What do Muni newbie riders need to know?
Because most people I know are seasoned transit riders, I tend to forget that Muni gets brand-new riders every day. Rider Melissa has just made the transition from BART to Muni, and told us:
Funny how different the commuter scene is. Lesson for today in Muni Riders vs. BART Riders: Muni Riders just don’t give a fuck! (Excuse my language…but it’s so true.) Doesn’t matter if you’re elderly, handicapped, young…Muni riders are all out for themselves. You just have to be aggressive and don’t take anything personally. Everyone is just trying to go where they need to go. [I'm] slowly learning and transitioning to a daily Muni rider….we’ll see how it goes.
Despite her skepticism, Melissa took a picture of her very first Muni pass to share with us, above.
I’m not sure I totally agree with Melissa’s assessment because I feel that on any Muni line, if you don’t know to step down, the rest of the bus will let you know. And if the back door doesn’t open for you, more than one rider will yell “Back Door” on your behalf. I’ve seen riders organize half the bus to move back for a wheelchair passenger to get on the 22. But maybe there’s something about BART riders that I don’t know?
Whenever I have visitors in town, this is my usual Muni-orientation talk:
- $2, try exact change or 3-day pass.
- Keep your transfer; it’s good for any direction.
- Step down to exit
- Some bus signs are simply painted on telephone poles (I think visitors find this consistently confusing).
Then I just give them a route map and they’re on their way.
What else would you tell a Muni newbie?
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I’d be sure to mention that they should keep a strong hold on any music/video players and cellphones, as these items have a habit of disappearing into the hands of thieves without warning.
Also: when the recorded lady asks that you “Please hold on,” she’s not kidding. (I’m looking at you, 22-Fillmore.)
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that’s not water on the seat.
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Stand sideways in the aisle so you can use your feet for balance. If you rely on the pole when the bus comes to a sudden stop you could end up looking like an amateur pole dancer.
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jeff Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Wait, why would we discourage newbies from this? :P
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I’m feeling nice this morning, so I’ll refrain from giving horrible advice and give some genuinely good advice instead: Walk. Run. Bike. Skip. Roll. Hop. Skate. Crab walk. Do anything you can to avoid Muni.
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Eugenia Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Ok, grumpypants! JK. I’m biased about Muni. Besides, I would probably injure myself on a skateboard or a bicycle in about five minutes.
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There are no honest games of chance held on MUNI vehicles.
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Daishin Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 12:51 am
…including MUNI itself.
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On a bus, pay attention to the stop announcements for your stop. If it isn’t functioning, you should feel OK asking the driver to alert you to when your stop is coming up. If the driver will not, report them and the fact that the bus’ systems aren’t working properly. If the drive is uncooperative and the announcements are broken, keep and eye on the street signs. If you see your street you’re too late, so pull the stop and get off and walk back to it. :)
On the train, there are no automated announcements. The drivers often announce the stops, but not always, so again, keep your eyes open for your stops. Missing your stop on the train can be a small disaster if you’re not careful and if you’re stop is on one side of a tunnel or big gap like at Dolores Park.
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“muni riders just don’t give a F*k” – you can’t be more correct. I realized very quickly there’s no such thing as a nice line to board b/c granny will be the first one elbowing you out of the way into the door.
Words of wisdom for trains:
- when it pulls up (above ground) if the doors you’re at dont open – push the little white button on the side
- The doors won’t open in the subway stations until the train pulls completely up so don’t freak if they stay closed after the train stops – it may be waiting to pull up
- IF you’re above ground and the second car doors don’t open at your stop – try, as fast as you can, to press the call box (at the ends of the car, near door) OR ask someone near one to call the train operator – I’ve seen this happen multiple times and I think they’re oblivious to it and people get stuck for a joyride… very sad :(
- DON’T BE STARTLED WHEN THE STEPS GO DOWN RIGHT AFTER IT EMERGES FROM THE SUBWAY TO ABOVE GROUND!
