Dear John 02.17.09
As with a number of interpersonal issues, writing a letter (with the optional step of posting it on the internet) can be a productive outlet to air one’s grievances. So …
Dearest Singing Guy on the 49 (Bus 7020),
You’re an asshat. But unlike a long line of asshats before you, you at least seem to know it.
I got on around 8 p.m. at Van Ness/Otis, that janky excuse for a block with Power Exchange on it. I only rode until 20th Street, but you actually managed to sing the whole time. But I guess god explicitly forbade you from singing something good, or even bad in a fun way. Whatever it was sounded like something my nephew would find on Barney. While you seem to be at or around the same developmental level as him (my nephew, not Barney. Well, actually…) you still looked closer to 30 than to 3. Unacceptable.
Muni Mani-Pedi (Say It Three Times!) 02.16.09
Our very own Suzanne was trolling Flickr getting our Muni photo pool together and found this other captivating Flickr Group Pool: Muni Mani-Pedi. It is, very much so, what it sounds like — photos of people snip-snapping away, and probably subsequently depositing their clippings for the rest of us to relish.
If you’ve captured photos or (even barfier) videos of this strange but much-too-frequent phenomenon, send them to us and the Flickr group.
A Home for Muni Photography 02.16.09
Check out our Flickr group devoted entirely to Muni photography.
We can’t promise that every picture is worth a thousand words, but they do tell stories. Much like the collective tales and observations in Muni Diaries, these Muni photos weave together the culture and state of our public transportation.
If you use Flickr, feel free to also add your Muni- or BART-related photos. The group is open to the public! We may occasionally post some of the more striking images here on Muni Diaries as well.
Photo by Flickr user Automatt (click image to enlarge)
If this were Europe, this guy would be ticketed 02.16.09
I have never been more embarrassed in my life than when I was chided, scorned, and assumingly cussed out (auf Deutsch) while traveling by train in Germany for putting my feet up on the seat in front of me. I guess it’s a law there.
Oh, I am so cultured.
F accident 02.14.09
Allan at Mission Mission alerts us to an accident involving the F bumping into a car. No word on what happened, or even when (the Tumblr post says February 13), but ouch … it hit someone’s ZipCar.
Anyone out there have details? Bailey Genine?
Don’t piss off the Pregnant Lady 02.13.09
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Pregnancy is making me mean
Today the muni was crowded. I had to wait forever for the L. I had the smarts to take whatever train to West P. and then wait for the L so most of the train ride wasn’t so bad. However, when I got on the L it was super crowded. I unbuttoned my jacket, stuck my pregnant belly out as far as I could and no one gave me a seat. In fact, most of the other Sunset residents on the train closed their eyes and pretended I wasn’t there.
I decided to choose a target.
I saw a 20 year old girl who I thought had a strong back and should give me her seat. I stood right beside her and stared at her. I didn’t take my eyes off of her. Then she turned up her ipod and closed her eyes. I moved closer to the point where everytime the train jerked, my belly hit her shoulder. I wish it would have hit her head, but my belly isn’t that big yet. Then I got a seat, perpendicular to her. I positioned my feet and my backpack so she had to really squirm to get out of her seat. When she did, I moved my foot a little bit and tripped her. She didn’t fall. She just stumbled for half a second. After I did it, I didn’t exactly feel bad, but I did notice how mean pregnancy is making me. Does this make me a bad person?
Please love back 02.13.09
As I rode the 10 this evening back to the financial district from my outpost near Fisherman’s Wharf I had time to stew some more about the driver with a death wish I had encountered two days in a row.
Yesterday three co-workers and I waited for a 10 on Front Street after attending a meeting downtown. Two buses were stacked at a red light. After a few moments the second one approached the intersection. It was our 10, but the driver did not open the doors. I tapped on the window. He grudgingly allowed us in but launched into a lengthy tirade about having had to stop twice. From my seat in the middle of the bus I yelled back “Let it go!”
Pulling out the flask on the 5 (and other bus boozing) 02.13.09
I’ve noticed a lot more substance abuse on Muni lately. I’m not talking about the teenagers smoking pot or even drunk USF frat boys on a Friday night. I’m talking about morning and evening rush hour, regular-looking adults boozing it up on the bus. It started a few weeks ago on my evening commute home on the 5. This late-twenties-looking redheaded guy in hipster work attire busted out a flask. Now, since a flask is classier than a brown bag and it was the evening I guess he can be excused. I know I enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner. Maybe he was just getting a head start.
Then last week the morning substance abuse started to appear. I was on the 30 heading down to SoMa. Sitting across from me was a perfectly upstanding-looking, 50-something man who appeared to be on his way to work. Then what did he pull from his messenger bag, not an iPhone or a muffin, but a wine cooler. A fuzzy navel, bright orange, enjoyed by 18-year-old girls, wine cooler. At first I was unsure what it was, since I don’t think I’ve seen a wine cooler in 6 years, but it was Bartels and James in its full glory. He meticulously wrapped a paper towel around it and began sipping away. When I relayed the story to a co-worker, she responded quickly, “It’s the economy, he probably doesn’t have a job.” I can’t say I agreed at the time, if I didn’t have a job and I had a drinking problem I would be in bed on Tuesday morning at 9 a.m., but I’ve never been a morning person.
Really? Do you have to do that on the bus? 02.13.09
I live on Haight and take one of the 6-7-71 triumvirate every day to and from work in the FiDi. I’m usually pretty satisfied with the other riders as they’re often 9-5′ers like me who just want to get to work/home without any hassle. In the interest of self defense, I’d like to point out that I am normally pretty tolerant of the less savory types who like to board the bus and, say, open a beer, spraying me in the process, and then pour some of the excess foam on the floor.
This leads me to Wednesday’s ride. I had just had a painful dental procedure performed and was not in the most charitable of moods. I got on at Third Street. After glowering at an Edge Hog by the back door, I grabbed a seat a few rows behind her. Enter Gangsta Sunflower Seed Eater. This high school-age Asian guy methodically pulled one sunflower seed after another out of his little pouch, chewed each for a few minutes, and then SPIT THE SEEDS OUT ON THE FLOOR. By the time I got off at Divisadero, there was a disgusting little halo of shells surrounding him.
Transit News Digest 2.12.09 02.12.09
From The Atlantic‘s Politics blog, Marc Ambinder has a breakdown of stimulus spending numbers, including $8.4 billion for pubtran and $9.3 for rail. Nice work, senators and representatives.
TPM’s Elana Schor has some blind love for Joe Biden, whom she credits for re-jacking up the final pubtran amount in the stimulus bill that’s inching its way toward the desk of President Obama (that still sounds sweet on the ears).
Closer to home, Streetsblog sums up Wednesday’s MTC meeting, during which a preliminary allocation of stimulus transportation funds was sketched out. SFMTA’s portion of the pie looks pretty darn good to us.
Greg Dewar offers a quick hit on a story about the makers of those spiffy Muni Metro cars.
And the crack team at ABC7 has a report, from today, of a group of protesters who’ve taken over a BART board meeting. Things is ugly over there.
Please let us know what we missed …
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