SARATOGA, N.Y. A diverse agenda and strong attendance marked the 76th Annual Meeting and Marketplace of the Bus Association of New York late last month at the Gideon Putnam Resort here.

Despite the challenging economic times, 35 operator delegates and 51 suppliers turned out for the meeting, well above attendance levels of the years prior to 2009, when new leadership made a number of changes and instituted the marketplace.

Manufacturers and bus dealers exhibited eight demonstrator coaches during the event.

"Perhaps the overriding theme of this years meeting was reality." said BANY President Godfrey LeBron

"The reality is that the motorcoaches we are accustomed to operating are changing dramatically more green, ADA friendly, and safer . . . but definitely more expensive.

"Can the charter, tour and scheduled-service marketplace absorb these increases or will the public use less safe modes of transportation?" LeBron asked rhetorically.

This years BANY program featured industry updates by Daniel Hoff, director of the American Bus Association Foundation and policy manager; Ken Presley, vice president and chief operating officer of the United Motorcoach Association, and Jan Chesterton of the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association.

There was a presentation on driver distraction and fatigue by Robert Crescenzo of Lancer Insurance Co., and a panel on the role of enforcement in promoting safety, featuring William Leonard of the NYSDOT Motor Carrier Compliance Bureau, Joseph DeLorenzo of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Office of Enforcement and Compliance, and Sgt. Raymond Weiss of the N.Y. State Police Traffic Services Division.

Wrapping up the safety theme was consultant Joseph Scesny who gave a clinic on passing bus inspections.

There also was a session on tour planning in todays shrinking economy by Judy Brown of Brown Coach and Camilla Morris of Oneonta Bus Lines, and Bus & Motorcoach News columnist Dave Millhouser wowed the group at noontime.

Despite the good turnout, LeBron voiced a bit of frustration.

"The reality is that the members of BANY have managed to save all operators millions of dollars in state taxes and onerous regulations with little financial support.

"Every New York carrier benefits from BANYs efforts, and if every carrier was a member, our influence would grow geometrically."