NJ Transit ran the bus service it promised to and from the American Dream retail and entertainment complex on Friday, but for some bus operators, it was the loneliest job in town.

In some cases, buses arrived at the complex with no one on board. For lucky riders like me, I got a private ride on the biggest NJ Transit limo. Despite the threat of back-ups on the New Jersey Turnpike, and crowds swarming the public transportation options, I was the sole rider on the shuttle bus from Secaucus train station to American Dream and Nickelodeon Universe as it opened its doors at 10 a.m. on Friday.

I had a glitch before my ride even started when I couldn’t use the Trip Planner or My Bus features on its smartphone app, which I’m a regular user of. Putting in American Dream got no results. NJ Transit spokeswoman Lisa Torbic came to the rescue and said the version of the app on my phone — which you need to set up an account to use — needed to be updated.

Once that glitch was conquered, I took a train to Secaucus Junction. NJ Transit had plenty of ambassadors to direct us, ok, me, to buses. The 356 bus stop is literally the first one after exiting the building.

I boarded the bus and had a private ride all to myself. No one else was on board. An employee was overheard saying there were three people and five buses as of 10 a.m.

Passengers get off a NJ Transit bus during the Grand Opening of the American Dream Mall. #AMERICANDREAMMALL George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

My ride from Secaucus train station took less than 15 minutes, door-to-door. The bus ride was non-stop and seamless, cutting through industrial areas of Secaucus before getting on Route 3 west near the Berry’s Creek Bridge.

The challenging part was the walk from the bus stop, next to the Izod Center to American Dream. Once you’re off the bus, you’re on your own with no signs directing entertainment seekers to the open portion of the mall — Nickelodeon Universe theme park and the ice rink.

I did that most unmasculine thing and asked for directions. A security worker told me to walk along the perimeter of the sad-looking Izod Center toward a parking deck because it was separated from traffic. Safety first. That worked until I ran out of walkway. Another security guard directed me through a parking garage to an escalator bank. Walking time was five minutes.

At the top of the stairs, it smelled like fest retail-entertainment nirvana. Ok, more like a new car. NJ Transit’s bus stops are marked by large flashing highway message signs.

After 10:30 a.m., bus riders were met by vans that shuttled them to American Dream.

Among them was Diana Alexander and Walter Kvedar of Bayonne took Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to the 85 bus in Hoboken to American Dream.

“The ride was not too bad,” Alexander said, adding they don’t have a car.

But even if they did, Kvedar said they might consider the bus to avoid traffic, since he’s experienced it riding with others.

“We came just to see it,” he said. “She wanted to come on a weekday to avoid the rush of kids.”

The NJ Transit bus arrival area at the north end of the Izod Center during the Grand Opening of the American Dream Mall. #AMERICANDREAMMALL George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

Nj Transit buses enter the complex (without passengers) during the Grand Opening of the American Dream Mall. #AMERICANDREAMMALL George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

I rode the 85 bus back and it took the “scenic” route, meandering through the Mall at Mill Creek and Union City on the way to Hoboken, where shoppers can connect to Hudson-Bergen Light rail trains. Thats a 54 minute end-to-end trip.

A couple who got on the 85 bus at American Dream got off almost at the next stop at the Mall at Mill Creek in Secaucus, maybe to scratch a retail itch that the “Dream” couldn’t satisfy until next month. This bus meanders through Mill Creek where it picked up more people than got on at the mega mall.

For other people, the bus provided that last minute, decided-to-go spontaneous option.

Gage Gomez of Islip, Long Island said he rode the bus in from the Port Authority Bus Terminal after getting out of class at City College in Manhattan.

“It was very easy and super convenient,” he said.

Gomez said he was joining some friends at American Dream.

“The word got around, it’s a pretty cool attraction,” he said.

Planners are counting on more people using the transit option to reduce the potential of gridlock on Route 3 to and from American Dream. Rail service to the mega mall is on indefinite hold.

An option to ride a ferry to a shuttle bus starts operation on Monday.

Eventually, the American Dream mall will include a DreamWorks waterpark, massive indoor ski slope called Big SNOW, more than 350 retailers and 100 dining options, an aquarium, LEGOLand Discovery Center, CMX Luxury Movie Theater, Kidzania, and a 300-foot observation wheel. The next attraction set to open in a three-story candy department store, IT’SUGAR, on Nov. 7.

But for now, visitors will have to be satisfied checking out Nickelodeon Universe, the ice skating rink, and a small sliver of the mall in between the two attractions.

See more of our ongoing coverage of the American Dream mall here.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.