Taking the bus? First, do some research.

Whether you’re rich or poor, live in the city or suburbs or are young or old, at one time or another you’ll ride on a bus of some kind. Somehow, some way, buses will enter your life, whether you’re on the way to school or work, taking a vacation or just trying to get from point A to point B.

For the most part, bus operations in New York state are a safe and secure experience. School buses are carefully monitored by the state. All drivers must be fingerprinted to check for criminal records. The State Legislature keeps busy imposing new safety standards on school bus operators. Overall, school buses get a lot of government attention.

Public transportation, whether on Long Island, in Manhattan or in Buffalo, also gets a lot of attention. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on buses that use natural gas to help minimize the effects on our air quality. Drivers are screened for drug addiction and criminal records. Absent an occasional mistake, people who rely on government-sponsored buses have no reason to be reluctant to make the trip.

The real headache, whether in New York or Oklahoma, is the so-called “bargain” bus companies. There’s nothing wrong with getting a good price if you or a loved one is making a trip. Some companies offer reduced prices for trips on luxury vehicles that are well maintained and safe. But there are too many buses running to far-off destinations that aren’t worth the cheap fare once you do some basic research.

On many street corners in New York City and the suburbs, bus operations spring up overnight, offering low, low prices for trips to places like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Atlantic City and other cities. The buses often don’t display the names of the owners or any other information you could write down. They just magically appear, and since many people either can’t resist a bargain or can’t afford a regular fare, they hop on and ask no questions.

The tragic lessons we are learning about the bargain bus companies is that they really aren’t a bargain. Yes, there are a few companies owned by nationally known operators that are responsible, but there are a lot more no-name companies out there that are a threat to the safety of their riders.