It seems like this issue is a simple one of who owns the bus. It’s not a public bus. It may run on a public route, but unless it’s owned by the City of New York or is contracted by the City of New York, it’s not a public bus. If it’s owned by Hasidics, but is kind enough to pick up the general public, the Hasidics still get to say what happens on that bus. They could choose not to let the general public on, or choose not to let women on, or choose not to let non-Hasidic women on – it’s their bus. We may not like what criteria they use or choose to do their busing, we may not agree with whatever they do on that bus, but they still own it and have a right to use it how they please.
For the record, before I get criticized by other Flutherites who don’t agree with what I just wrote, I am not Hasidic, I am not Jewish, (so I am not out to defend this on the basis of religion or it being my religion), I am for women’s rights, and I personally would not be in a religion that treated women in this fashion. However, I don’t see that as the issue here. I see the issue as one where the bus is not a public bus, it’s run by a Hasidic sect and just happens to pick up other members of the public. Like @wundayatta said, they have the right to run things as they see fit. We would not have a leg to stand on if complaining about mosques segregating by gender, temples and synogogues segregating by gender. Didn’t the Boy Scouts of American win a lawsuit a number of years ago, regarding the gender or religion of it’s membes? Didn’t the Court (Supreme Court if I’m not mistaken) rule that they could do so, based upon being a private entity?
If given too hard a time about it, this Hasidic-owned and operated bus will just stop picking up members of the general public.
If I didn’t have a car, and I needed a ride from a friend to get to and from work, and said friend told me “JCA, you have green eyes so you must sit on the left side of the car” I would have two choices: sit on the left side of the car or protest and get no ride. I think I would choose to honor their request and sit on the left side of the car.
@rooeytoo: Love it!