It's getting more and more difficult to conduct a fluid NYC sightseeing tour in any way with a 45 ft. motorcoach. Seriously speaking, its getting to the point where the driver has to bring with him body armor to protect him from the overzealous ticket-writing police, the rude and discourteous yellow cabs, not to mention those obnoxious bicycle "pedicabs" that are all over the place now, most without any tail or headlights.

The city MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) has made a point of taking over block upon block of sidewalk real estate with their enlarged regular bus stops (for the articulated New Flyer Bus) and their interboro Express bus services (brown signs). These are all no stopping zones, so if a cop is having a bad day with his wife; you're looking at a hefty fine!

Then there is all the frustration of not knowing which major intersections allow turns for busses, and which don't. The City certainly needs to revisit some of the intersections that ban all turns, since us 45 footers don't have too many options when maneuvering the streets and avenues. One definite intersection that needs new signs, new arrow traffic lights, and lane markings is Bowery and Canal St.

Private bus companies who are running commuter line runs, mostly from New Jersey, all seem to have a lock on coveted bus layover parking spots (such as near Midtown West Side, and next to South St. Seaport), so it's hard to find an available one after 10:30 am. That's a funny thing since all of these spots are designed for tourbuses with tourists, not bus drivers who have a second job on "Wall Street"!

It would be really nice if the City of New York could come up with a way to differentiate between the one-day/multi-day charters who should have layover zones,…from the commuter busses who should have their own arranged private parking areas.

There is some good news however…someone in City government figured out that the old quarter parking meters were in a way obsolete. And, the same person figured out that loads of commercial vehicles were getting free parking while they were engaged in deliveries all day. Enter stage left the MUNI-METER.

There are many blocks in Manhattan that have parking reserved for users of the Muni-Meter. This is a receipt-issuing machine that is located every 125 feet or so, takes quarters, and is for use by Commercial vehicles! Our busses are commercial vehicles!

Although some of these muni-meters are located in areas that are too conspicuous for a 45 ft. motorcoach (I.e. I saw some on 2nd avenue where the parking lane was very narrow), on the other hand, there are some in the Broadway theatre district that are perfect for staging and picking up a group after a matinee or evening performance.

N. side of 45th Street between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue, is one of my preferred bus staging areas. After picking up your group, you can head straight into the Lincoln Tunnel, or straight up 10th Avenue!

The rates are $2 for 1 hr.; $5 for 2 hrs.; $9 for 3 hrs. But here's the thing: you gotta have a roll of quarters to feed the muni-meter, it does not take dollar bills, dollar coins, or credit cards! So be prepared!!!