new mehadrin bus issue in Ashdod

Ladaat.net is reporting that Ashdod is the front-line of a new "mehadrin bus" battle. Not the type of mehadrin fight we have become accustomed to with men in front and women in back of the bus, but a whole new issue.

Egged has decided to install in their buses in Ashdod special informational screens that will help the deaf passengers get necessary information. Egged has decided that the screens would not be used just for passing on info to passengers, but also to run advertising.

The local haredim are upset about the advertising, calling it secular coercion. They agree that the screens are a blessing in regards to the help provided to the deaf population, but the advertising, they claim, is completely unnecessary. There are screens used in buses in other cities with no advertising, and they say there is no need for it in Ashdod, and there is no need for the advertising revenue.

According to Ladaat, the haredi community has decided to boycott Egged in Ashdod and use the local "tender" services instead. As well, they will only use the taxi services when there is a sticker in the windshield saying the taxi is shomer shabbat and will charge no more than 4NIS per ride.

Consumer boycotts rarely work, but they have the right to do it. I am not sure why the advertising is "secular coercion - perhaps there are immodest images being displayed. It seems out of place for them to decide that Egged has no need for advertising revenue - how do they know how much it pulls in and how much Egged needs for whatever?

And lastly, to set the price for using taxis seems unfair and inappropriate. Perhaps it should depend on the distance being traveled. I would have thought that 4 NIS in Ashdod must be the normal price, but if it is being declared as part of the set of rules, that must not be the case, and they are trying to force the taxi drivers to lower their fares.

If the haredi consumer power gets them to lower their fares, more power to them! We all hate advertising and try to avoid it whenever possible (I know based on how few clicks the advertising on this site get.. :-) )

On the one hand it is simply consumer advocacy. On the other hand , I dislike it all the appearance of trying to take over and run things, especially in the name of religion, even though as consumers they have a right to make requests and see if their muscle flexing works.
If Egged does not cave, and the taxi drivers do not cave, then the local haredim will have to make a choice as they will see they do not have as much influence as they thought they did. If one or the other, or both, do cave, then it is simply consumer advocacy at its best/worst.