Video diary: Catching the Z train 02.12.10
Video by Flickr user Mike Monteiro
We asked a few weeks ago for a show of hands: Who’s fallen asleep on Muni? It’s not like a major confession or anything. Amid the racket and ruckus that often defines our public transit system, some of us (I’d bet a lot more than would admit) doze off from time to time.
Like the fella in the video above. I really love his rocking motion. Even as adults, we’re basically infants. Sweet dreams, merry F passenger.
Recap: MTA Town Hall Meetings 02.11.10
Photo by Whole Wheat Toast
Last Saturday and this last Tuesday, SFMTA held “town hall” meetings to inform the public of upcoming proposed service cuts and fare hikes, as well as to offer the public a chance to give MTA feedback on the cuts and hikes. Here’s a recap of the meetings from the vantage of everyday transit riders who attended:
At Saturday’s meeting:
Julianne Nigro, 22, worried that her commute from Treasure Island, where she works at the nonprofit drug treatment center Walden House, to her home in Potrero Hill would take hours. (Via The Examiner‘s report on the meeting)
and:
Howard Woo, 79, pointed out that while the price of his Muni Fast Pass increases, his social security benefits stay the same.
“Does the director of Muni ever take Muni himself?” Woo asked. “Do they know what we need as a rider? I don’t think so.”
Open Doors on a Moving J-Church 02.11.10
Photo by Flickr user octoferret
Yesterday (Wednesday) morning on the J-Church (train number 1469 B if you want to get really specific) underground between Church and Van Ness, I heard a commotion behind me. I looked up and noticed all of the passengers facing me were looking behind me, eyes wide. Never a good sign on Muni.
I turned around and the rear left door (if you’re facing back towards Church street) was wide open as we cruised through the tunnel at high speed. Right next to the open door, kind of sitting or crouching (it was hard to see), was a boy who looked like he may have Down Syndrome. A man had a hold of him and was trying to pull him back away from the open door. A lady was using the emergency intercom to tell the driver “The door is open! The door is open!” I believe the boy was panicked and unsure of how to react. The man hanging onto him was also gripping a bar in the train to keep himself from falling.
It took about 20 more seconds of cruising and a passenger running up to the front of the train for it to stop. The driver walked back, used his key to manually shut the door, and we proceeded. Meanwhile, people got the boy away from the door.
I place blame squarely on the poor condition of Muni light rail vehicles. The driver reacted as fast as he could and apologized on the intercom. But one day a door will open up, mid-underground cruise, and some unfortunate person will go from bystander to victim.
- Nate
Photo Diary: Bikes on Light Rail 02.10.10
Photo by Flickr user Andy54321
Found this photo, suspiciously dropped to our Muni Photos Flickr group, despite its having been taken in Phoenix. Here’s what Andy54321 has to say about it:
I knew it existed but it’s the first time I’ve seen bikes on an LRV.
A show of (internet) hands: Who’s jealous by this photo?
‘T stands for terrible T line!!!’ 02.10.10
Photo by Troy Holden
Coming on the heels of Tuesday’s Central Subway groundbreaking ceremony, here’s a gripe about another of MTA’s recent new products, the T-Third. Muni rider Frankie has the following to say:
The T Line may be the worst thing Muni has ever planned. Coming home everyday at 5pm waiting at the Carroll station can be maddening! Eight times out of ten, the train takes half an hour to forty minutes at RUSH hour! Some trains will not even stop at Carroll but will stop at Williams. Or some trains in the other direction (on the way to Bayview) will end their destination at Williams and then return downtown. Wasn’t this line suppose to be serving the Hunter’s Point/ Bayview better? This line is only serving the Bayview/Hunter’s Point symbolically. The 15 line is sorely missed. The T-line was a HUGE waste of money. Not to mention how SLOW these trains are as well. Couldn’t some of the N Judah trains continue to Sunnydale as well? SF Muni has ALWAYS been notoriously unreliable and the T-Line is the perfect example. I’m sure I am not the only one who despises the T-line.
So, T-Third riders, let’s hear it: How has Muni’s newest toy fared for you?
Life-threatening injuries in Muni-pedestrian incident (update) 02.09.10
Update (4:55 p.m.) From MTA:
Final Update
As of 4:17 p.m., the scene below has cleared and all Muni buses have returned to their regular routes.
According to San Francisco General Hospital, the pedestrian is in critical condition.
Per normal procedure, the Muni Operator (hired in 2000) involved in the accident has been placed on non-driving status and will be tested for drugs and alcohol.
The investigation by the San Francisco Police Department and the SFMTA is ongoing.
