Greyhound Endangered the Welfare of Passengers

Although it makes me sad to see homeless people about, I can
understand how untenable this experience must have been. A tramp got
on the underground in Vienna once and his odour gradually permeated
the train and once it got to me I could hardly breathe. I was SO
relieved that I reached my stop shortly afterwards, it was TERRIBLE!
Therefore it can cause serious discomfort.

In this situation I would have said something to the driver to try to
find a solution. I do not think I would have asked for a refund,
however.

Apparently Dionne doesn't think a homeless person is a human being
too. That homeless man had the same right you had to be on that bus.
You are a very cold-hearted person.

How was your life put in danger? Not all homeless people are
dangerous. Granted your trip might have been a bit uncomfortable, but
you chose to go Greyhound instead of American airlines first class.
Greyhound owes you nothing.

Lady, whether you like it or not, homeless people are people and are
entitled to be treated with the same respect as their fellow human
beings--like you, for example. You seem upset that you had to share
space with a homeless man. If Greyhound gave him a seat he has all the
rights and privileges that you do on that bus. Kind of freaks you out,
huh? BTW, how did you know he was homeless? Plenty of stinky,
ill-kempt people have homes and families somewhere.

You also imply that this fellow human being posed a safety issue. Kind
of a stretch, don't you think? I mean it's like saying that you are a
security threat because you are a cranky entitlement queen and might
explode in rage putting the driver under duress. Or you might wear too
much Eau de Privilege and sicken others with your unique perfume.
Forget about quoting stats that many homeless are mentally ill--I
agree with that *but* mental illness =\= unsafe. Besides there are
plenty of us mentally ill folks who run around unsupervised but
showered.

Stinky air hurt the people at Love Canal. Not you. Also, I think a
Greyhound driver has a permanent place on the universal "been
there/seen that" list. So just stick a kleenex up you nose and Peace
on Earth, Good Will Toward Men in this season of the celegration of
our shared humanity.

I agree with you. Slightly.
I do not think that you were in severe danger, the driver is a
professional and is most likely used to strange things like the
homeless.

However, if the smell was as strong as you describe, this person
should not have been on the bus.

If they do not have a policy regarding this issue, they should. People
with poor hygiene detrimental to the comfort of other passengers
should not be permitted to ride.

I used to ride Greyhound.

I haven't in a long time, but back when I was riding there were always
people with strong odors on board. That's kind of the nature of
travel by a slow enough method that some people are sitting there for
hours and hours with only very brief breaks to clean up in public
restrooms.

I also recall that it was a potentially social time: I could learn a
lot about those smelly strangers, and they could learn a lot about
smelly me. I remember one time sitting near a woman who had taken her
kids and left an abusive husband -- and also near two other women who
had left abusive relationships some time before. It was one of the
most thought-provoking discussions I've ever had.

Of course, there was the time the white supremacist sat next to me and
wanted to discuss our shared heritage in the master race. That was a
little bit scary and extremely unpleasant. And nobody else on the bus
liked me after word of what the guy was saying got around.

But overall, even with the odors, I recall Greyhound as a mode of
transportation where you could meet cool people. Some of whom could
have used a shower.

"Refund my money/and or provide a travel voucher for this schedule. -
DC - NY to be used at any time. And review your policy in regards to
this procedure."

When all is settled and done you are still wanting a free bus ride
because you had to endure a smelly homeless person who evidently had
his ticket paid for to (no matter who paid for it).

While I can sympathize it hardly endangered your welfare by any means.
And if you thought so highly that it did, why you did not ask once you
reached your destination for the free ticket?

How do you know the driver was under duress? (That's a good one.)

How do you know how duress would affect how the driver operated the
bus--that particular driver?

You're just trying to get a freebie--and this is one of the LAMEST
attempts I have EVER seen!

Being pregnant the slightest bad scent throws me off. While being in
the situation that you were is no fun, if he paid to be on the bus
then he has the same rights as you do.
If you didn't like it, was there not another bus that you could have
taken (I would assume since NYC is a VERY popular)
What I would have done, was not taken the bus, spoken with Greyhound
to try and either get on another bus, or get a refund. If I got a
refund I would then proceed to try and take the train there.

Can I just say, for the record, that I am embarassed to live in the
same state as someone who posts this drivel?

