Brooklyn, NY – Feds Investigate Borough Park-Williamsburg Bus For Requiring Women To Sit In Back

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    Photo via Flickr WilliZenBrooklyn, NY – A Brooklyn bus contracted by the city to operate a Williamsburg-to-Borough Park route — catering to Orthodox Jews but open to the public — is under investigation for allegedly forcing women to sit in the back of the bus, authorities said yesterday.

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    The B110 looks a lot like any other city bus on the outside — with a lit-up sign broadcasting its official route number.

    Inside, however, is like taking a trip to the pre-Civil Rights era South.

    “That’s reserved for men,” the bus driver told a female Post reporter when asked if she could sit in the front rows.

    Signs written in Hebrew and English direct women to use the back door during busy times.

    Full story at The NY Post


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    31 Comments
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    Gefilte Fish
    Gefilte Fish
    12 years ago

    Typical mock journalism, who’s rights is this reporter trying to protect? The clientele of this but wants it this way, men and women alike.

    CSLMoish
    CSLMoish
    12 years ago

    Its the people themselves that want it separate. Nobody is forcing this onto women

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    12 years ago

    Shred. You’re so predictable. Even with my eyes closed, (and one hand tied behind my back) I could tell how you will come down on any issue involving Yidden. But your English (Grammar and Spelling) need major improvement. My profile (of you) stands. You are an immigrant of the former Soviet Union. (Nothing wrong with that.) But you were indoctrinated by the communists to hate anything that smells of religion. I think it’s time you discarded those old dogmas and doctrines that are now on the scrap heap of history. (I’m not judging on the issue, just commenting on Shred’s reflexive reaction to issues.)

    12 years ago

    This bus route is absolutely the worst. The reporter forgot to mention that even when your pushing a stroller, and have kids on your arms (which most of us do) we have to STAND in the back with kids while they get to sit. How about the men should stand int he back, while women and children sit??? I am not even going to mention that the fair isnt cheap at all…

    Meshigah
    Meshigah
    12 years ago

    I am right now on the bus # 523 1:15 from Boro Park ti Williamsburg and a CBS reporter came ont the bus and in the front between the men and no one said a word she was taking video with a hidden camera that someone sitting next to her saw, when the bus turned onto Ft. Hamilton she looked lost so sombody asked her if she is on the right bus she said yes, than a person told her that women sit in the back so she stood up to ask the driver but the driver said it does not matter so she said shr wants to get off, she got off at Ft Hamilton and New utrecht, Good Luck Yankel Mermelstein don’t be affraid of these trouble makers its only maaseh suten.
    A Git Kvitel

    Meshigah
    Meshigah
    12 years ago

    If a gentile will board such a bus someone will explaine the Jewish custom and ask to please sit in the womens section, nobody ever forces anyone.

    Reb Yid
    Reb Yid
    12 years ago

    It’s interesting that in the above photo, a woman is either boarding or alighting using the front door.

    Yisroel
    Yisroel
    12 years ago

    If the people who ride the bus agree to ride this way then it is perfectly ok. There is no one forcing anyone to ride in the front or the back of the bus. This policy is strickly voluntary, therefore there shouldn’t be any problem with this. The goverment is trying to make an issue of a non-issue, to save people who do not want to be saved, to fight a war where there is no conflict. There is no need to waste our tax money by investigating this bus.

    ShatzMatz
    ShatzMatz
    12 years ago

    it doesn’t matter if you agree to this practice or not, the fact is that this route is subsidized with taxpayer money and runs an official franchise route. It is most likely illegal. The only way to get around this is if it is not the official compant policy but rather the passengers do it voluntarily. if that is the the case then if a female reporter gets on and sits in the front no one could tell her a word. (yeah, like that will happen.)

    In the end they might have to institute a private line without goverment money. Perhaps run as a non-profit with support from members of the community.

    Mark Levin
    Mark Levin
    12 years ago

    It looks like ‘any other city bus.’ Really?!?!? From which city & what year?? Certainly NOT NYC and not in the last hundred years either! If they have any problems they should just go back to being private and zeh hu.

    As for the moyser, (s)he should rot in hell!

    mewhoze
    mewhoze
    12 years ago

    as a child i remember going on city busses and i would get up to give my seat to an older person, male or female.
    i wonder if its ok for a 20 yr old man to give his seat to an 80 yr old woman.

    12 years ago

    Let the Feds investigate why the MTA X29 Express Bus frequented by working frum Yidden was axed. AT the same time the X27 and X28 buses catering to Bay Ridge and bensonhurst had more busses added.

    12 years ago

    We are being forced into this! Its enough of the fanatical and insular behavior that has made ultra orthodox Judaism look more like a cult that a religion.

    12 years ago

    as a religious women if a buntch of men ask you to sit in back of the bus you might not feel comfortable to say no. also not everyone agrees that this halacha so i dont think anyone should be going around saying that plus i am certain the signs on the bus are illegal if the bus is runned by the city and i do think in general men have to learn to have more manners and be more polite to woman and shouldnt be sitting or for that matter on a bus if they have a probelm sitting next to a women as rav moshe ruled that it was ok

    lexingtonave
    lexingtonave
    12 years ago

    This is the most insular kind of thinking I have heard of in a very long time and that’s saying something. It is outrageous and unacceptable that a woman must go to the back of the bus and at times missed getting picked up at stops. If a penny of public funding goes into this bus and route the company and driver better be willing to stand up and insist a woman can sit wherever she wants and have the judgement to stop regardless of how full the “women’s section” of the bus is. The is ludicrous and pathetic and highly discriminatory. That the bus company seems to kow tow of the Orthodox community is highly unfortunate. The rules and rights are clear. What’s next? A subway where Orthodox men sit and women stand or don’t enter their section? Unbelievable.

    12 years ago

    I think we’ve exhausted the issue and with one or two exceptions, just about everyone here agrees this “separation effort” is real chillus hashem and will reflect really badly on frum yidden who might have pushed for this outcome. In any event, the City Transit Department has already told the company that chartered the buses that if there is one more incident of such efforts to impose a “voluntary” separation, the charters will be cancelled immediately.

    Robert
    Member
    Robert
    12 years ago

    perhaps women and children should use this bus only
    the men could walk, bicycle, or share a cab etc……
    this approach would be the ultimate respect for the women.

    shtill
    shtill
    12 years ago

    The middle easet has a couple of programs running public transportation in segregation.

    12 years ago

    hi all, Git voch,

    it seems like most of the people who took the afford to comment here are not peope who are using the 110 Bus route.

    99.9 % of the riders are happy the way it was until now, and will only continue using it if it will stay that way,

    this Bus does NOT get any goverment Fundng, yes it is a Public route but thats about it.

    to say it is a Chilul Hashem is Stupid, same like taking off your Yarmelka when you are in a non Jewish Area, its non sense, non Jewish people reapact our Religion,
    its a shame and the biggest Chilil hashem when a Jew is between Goiyim and is trying to be like them, ask them you will find out, they lok down on you, how you embarrass your religion Etc.

    Conclusion:
    i beleive nothing will change, things will cool off, eveyone will go back to job/school and become busy agan:)

    Good night