 1999-09. Removed from publication {{cite encyclopedia}}: |work= ignored (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. Taiwo, Tolu. "Now that LEX is gone, Suburban Express needs to step up transportation services". The Daily Illini. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  8. "Lincolnland Express bus company to shut down permanently". New Gazette. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  9. ^ Gallagher, Sean (2013-05-02). "Nonstop to schadenfreude: Suburban Express' u-turn on reddit lawsuit". Ars Technica.
  10. ^ Brumleve, Will (2013-04-26). "Bus firm's lawsuits criticized". The News Gazette.
  11. Ruff, Corinne. "Suburban Express lawsuits reach 125 this year; conversation continues on Reddit." Daily Illini. April 28, 2013
  12. ^ Geigner, Timothy (2013-05-02). "Bus Company Threatens Redditor With Lawsuit, Meets Ken White, Runs Away". Techdirt.
  13. http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-30/judge-allows-bus-company-refile-some-claims-against-passengers.html
  14. Geigner, Timothy (2013-05-17). "Suburban Express Goes Double Or Nothing On Their Aggressive Behavior". Techdirt.
  15. ^ Franz, Justin (2013-04-29). "Bus Company Threatens to Sue Redditor Over Bad Press". The Daily Dot.
  16. ^ Gallagher, Sean (2013-13-02). "Troll road: Bus company posts "dirt" on complaining passenger". Ars Technica. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-30/judge-allows-bus-company-refile-some-claims-against-passengers.html
  18. Gallagher, Sean (2013-06-19). "Bus company that threatened redditor with lawsuit tries to reopen suit". Ars Technica.
  19. http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-30/judge-allows-bus-company-refile-some-claims-against-passengers.html
  20. Suburban Express website
  21. Illini Shuttle website

External links

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