"Why would your company subject a captive audience to such discomfort
on any schedule much less an overnight schedule where customers
need/want to rest and be comfortable." It's not all about you all the
time. Walk a mile in this guy's shoes and sleep on a bench or in a
homeless shelter before you criticize.

If Greyhound did give this guy a seat to get him to NYC, I thank you
for your act of kindness and charity. This OP could learn a lot from
you.

In any group of people, there are going to be some with an attitude
like this. But having a heartfelt do-gooder's attitude toward the
homeless doesn't really do them any good either. You have to actually
do something.
I have a friend who does. And since I've gone with him and groups of
high school students to distribute food and clothing to the homeless
in NYC, as a monitor, there are a few things people seem to be
forgetting here that need mentioning.
When we distributed food, we never used the same paper soup bowls
twice. We never allowed the students any physical contact whatsoever.
We never gave money, only food and clothing. We never allowed the
students to be any significant distance from the monitors and
especially not out of sight. The reason? Behavioral problems are much
more pronounced in the homeless, and sickness is rampant.
Do what you can. But don't forget, there is a documented risk in
being around them. Be human, but careful and you can help them without
harming yourself. The best success story is, that one of them married
one of the assistants, they now have a happy family, and he has become
director of the group. Wow!

Dionne,
First count yourself blessed you are not homeless. Secondly, stop
behaving as if you were aboard a private jet, sipping champagne, and
nibbling on brie. You were on a greyhound bus, anyone with a ticket
has just as much right to be there as you! If you have a problem with
a particular member of the "captive audience" (huh!) there is a simple
solution...Get Off!

Sounds to me like your attitude is what stinks the most.

If it bothers you so bad, next time open the window! Obviously you
care about nobody but yourself, so why would you care if other riders
are cold? Either that, or GET OFF!!

I thought i saw some pretty mean-spirited letters in my day, but this
one actually disgusts me.

Dionne, you should count your lucky stars that you didn't end up
homeless. Do you have any idea what its like to wait in line at a
shelter, be denied because all the beds are taken (which, is almost
every night.) and have to sleep under an awning to a building? Or to
live under 2 umbrellas propped up against a picnic bench in front of
rite aid, having such severe schizophrenia that you think that any
passer byers are the CIA coming to arrest you?

Yes, sitting on a bus with a homeless guy is SO much worse.

oh, and happy holidays.

Did you think that your letter would not invoke daggers and knives
thrust into your back? Because if you didn't, you were sure wrong.
Your letter is ripe for attack. And oh, how they love to attack on
this forum. Myself included when it's warranted. And all of US can
justify anything, now can't we!

Okay....I don't blame you. No one needs to smell another persons body
odor. But I seriously doubt the folks at Greyhound really screen for
that type of thing. It's the bus for Christ sakes. Try another form
of transporation next time. As for your safety, I'm sure your bus
driver has smelled this or worse before, so your life was not in
danger. Drama Queen! That wasn't necesssary or your assinine request
for refunds, etc. Pull your head out.

You are now considered a heartless person because you did this around
Christmas time and some other folks on this site think that Jesus was
a homeless person. He wasn't a homeless person, but since you implied
that person on the bus was (never assume), you are now hate bait for
any future posts. Beware!

Peace!

Until recently, I dated a wonderful guy for four years. Three months
after we started dating, it was February (brrr) in Minneapolis and he
was approached by a man appearing to be homeless with a sob story as
to why he needed some money (the made-up stories get to be identical
after a while). My guy handed $20 over. I asked him later, "Why do
you always give homeless people money?"

Boyfriend: "Because my mother was homeless."

His mother, an incredibly intelligent, vibrant, social woman, was hit
by a car. He was living far away with his father at the time and was
a minor, so he couldn't do much to help her. She was left with a
brain injury and unable to work. She had neurological problems and
ended up homeless. On Valentine's Day one year, still homeless, she
was raped and stabbed to death. Her murder was never solved.

There but for the grace of God go ALL OF US. Including you, Dionne.
Although I dare say, I've had encounters with indigent people,
including some stinky ones, whom I'd much rather share a bus with than
you.