Original post: This just received from MTA:
Muni Service Alert
As of 1:41 p.m., an accident between an outbound (southbound) 9 San Bruno Muni bus and a pedestrian on San Bruno Avenue at Burrows Street is causing the following Muni buses to be re-routed around the accident scene:
9 San Bruno
9L San Bruno Limited
8X Bayshore Express
8AX Bayshore ExpressThe injuries to the female pedestrian are described as life-threatening by the San Francisco Fire Department.
The San Francisco Police Department and the SFMTA are investigating the accident.
We’ll get updates in here as soon as we receive them.
Demagnetizing Issues with TransLink Cards? 02.09.10
Photo by AgentAkit
Muni rider Katy G. asks the following:
I am trying translink for the first time and was wondering if there are any demagnitization issues with the cards. I carry an electronic ID for work, a smart phone and would like to avoid that hassel.
Surely they’ve got to be better than BART cards when it comes to demagnetization. Surely.
Any TransLink cardholders out there care to weigh in?
Share the Sounds of Muni with Street Sounds 02.08.10
Rider Joanna told us about a website called StreetSounds that chronicles the sound landscape of U.S. cities to a “sound map.” You can upload audio clips from your everyday life and download clips from other users. Joanna, who does outreach for the site, also happens to be a public transit fan. “Anyone who lives in San Francisco knows that Muni is a big part of the sonic world here,” she says. In fact, one of her first uploads was a clip recorded from the 21 Hayes, she told us.
StreetSounds is an offshoot of The Smalls, an online “curator” of independent films. StreetSounds says that there will be an independent film competition based on the sounds submitted, so stay tuned for that.
I checked out the site and heard clips of BART swooshing by, a spoon scraping the bottom of a cereal bowl, a sidewalk musician playing keyboard, and boots clicking down Jackson Street. I love the idea of an audio cross-section of the city, sort of like the Muni playlist that we did awhile back. We’ve gotten some great and always unexpected sounds from your daily Muni rides, like a Metallica singalong, mispronounced street names, and a music video incorporating the sound of an articulated 71 bus.
So what are some of your favorite sounds of your life in San Francisco, and aboard Muni? StreetSounds and Muni Diaries want to know!
New form of payment? 02.08.10
Photo by Flickr user foreverdigital. Most likely not the man in the post below but still, youv’e got some respectable balloon animal creations there, Sir.
Ed. Note: Rider Rufus saw some interesting bartering going on last week on the T. This is the second balloon animal—related post that we’ve gotten in the last week or so. Is there a revival that I don’t know about?
Last night I was on the T headed home towards 3rd st at around 10:45 p.m.. This guy gets on with this bag and a bunch of balloon creations. He goes up to the driver’s window and says something I can’t hear because I’m listening to my music.
He goes back to his bag and proceeds to take out a balloon and a pump. In as fast as 40 seconds, the guy made a balloon dog, takes out a marker and gives it a face. He then gives it to the driver and receives a transfer in exchange and goes back to his seat. My only thought was “Only on Muni….”
Sunday FAIL: 22-Fillmore Wheelchair Lift Busts Fire Hydrant 02.08.10
Sunday’s 22-Fillmore accident is like a really bad Rube Goldberg situation. We’ve got a customer falling out of the wheelchair lift, sustaining unknown injuries, then 20 minutes later the bus lurches forward and the wheelchair lift nails a fire hydrant, lifting it off the sidewalk, hitting a Muni inspector, and flooding the area.
From SFMTA’s official statement:
At approximately 5:45 p.m., a customer exiting a 22 Fillmore electric trolley bus fell from the extended wheelchair lift of the vehicle, which was stopped (pointed southbound) on Fillmore Street at Haight Street (the northwest corner).
The customer was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.
At approximately 6:05 p.m., the Muni bus moved forward and the wheelchair lift hit a fire hydrant and sheared it from the sidewalk. The cause of the bus’s movement is under investigation.
The fire hydrant reportedly struck a Muni Inspector who had responded to the incident. The Inspector was treated at the scene.
Water from the hydrant reportedly caused flooding in at least one nearby building.
The intersection of Haight/Fillmore was closed by the SFPD and Muni buses serving the 6 Parnassus, 71 Haight-Noriega and 22 Fillmore were re-routed around the affected area.
Per normal procedure, the Muni Operator will be placed on non-driving status and tested for drugs and alcohol.
The scene cleared and regular Muni service was restored at 7:35 p.m.
Matt Baume and Eve Batey at SFAppeal put together a great report on the incident, complete with a slideshow (above). Someone from the city was handing out claim forms to people who own buildings or stores in the area, Matt reports.
Ride Muni like a boss. Our Fast Pass Clipper card holders and Muni Diaries T-shirts are all on sale 
