CASE STUDY - THE GIRL ON THE BUS

Joe was already on the bus traveling north on his hour and a half (one-way) daily commute. Just after boarding the bus, he noticed an attractive 27-year-old woman enter the bus, breathing heavily because she had been hurrying. She was wearing attractive modern clothing, with an expensive denim jacket and her sun glasses were high on her forehead, actually in her hair. "Does this bus go to Salt Lake?" she asked. Yes, it does. "Boy, am I glad, I wasn't sure where to catch it. Just let me sit down and I'll get the money."

We went on for about a mile when she said, "Oh, is the fare two dollars? I only have one dollar." The bus driver paused, but as was the custom when travelers don't have the premium fare instead of the standard fare, the driver let the passengers talk their way into continuing, "maybe I could just bring another dollar the next time I need a ride." We continued.

About twenty minutes later, another rider got on. She was probably twenty-four-years-old, but looked eighteen. She was very thin, dressed in a mini skirt, short blond hair and no shoes, and most conspicuously, an attitude. As she passed the driver she flashed a bus pass. "this is a premium bus it'll cost you and extra dollar to ride." "I don't have it." Well then, you'll have to get off. "you mother--------, this is a f-------pass that lets me ride any bus I want all f------------ day. You got a problem with that you big fat b-------------." The bus and all the passengers waited perfectly still and silent. The young passenger created another paragraph, even more colorful than the first. The driver remained firm, "You can't ride the bus." She exited in the midst of blue, purple and green language. We drove on.

1.      What made the difference between the two responses from the driver over the same problem? Should it have?

2.      What would you have done if you were the driver in the first case? In the second?

3.      Should Joe have intervened? Would you have?

4.      What should have happened if the second passenger hadn't voluntarily left? What are the issues?

5.      Is it a moral dilemma or just a hard decision?