I don't usually do this (or, really, ever at all), but considering
what time of year it is and how much people are screaming at the top
of their lungs on this site about how retailers are taking Christ out
of Christmas by not specifically acknowledging the holiday, the truth
of the matter is that what you are writing about is what's really the
problem.

Considering that, I'm sharing something with you that someone once
tried to share with me; something that seems somewhat appropriate,
given the situation. You can take it anyway you please; as an analogy,
as a parable, or even as the literal truth. But however you choose to
interpret it, I would hope that you learn something from it.

"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all
the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from
another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set
the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King
will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father,
inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you
gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you
clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you
came to me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see
you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did
we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'

"The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as
you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to
me.' Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me,
you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and
his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I
was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you
didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in
prison, and you didn't visit me.'

"Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you
hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,
and didn't help you?'

"Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you,
inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't
do it to me.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 25:31-46

As a veteran of the NYC subway system, I've often shared my ride with
the homeless. Instead of disdain, I try to use the approach of "there
but for the grace of (insert deity here) go I.

If you are going to use any kind of public transportation, be it
train, plane or bus, you have to accept the fact that you will be
riding with all sorts of different people. If you don't like it, buy
or rent a car to drive to NY. Then you can control who your fellow
passengers will be.

Some people are more sensitive to smells than others. I wouldn't blame
the bus company for my olfactory sensitivity, but I know I would have
difficulty being in a room with someone who hasn't showered and it
would be up to me to move or hope the other person is aware of
themselves and doing the best they can. That's all you can hope for
but they have the right to take the bus if they have the money.

Also you don't know for sure they are homeless, they could work a
night job in a dirty job and have no other means of transportation.
They could be homeless, but maybe not. Many homeless people cannot
afford a house to shower in, but they are paying for a gym membership
($30-$50 month) and living elsewhere but it affords them a daily
workout, swim, social life and shower without anyone else being the
wiser to it. You just can't label someone homeless without truly
knowing.

Tizz the season to care only of yourself if you're stuck up snob like
this person.

You must be one of the dumbest, maybe even the dumbest human being I
have ever come across. What a shame to be you!!!! Do you think that
"homeless" man (needless to say you don't know for sure if he was
homeless) has a way of taking a bath as often as you do? Shame on
you. Yes, I am not saying that it is easy seating next to someone who
doesn't necessarily shower, but who are you to say anything? And if I
was working for greyhound, I put my foot up your ass for being so
dumb. If the man paid for his ticket, he has just as much right as you
do. Maybe from now on they shouldn't let idiots like you ride the
bus. Get a f*ing life!

How does having a homeless man on the bus "endanger" anyone's
welfare?

You have a lot of nerve judging someone because of their homeless
status.

This falls under the category of complaints that I hope is a joke.
Although honestly, this is a really sick joke if it is one. My first
thought is that you saw that Greyhound allowed someone to enter the
bus that looked like they could be homeless (whether they were or not)
and you then exaggerated the presence of a smell. Even if the whole
bus stunk though, there is no excuse for complaining about this. Show
some compassion.

I doubt it actually endangered the welfare of anyone; however, I do
agree that if I am paying for a bus ticket them I should NOT have to
smell someone else's BO. Do not listen to the other people posting.

If someone is not able to do the basic function of taking a f'ing
bath, then keep them out of public and the heck away from me.

The more "Dionne's" of the world I encounter, the more I love my dog.


The sad irony is, next week a lot of people (probably including
Dionne) will celebrate the birth and life of a homeless man.

I know that on airplanes (maybe not ALL airlines) they do not allow
offensive body odor patrons fly without cleaning themselves up at
least a little before they board. Since when are Greyhound bus riders
considered on an any less "tier" than the airplane riders? If
Greyhound had refused to clean the toilet on the bus and it was
smelly through the whole ride would the comments on this letter have
been different? Why?

This is a joke, right?

First of all, if that man paid, or someone paid for, his ticket on
that bus, neither you, nor anyone else has the right to deny him
that,no matter how offensive he smelled. Even if Greyhound gave him a
free ride as a gesture of goodwill, it doesn't make him any less
worthy to be on that bus than you.

Secondly your ridiculous dramatization,culminating in a gratuitous
"gimme grab" are an insult and embarrassment to the human race during
this holiday season.

For your sake, Ebenezer, I hope you learn a valuable lesson from this
experience.

