Photo by Genista
Michelle Olson is a journalism student at SFSU. She set out to find opinions on where to sit on Muni. Here’s what she found.
I traveled with many other passengers down Mission Street to Daly City, and then back again. On the way there, I traveled in a single-car bus, and it was clear that there was one seat that was always taken, even when the bus wasn’t full. It was the front-facing seats with their back to the back doors, the only ones like it on the bus. I was going to call this seat The Popular Seat, but then I found out it was Scott’s favorite seat too. Scott is a rider who prefers to sit there, and he said he called it “My Seat.” He likes that less people crowd around the seat, and enjoys the added leg room, plus it’s facing forward. For now, let’s say this is Scott’s Seat.
Photo by Michelle Olson
One thing I noticed is that people don’t like sitting in the seats that face backwards or that face each other. I call these seats The Social Network – you can get close, but not too close. Here a group of four could happily interact, but this didn’t seem like something Muni riders want to do because these seats were usually vacant even when the bus was full.
A woman named Marsha sat next to me in the back, one row back from right across the second set of doors. She likes to sit near the backdoor so she doesn’t disturb people when she’s getting off the bus. It’s a seat she calls The Edge.
When I got to the end of the line on Daly City, I met Maria at the bus stop. She prefers the front for its lack of people and noise. I call these seats the Library Seats. Shhhhh.. be quiet, you’re in the front of the bus.
On the way back, I was on an articulated bus, with its special seats in the the middle that I call I’m Not Here For The View.
Photo by Michelle Olson
Getting back on the bus, the single seats filled up first. You can only find these seats on articulated buses, and it is yet another sign that commuters don’t like to be social with strangers. Muni rider Miguel denies the anti-social implication of these seats, though. He said he sits there to leave the front seats for seniors and families. Plus, this seat allows him to look out the window and is close to the back door.
Photo by Michelle Olson
And you know those people who always go to the very back of the bus, no matter what? Van, a Muni rider, prefers those seats. He likes the view and the air circulation back there. He said he also prefers to leave the front seats for families and elderly people.
Followers of Muni Diaries on Twitter shared their feelings on where the best seats are on Muni trains and buses.
- @cripsahoy “I get on the 2nd car inner handicapped seat. It’s nearest to the escalator.”
- @WillieFDiazSF “The best seat is not any MUNI seat, its your own bicycle seat… it’s cleaner and faster.”
- @suzdal “I love the window seat with the little divider thingy closest to the center doors. Easier to get to, often available.”
- @SFcab271 “I like the rear of F line cars, with the big open windows. Great on a hot day, or to be a rebel and sneak a cig.”
While it may just be a tan plastic seat on the bus, it is a place where a rider will be spending time. So next time you board Muni, treat yourself to that window seat with extra leg room. Meals and peanuts might cost you extra, but the entertainment is free.
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On the train, I like the seat that is behind the seat with the little metal box underneath. This allows me to elevate my feet, balance my bag on my knees and crochet without hindrance. It’s also far enough back that I don’t have to worry about giving up my seat should someone else need to sit.
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William Reply:
November 12th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
On rail vehicles, I like to sit on the single seat where sand is stored under (the box).
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Dude, the middle seats on the articulated buses are the best ones. I’m not here for the view — I’m here for seeing everyone to the left and right of me twisting around! Better than the Santa Cruz Boardwalk! Whee!
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eugenia Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Ha I love those seats too. I can really zone out there. People-watching totally provides the best view on Muni, imo.
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On the articulated buses I like the single seats in the second section.
On the 22, I like the seat right across from the back door – it has more leg room than the other seats and if there is someone in the aisle seat who won’t move so I can get out it is usually easier to maneuver out of the seat. No hitting people in the head with my bags!
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On the electric buses the second row, driver’s side are mine because they have extra legroom, in addition the wheelchair tie-down offers a nice foot rest since they are never used.
The back seats facing each other we call the “Conference Room” and have been known to hold high power executive meetings there on the way to the ball park or whatever.
On bendy-buses I sit in the back because it’s fun to watch the front half lead the way…
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I tend to never get a seat and get stuck by the rear exit, which I then get shoved around for at every stop. See you in class next week, Michelle :p
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You want to avoid the seats near the back door. This has not happened to me before, but I was warned by a line inspector that it’s easier for people to steal your stuff and run out the back door.
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Train: I love to seat in the front, right side the first row of chairs since I can look out the drivers window to the front
Non-Articulated Bus: Usually in the row(s) right behind the back door, easy to get out while never as crowded on a crowded bus
Articulated Bus: I actually don’t like any seat on this type of bus…people bump into me if I seat in the single seats, the back is crazy, the front is crowded
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The front is garbage, because people kick your feet all day and there is a good chance you have to give the seat up. The best spot is next to the back door on the left side of the bus, 1 seat in at the window. I can see out the window as to when my stop is coming, and I dont have to push too much when its time to get out.
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