Muni Blockage Causing Accidents? 03.31.09
I was in a car accident at Laguna & Chestnut earlier today, and I think Muni may have been the cause. Heading South on Laguna, after entering the intersection, a car heading east on Chestnut hit my car. As the bus pulled away, everyone on it stared at me and the other driver. I think it was the 30. The driver of the other vehicle said the stop sign was not visible and admitted fault, but I can’t help but wonder if Muni buses stopping in front of stop signs to load and unload passengers have caused more accidents like this. It was stopped there for a good minute or two. Thoughts?
Trouble with 22s 03.31.09
A few years ago, I was driving home from Fort Mason, taking Fillmore up and over to the Castro. I ended up getting stuck between two 22-Fillmores. I was about a mile away from home, so I wanted to pass at least the rear bus, so I’d be able to pass the next one when it pulled into a bus stop.
At about McAllister, the rear bus was stopped at the beginning of the block, with me still in the intersection. I pulled to the left a bit, and saw that there was no oncoming traffic, and that the front bus was at the far end of the same block, with nothing between it and the rear bus. So I accelerated past the rear bus, which started moving forward as I passed it. No big deal, buses are like that.
But it kept accelerating way more than normal, and it was clear that it was trying to box me out, and I don’t where exactly it expected me to go. I managed to speed up and pass it, with a dozen feet to spare, between the two buses. Then the rear bus gets right up about four feet from my ass and flips on its brights. I’m just sitting there going, “Buh?” I passed it with plenty of room, over a dashed yellow line, so it was perfectly legal and not even particularly aggressive.
Muni Diaries Anniversary Favorite: Visual Rapists, Thieves, and Prada 03.31.09
Today’s installment of our five-part look back on our first year is Eugenia’s favorite diary: “I like it because we see mentally disturbed people on the bus and on the street all the time, and the way we react to them is always so awkward. It feels like nothing you do is right or compassionate, and the way this guy accused the woman of stealing his wallet just really showed the kind of fear that can make you act really…ugly.” Tomorrow we’ll be running Tara’s favorite diary of the year.
Visual Rapists, Thieves, and Prada, by Joe (Originally posted February 19, 2009)
So I’m riding the 6, heading outbound, up Haight Street when i hear this woman having a conversation. She’s young, well-dressed and wearing a pair of dark dark sunglasses. And at first she’s just talking to herself, quietly, saying things like, “I know who you are, I know who you are.” She’s repeating it over and over, rocking from side to side while doing so.
I notice peeps are starting to look around, trying to figure out who she’s talking to, maybe it’s them, maybe it’s herself, it’s tough to say because of those dark glasses. It’s then that the bus makes a stop at Divisadero and a few passengers get on. This guy in a blue button up and navy pants sits in the open seat next to the woman. I see everybody kind of look around at each other, knowing this guy just stepped on a land mine.
The bus driver closes the door and with one big jerk the bus chugs up the hill.
Muni Diaries Anniversary Favorite: Livin’ the dream, for at least one night 03.30.09
Muni Diaries is gearing up to celebrate our first anniversary this Friday. What started out as an idea at SF State has grown into a community of lively transit tales and spirited discussion of our beloved bus system. Below is the first of a series that looks back at our favorite diaries over the last year. Today’s favorite diary was chosen by Jeff: “I love this post because it’s the ultimate tale to be envious of. A lot of us dream of doing the most extraordinary of ordinary things, like driving a cab in NYC or a bus in San Francisco. Tony was fortunate enough to take a stab a that ‘dream,’ and he tells the story like a true master storyteller.” Check back tomorrow for Eugenia’s favorite diary.
Livin’ the dream, for at least one night (originally posted on July 31, 2008)
When I was kid growing up in this burg, I never wanted to be cowboy. I didn’t want to be an astronaut, either, or even a rock star. I kind of wanted to be a baseball player and I was a pretty good pitcher, but not that good. Anyway, what I really wanted to be was a Muni driver.
Bus Art Dispatch from The New York Times 03.30.09
The Sunday New York Times yesterday had a great op-ed (or “op-art” as they called it) by Miranda Purves and artist Jason Logan. The pic above is a snippet of the drawings they created by spending a lot of time on buses and subways that may be cut back after an MTA vote to reduce funding. Here, Purves explains why they created the project:
Both Jason and I have always been drawn to this phenomenon of people, behaving for the most part civilly, getting from here to there, side by side. And we wanted to find some way to convey the less tangible costs of service cuts and fare hikes.
I too am drawn to the transit-riding experience for this very same reason – the phenomenon of a group of people who otherwise may never encounter one another, sitting together and having a shared experience. Next time I am on a not-so-crowded bus I will draw up a similar diagram to see what I find! (It’d be near suicide to try to draw up something like this on a packed bus like the morning 38Ls…)
Who are some regulars on your bus? (And, wanna send us your own bus art?)
F: Rude but Hilarious 03.29.09
This is something I’ve never experienced before, a funny operator on an F that’s also obnoxious and rude at the same time (well, maybe there were several occasions before, but this is a first for me).
So I was riding the F, heading downtown from Fisherman’s Wharf, jam-packed as usual, but I’ve never ridden the F during the rush hour.
As we approached Pier 39, the operator said:
Clear the back door, I’m letting them both in. Well, obviously we can’t fit everyone on, so if you’re claustrophobic, don’t bother getting on, there are two more cars coming behind me, feel free to catch those cars too.
Windowless on the 9X 03.27.09
Getting on the 9X today at Balboa Park and moving to back, I noticed that a side window had been removed and placed on the seat next to it. The gentleman shown here greatly enjoyed this unusual situation and made full use of it, frequently spitting on the parked cars the bus was passing along Geneva Ave.
A short while after this picture was taken, a colleague joined him. Upon discovering that the window was occupying a perfectly good seat, without hesitation he picked it up and threw it out of the bus, then sat down to continue his rapport with his friend.
Also note the amount of trash on the floor, a usual sight on buses around the Balboa Park area.
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Weekend Photo Diary: In need of a manicure on Muni Metro? 03.27.09
It’s supposed to be gorgeous in these parts all weekend. Seriously, get away from the computer after you fully take in the beauty of the image above.
Photo by Crispyprawns from the Muni Photos Flickr pool.
Breastfeeding on Muni 03.27.09
This photo came to us via Jon Snyder – “First time I’ve seen breastfeeding on the J,” so here’s a photo Jon took with his iPhone.
I know people have strong feelings about breastfeeding – whether to do it, how long to breastfeed your child, and of course, is it ok to do it in public?
Muni accident at Fourth and Townsend? (Update) 03.26.09
Update: SFMTA’s Twitter alias informs us, via Via @SFMuniRy, it seems someone fell trying to alight from or get on a coach. No real ‘info’ though.
Original post: shannonk from Twitter alerted us, indirectly, to this incident at Fourth and Townsend today. Now SFMuniRy is on the case. According to them, the incident involves a Muni coach and a pedestrian. Ouch.
Here are @shannonk‘s tweets:
no idea if the bus hit the guy, or he just collapsed near or in the bus and was subsequently moved.
Muni bus stopped w/firetruck in front of it, guy under it, close to front wheels. Did not see the initial event, though.
Hmmm. Folks taking cell pics of Muni crash victim @ 4th and Townsen: citizen journalism or creepy exploitation?
If you’ve got details or saw the incident, let us (and the SFPD) know.
Ride Muni like a boss. Our Fast Pass Clipper card holders and Muni Diaries T-shirts are all on sale 
