A black-and-white movie from 1934 inspired Terry Rohe to plan a bus trip from her home in quiet rural Maine to the lively streets of New York City.

But before she could climb on board, like Claudette Colbert did in “It Happened One Night,” she had some persuading to do.

Her Clark Gable wasn’t quite so keen on the trip.

“Terry talked me into it,” 89-year-old Bob Rohe said while drinking tea with his wife in the den of their Hancock home. “I had a very negative attitude toward buses.”

But the motor coach’s plush seats, smooth ride and free entertainment changed his disposition.

“I consider that a luxury bus,” he recounted. “You didn’t hear the motor. Every seat was full. It was interesting.”

Rising gasoline prices and the expense of air travel have prompted many, like the Rohes, to choose bus transportation for their excursions.

It is cheaper than flying and easier than driving, said 88-year-old Terry Rohe, a former “Good Morning America” correspondent who has had fond feelings for buses since she watched the film starring Gable and Colbert, whose characters spark a romantic relationship after meeting on a Greyhound.

“I always thought it was a very romantic thing to do,” she said. “And I still do.”

So, with their luggage in tow and an authentic jambalaya in hand, the adventurous couple, formerly of New Orleans, boarded a morning Concord Trailways bus from Bangor to Boston’s South Station to visit their city friends.

They sat hip to hip in the front seat of the bus, where he chatted with the driver and napped while she read Jane Pauley’s autobiography and knitted.

Terry Rohe said she noticed riders of all ages were sitting alongside her. She spoke with a Calais family who owns an ethnic restaurant and travels to the city every two weeks to buy ingredients that are unavailable in northern Maine.

About four hours after they departed, the Rohes arrived in Boston, where they boarded a second bus that took them directly into New York City. During their five days in the metropolis, they went to Lincoln Center, ate at Cafe Fiorello and toured both the Modern Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

Ken Hunter, vice president of transportation for Concord Trailways, says an even greater number of Mainers have elected to bus it since gas prices skyrocketed in recent months, especially when rates topped $3 a gallon.

On their way to Boston, riders can watch two movies or listen to music through individual headsets. There are pillows, blankets and complimentary snacks, like pretzels, water and mints. There are restrooms in the back of every bus.

The music was a nice perk for Bob Rohe, who is the principal bassist with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.

The Portland-to-Boston bus trips are most popular with business travelers, while students and pleasure passengers make up most of the Bangor market, Hunter said.

“We do get a lot of retired people who take the bus,” he said. “For retired couples who are not in a rush, that type of time spent relaxing is wonderful as they mosey on down the road.”

Concord introduced its service in Maine in 1992, first in Portland and later in Bangor. Since that time, the company has carried more than 2 million Mainers to their destinations.

On average, about 4,000 riders take the bus from Bangor each month.

The Rohes are plotting their next trip, perhaps to visit family in New Orleans. And since her husband has discovered that he loves riding the bus, Terry Rohe doesn’t expect she’ll need to do as much convincing next time.

“California, here we come,” she said.

Wendy M. Fontaine can be reached at 664-0524 and bdnnews2@downeast.net.

If you go…

Contact: Call Concord Trailways at 945-4000 or 1-800-639-3317 or visit the company’s Web site at www.concordtrailways.com. Or you can visit the bus station ahead of time to get a sense of what to expect. The Concord Trailways station is located on Union Street in Bangor, across from Bangor International Airport.

Cost: Round trip from Bangor to New York City is $80 per person. That includes complimentary snacks and free movies. Student and group discounts are available. Parking is free in Bangor, $2 a day in Portland. Pillows and blankets are also available.

What to expect: After leaving Bangor, the bus stops next in Portland and continues on to Boston. From there, you’ll pick up another bus, either Peter Pan or Greyhound, to New York City. There may be a layover in Boston, so bring something to do or read.

What to bring: Be sure to bring identification. A paperback book or magazine, some Kleenex and some “nibbles” are also recommended.

What not to bring: Pets, except service animals. Cigarettes, since buses are non-smoking. Bikes are permitted if space in the baggage area allows. Cell phone use is limited.