In Case of a Transit Strike

Last I heard, New York's transit union has been threatening a strike. If there is a strike, I plan to telecommute (although switching from one program to another by remote control is a bit slow even with a cable modem). I've wondered about some other people's reaction.

For example, what if a strike is called and, as a bus is returning to the depot, some of the passengers refuse to leave? What if the passengers commandeer the buses? After all, just a few months ago, a New Orleans passenger drove a bus to safety while the city government was doing nothing.

Lockouts are a common response to strikes. What if we had an anti-lockout? What if the bus depots were unlocked and any passenger who wanted could come in and start driving? (Taking the bus out of the city would be a no-no. Besides, it's hard to sell a bus on the black market.) This is the age of “a pack, not a herd.”