How do you know he was homeless? But I'll grant you, you're quite
likely right, and perhaps Greyhound was taking him somewhere for free
as an act of kindness, showing a generosity of spirit that is sadly
lacking in your letter. Poor you - you had to smell something
unpleasant for four hours. I wonder where that man is sleeping
tonight? If he got anything to eat? If he has anyone who gives a dam
about what happens to him?

Kind of puts your problem in perspective, no?

Happy holidays, Dionne.

Come on. It's a greyhound bus. You are going to have to deal with
stinky people. You get what you pay for.

I suppose I am endangered everytime I walk into a department store,
with all those hussy's spraying perfume! I get a head ache and sick to
my stomach each time I am dumb enough to enter through a department
store entrance vs the mall entrance.


Dumb letter. You were on a freaking Grayhound, what more do you
expect? If this man can drive during torrential downpours, snow
blizzards, extreame heat then I think a stinky man would not hinder
him a bit.

They should have stuck you in the baggage compartment under the bus to
freeze you butt off. There the only smells you would have experienced
were that of the diesel fuel.

How's that for a comment you morons!! Satisfied that I lowered myself
to your gutter spit IQ's now!

My sympathies are with the poor man you describe so callously. Yes it
sucks to be trapped in close quarters with someone whose hygeine is
poor, but just imagine how much worse it was for that man who very
well may have had nowhere to go to bathe, eat, or sleep. I hope
things improve for him, whoever he is, and I hope you get a little
compassion this holiday season.

I wonder if you are thinking about the comfort of that homeless man
tonight, as temperatures in the NY area dip into the 20's.

{{{{Whacks you upside the head with Tiny Tim's crutch}}}}

BAH HUMBUG to you I say!

YOU should be ashamed of yourself. Who says it was the homeless man
who smelt.. and not someone more near you?????

It is ironic that you wrote this letter around Christmas and the time
of an ice storm in the DC to NYC area.

Your lack of compassion is breathtaking. I hope Santa leaves a small
bag of coal in your stocking. Not large, because energy is
expensive.

Merry Christmas to all the homeless people out there. This letter
makes me want to go volunteer at a shelter.

I wonder if they send out post it notes at the Mental Hospital for
bored patients to go practice writing letters on PFB. This is just a
sad excuse for a letter

Oh my god, a homeless man?! How did you ever survive the smell
radiating from that sorry excuse of a human?

It is a shame that Greyhound provided a service to all people
regardless of what kind of offensive odors they carried with them.
Hopefully they will change their policy. All passengers must maintain
a non-offensive smell to ride this bus. You may not smell like: feces,
urine, alcohol, perfume, body odor or anything that may be deemed
offensive by any persons. As a precaution, no homeless person may use
our services and all services may be denied if you happen to pass
gas.

In all seriousness, that man was not endangering the welfare of anyone
simply by his smell. If you are uncomfortable with the possibility of
having to deal with a poor homeless mans conditions on public
transportation then maybe that just isn't for you. Next time drive
yourself or hire a driver, instead of making a big stink about it.

I really hope there is no compensation for your "inconvenience" or you
lack of compassion for this man.

Before I worked up the courage to fly, I had to take greyhound from N.
Virginia to S. Texas, which is almost a 48 hour trip. A handful of
people were going in the same direction and were on the same buses. By
the end of the trip, I am sure that they smelled like that homeless
man. I am positive that I did. Could you believe that our drivers just
fought through the smell and got us all to our destination safely?
Those greyhound drivers are pretty hardcore.

Duress? Thanks for the laugh.

Dionne,

Even if this was not the Season of Compassion and Good Tidings to your
fellow man I'd still be shaking my head.

Your reference to this human being in the terms of a "horrible smell"
is beyond repugnant.

If you felt so committed to your feelings and what you think you
deserve you should have shared it with the Terminal Manager upon your
arrival.

Stop back and let us know what the company says.

BillR.

"hurt to breathe"?
"endangered our welfare"?

I don't think so - - we're talking about Greyhound here - - and your
request for a refund or travel voucher is unreasonable and
over-the-top. You got where you were going safely, right? Contract
complete.

Smelly guy on a Greyhound Bus? NO!!!! In other news: Dog Bites Man.

Under duress? Ok, no.