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oneragingstar Reply:
June 6th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
if you’re above ground trying to get off the train and the doors don’t open, you need to jiggle the little handle bar by the stairs.
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If you have a backpack or large purse, make sure to take it off and put it at your feet. Otherwise you are probably bumping someone in the back or head.
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suki Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Yes, I am usually the one being hit in the head by a backpack. :/ Another spot would be to just keep it in front of you so you know where it is/isn’t hitting. Plus, it’ll keep your items safe. There are pickpocketers everywhere.
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My experience is that BART riders could also give a F#*K. I have seen acts of kindness and acts of awful rudeness or don’t give a flying-F on both systems. There have just been more bodily fluids and ridiculousness on MUNI, but when people ask for help or directions, most of the time MUNI riders pitch in and help out, BART too.
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Simplifying the explanation of the MUNI fare to the BART-oriented: $2 buys you 90 minutes of unlimited travel on the system.
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JC Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
A not-to-be-underestimated benefit. Was in Honolulu last week and did a lot of riding on buses there (“TheBus”). With the exception of one kind/lazy driver, every other driver collected my transfer after its first use (which may or may not be the way MUNI used to do it, I vaguely remember MUNI drivers occasionally doing this during the mid-90s).
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DanB Reply:
May 29th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Yup. The two-part transfer. First use, the driver tore off the little coupon at the top, second use the driver collected the transfer. Then at some point the Supervisors (this was pre-SFMTA) voted to eliminate transfers so you’d have to buy a pass or pay $1 every time you boarded. This made everyone very angry, and when transfers came back they went to the current system.
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i would say to newbies to move to the back as much as you can to save the front seats for the elderly/disabled/ those with small children.
also be sure to stand facing the windows rather than block the whole aisle.
i have seen many acts of kindness on muni and also times when people don’t give a shit. it goes both ways…
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Please stay away from the doors unless exiting!
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Yes, I am usually the one being hit in the head by a backpack. :/ Another spot would be to just keep it in front of you so you know where it is/isn’t hitting. Plus, it’ll keep your items safe. There are pickpocketers everywhere.
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As a muni newbie, I have several questions:
1) Is it a fact that old muni fast passes are valid for an extra first 3 days of the next month? I.e. the May fast pass is valid for June 1-3
2) What do you do if the muni driver refuses to give you a ticket valid for 90 minutes of travel (i.e. only 1 hour) or don’t stop at your stop deliberately? Can you report them?
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JimmyD Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 1:27 pm
1) Yes. Your FastPass is good for the first three days of the following month.
2) It would be hard to prove a drive deliberately passed your stop. The driver is REQUIRED to give you a transfer. The transfer is your PROOF OF PAYMENT that is mandatory for all riders! If the driver refuses to give you a transfer, yes, get their info and report them.
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not a bad idea to start moving toward the door a little before your stop on crowded buses, rather than wait ’til the last minute, make a mad tear thru the crowd and delay departure when the driver starts to pull away and everyone has to yell “back door” for you to get off. These must be the same people who wait in line at Safeway & don’t start rummaging for their wallets until the cashier announces the total. Like it was unexpected that this moment would arrive.
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Tony Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:23 pm
i would say that we live in a time of complete and utter distraction…both in private terms and public. most people hardly know where they are let alone are aware of the next Muni stop. it’s called mental dysfunction.
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tzp Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 1:20 am
hey. some of us have mobility or balance problems that are not apparent to the casual observer, and people all pissy if we sit in the front seats that are reserved for those of “handicapped” status. so — we have to wait ’til the bus stops moving to get up and head for the exit. i’ve also seen people simply wrangling several large bulky bags that make it impossible to maneuver to the door in advance. how about y’all being considerate and getting out of the way when we ARE able to move to the exit door? thanks!
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kt Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Ok, but what about the 20-year-olds that are clearly mobile enough to quite literally run down the length of the bus (at the last minute of course) to get out? By and large the majority of offenders showcase their mobility quite spectacularly as they shove their way out.
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BART is relatively civilized…MUNI is not.
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