Creative punishment for fare-jumping? 04.30.09
I don’t know about you, but I can appreciate a certain level of honesty with some things, including breaking the law. Especially if you get caught. (“Ah. Yes, officer, I know how fast I was going. Very fast, indeed”.) By the same token, I also appreciate subtle, off-script ways of punishing people for doing so.
Fare jumpers often seem more nonchalant than anything else. They keep their heads down as they wrench those back doors open by their fingernails, and generally don’t say much or cause a ruckus while they’re trying not to get squished in the doorway.
This gal on a 10-Townsend one afternoon put them all to shame.
Playboys and Boys Playing … 04.30.09
Ok, so apparently it’s Gross on BART week, although I don’t remember seeing a press release. (Sorry, I didn’t snap any pictures).
On the way home yesterday, this guy with a beard and baseball cap was reading Playboy on BART. A group of middle-aged women, noticing this, got up quickly and scattered like he was contagious or something. One of them said, quite loudly, “I GUESS HE’S READING IT FOR THE ARTICLES.”
Bearded guy, clearly only slightly embarrassed, folded the magazine cover over and continued to look at it.
But what I saw this morning will stick with me for a month, at least.
Photo Diary — It’s Nap Time 04.28.09
From Muni rider Chris:
“Here is a photo of a Muni driver taking a nap at the corner of Church and 18th. Is there an event at that park every Sunday, or do I just happen to wander around that neighborhood at the oddest times?”
Be the eyes, ears, and storytellers of Muni Diaries. Send us your stories and media through our submissions form or Muni Diaries email.
Muni Rat Lady Unmasked! 04.27.09
I was walking down Market to see Sunday Streets (too late, apparently) and I saw the Rat Lady who’s been terrorizing the rodent-phobic on certain Muni lines.
She was standing near the bus exit point on Market and Fremont (with rats in Tupperware containers, of course) and I managed to snap a (blurry) shot:
Muni Diaries Live: Riders With Drinks at the Make-Out Room! 04.27.09
Did you know Muni Diaries is best enjoyed with a live audience, accompanied by a beer or cocktail? Come join us for Muni Diaries’ first ever Riders With Drinks event at the Make-Out Room on Friday, June 12.
In the fine tradition of spoken word, your fellow Muni riders will read their stories, recite Muni-related haikus, re-enact some funny Muni scenes (finger puppets, anyone?), and everything in between. The idea is to tell Muni stories in whatever form that inspires you, so if you’ve got a Muni tale to share, or music, art, photography, or video inspired by Muni and would like to join the lineup, email us asap!
By the way, we are one of the main events at the Make-Out Room that night, which means our name will be on the big sign outside! Can you tell we’re really excited?
BART Photo Diary — New Lexicon 04.26.09
From Muni rider Chris:
[This] photo was taken on BART. I’ve heard Butt Munch before, but Penis Munch? What’s next, Vagina Munch? Actually, that sounds like something one might find at Walgreens. “Hey, gimme some of that Vagina Munch!”
See something eye-popping or thought-provoking on BART or Muni? Send it to the Muni Diaries email account.
Muni in the Movies: La Mission 04.25.09
The San Francisco International Film Festival opened this year with La Mission, filmed in and about the Mission District. Directed by Peter Bratt, it centers around Che (Benjamin Bratt), a single father, lowrider car aficionado, and hot Muni bus driver.
The opening shot swoons into the city from an aerial view and into the gritty corner of 16th and Mission, where lo and behold the 14-Mission bus pulls up with our hero at the wheel. He tells people to step it up and move on back. Che is immediately lovable. I hate it when people get on Muni like confused, drugged snails. Che then tells everyone to get along “because we’re all neighbors” and closes the bus door. Love him!
When teenagers get on with music blasting from a boom box, Che puts an end to it right away. Tattered up, hair slicked back, geared up in Muni brown complete with a tight little vest, Che makes Chuck Norris look like a kitty cat.
I’m not sure if this film will be released in theaters, but if it does, the diverse San Francisco backdrops are enough to make it worth seeing. In a way, the Mission, the Castro, and North Beach all play a role in telling the story. And some endearing scenes take place at the Muni bus depot in Potrero Hill.
Che is far from perfect and he struggles with “a lifetime of destructive habits,” but I for one wouldn’t mind getting on his bus.
Weekend Photo Diary: Was It Really 90° Three Days Ago? 04.24.09
When They Start Serving Tea on the Cable Car 04.24.09
About a week and a half ago, I was riding the California Cable Car, which gets a fair amount of tourists but nothing like its sister on Powell. A man got on around Hyde street with a large black bag. He was sporting, on his head, a dark plain baseball cap. He got in and we began our climb.
The cable car was destined for downtown but with one less passenger. As we got to the top of California street, it naturally got cooler (this is San Francisco). I immediately pulled down my own cap, then looked and saw the wind knock the plain cap off this man’s head and half a block away.
His response to the driver was the most casual thing I’ve heard in a long long time as if the drivers had a special service for this, he said: “Driver, I’ve lost my cap.” The driver stopped the cable car between stops. Then the man said, “Driver, I will be right back.”
The driver explained to the passenger that he needs to keep going. The passenger nodded then exited the bus. The driver began laughing. He looked at me and said, “Can you believe how casual he said that.” “Yeah,” I said. “I was waiting for you to offer him a cup of tea, to go with his assumptions.”
Photo by Flickr user Alkhalifa.imaging
Whether it happened on a cable car, trolley, light-rail, BART train, or at a bus stop, we’re always glad to hear your Muni and BART stories.
Introducing Muni Mind Reader 04.24.09
Allow us to introduce Tiffany Maleshefski, the Amazing Muni Mind Reader! This is the first in our new series where Tiffany will channel the thoughts of a Muni rider directly onto our pages. Ever wonder what your fellow passengers are thinking as we stare at one another during yet another bumpy Muni ride? Tiffany’s got you covered. In today’s installment, Tiffany’s onto that guy who takes up two seats on the bus.
Hey lady,
What do you want from me? I’m a guy. Yeah, a big honkin’ guy, and that’s why I just gotta sit here next to you with my legs spread wide apart because I have this equally big honkin’ mass between my legs. I can see you’re aggravated that my right thigh is on my seat and yours, but what can I do? Get a smaller package? You’ll have to ask god about that one. Trust me, it bothers me too, but at the end of the day, there’s not much I can do about it.
You on the other hand, well, maybe you could go to the gym a little more, or drink one less latte in the morning. If you toned up, maybe you could only take up 3/4 or even 1/2 your seat, allowing me and my boys some breathing room. It can’t possibly bother you that much can it? Me, sitting here at 8:30 in the morning, my leg touching yours. It’s kind of nice, isn’t it? Neighborly almost. I mean, I already kind of stopped noticing I was taking up two seats in the first place. Surely, you’ve forgotten too.
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