Speaking from a hypocondriach’s point of view, I know for a fact I would have acted in such a fashion. I’m paranoid about stuff like that and I can imagine the most horrific symptoms. I’m sure that I would have thrown myself into convulsions had I been on that bus. *lol*

But when the driver gets sick, after being threatened, and the bus *has* to stop, people get a chance to stop and think. Not that bus drivers never get sick, or threatened - but both together, along with an unknown (albeit harmless) suspicious entity is enough to turn anyone’s mind (and stomach) toward panic.

Think of it this way, a bus (especially a BLine) is full of people going places. They’re concerned with getting where they’re going. They’re focused on their jobs, school, appointments, etc.. That seems like completely the wrong pot for brewing mass halucinations/hysteria/anxiety/whatever you wanna call it.

The other day someone puked on the 98 BLine and while people were grossed out there was almost a unanimous desire for the bus to continue its route. All of the passengers were upset that the bus was pulled off of the route (this was 2 days before the “poisoning” incident) for cleanup as the bus driver insisted that it was a “biohazard”.