How the Muni Shelter Goes Up 12.07.10
Photo by The Tender
Humin over at The Tender caught the Muni shelter change-a-roo in progress at Hallidie Plaza. SFMTA has been replacing the old model with the new, wavy-lided bus shelter that doesn’t shield you from the rain. As you can see, a couple of people were also mesmierized by the process. Contrary to what Humin describes with his dry humor, I think this does sound kind of magical. Read more about it and decide for yourself at The Tender.
Making up on the 5-Fulton 12.07.10
Photo by smadden
Muni rider Delaine describes an urban phenomenon …
A little farther on, with the bus doing its usual bumps and jumps, she applies eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, and lipliner. Just as we hit Market, she pulls out a lipstick and finishes up. I sat there amazed at this transformation, on a public bus of all places. She was beautiful.
I commented on her precision of application and she smiled. “I do this every day on the bus.” Wow. I have to be standing in my bathroom with good lighting and a makeup mirror. She wasn’t dramatic or showy in doing this makeover; she sat quietly and worked, stop by stop. I would have poked my eye out!
Seen something noteworthy on the bus lately? This is your party, and this is your audience. Share.
Six Hours on the 49 12.06.10
J.J. Barrow is a transportation reporter for MissionLoc@l and spent six hours on the 49-Van Ness. Here’s a photo essay of some of the pictures J.J. captured on the ride.
Got your own Muni photo to contribute? Drop it in our Flickr pool. It’ll make our day!
Ideas to Make Muni Better 12.06.10
Photo by Ron Henry
Big ideas for Muni buses from Jules:
Recruit Robin Williams do all the regular messages, in varying voices. Imagine his funny take on “Please move to the back of the bus,” it might just get people to listen, and god forbid, smile…He could consider adding these messages: “Please do not stand in front of a door unless you’re getting off at the next stop” and “Why stand when you can sit?”
Try softer lighting in a couple of buses, maybe a different glow will relax everyone more.
Got other quirky ideas to improve the ride?
Photos: The Santas of 2010 on Muni 12.05.10
Photo by Steve Rhodes
As seen during yesterday’s Santarchy. If you have more photos of the fun, email them to us or add them to our Muni Photos Flickr group.
Photo by MUNI_HULK
Photo by jennifermwell
‘Cable Car. Ding ding!’ 12.04.10
Photo from our August cable car ride. Taken by Beth W.
In August, I took my daughter, who was then 17 months old, for her first ride on the cable car. We took the California line — Powell is just too busy in the summertime with all the tourists. She seemed to really like it, although she also loves riding the trains and buses, so it made sense that she would like cable cars too.
On Tuesday evening, I needed to do some shopping at Union Square. We were walking up Market Street when one of the F-Market cars rumbled by.
“Cable car!” my daughter said. It was her first time saying the complete phrase.
“No, not quite, but close,” I said. “We’ll see the cable cars in a minute.”
We came upon the turnaround at Powell Street and walked up Powell so I could do my shopping. We saw some cable cars, and as we passed Macy’s there was someone ringing a bell. My daughter that that was a cable car, too.
When I’d finished my shopping, we followed a cable car as it slowly made its way back to the turnaround. “Do you want to watch them for a while?” I asked. She nodded.
We walked down to the turnaround and watched as the cable car rolled onto the round spot on the pavement. Two Muni workers helped push the car as it rotated and clicked into place. Then they gave it a push back onto the tracks, so it could go pick up the new set of passengers waiting. I narrated all this to my daughter, who watched intently.
“See, now it’s going to go, ‘Ding! Ding!’ and drive off,” I said. It did.
“Do you want to go home now?” I asked my daughter. She shook her head.
“What do you want to do?”
“Cable car. Round!” She wanted to watch another cable car turn around.
So we stayed and watched two or three more of them pull onto the turnaround, rotate, and roll away to pick up passengers. Finally, we headed home for dinner and then bed.
As my daughter was nursing to sleep, she paused, then announced, “Cable car! Ding ding!”
Weekend Photos: Whatever You’re Doing 12.03.10
Photo by Brandon Doran
My god, is it already December? Is the world really ending in like 2 years? It’s okay, Jesus is coming back next May. What timing!
The week in Muni news, consisting of the following:
- Crime stalling on Muni routes (SF Examiner)
- Unlicensed operators cost Muni (SF Examiner)
- Tension Rising Between Muni Management and Drivers (KTVU)
- Muni builds case for subway need (SFGate)
- Ridership projections for T-Third/Central Subway down; Muni still upbeat (City Insider)
- N-Judah rider held at gunpoint, assaulted for laptop (SF Examiner)
- Wrecking Ball about to hit Transbay Terminal (SFGate)
- Geneva Streetcar Canopy Dedicated (Market Street Railway)
- Newsom makes pick for Muni Board (City Insider)
- Bay Area Clipper Card Use Shoots Up 43 Percent (BCN via SF Appeal)
- Photos of Friday’s Transbay Terminal Demolition (SFGate)
From the Muni Time Capsule this week:
- Muni Tours of Discovery/City Map Showing Municipal Streetcar Lines, Coach Routes (1952)
- Old Muni Tokens (Remember Those?)
If you haven’t already, bookmark or subscribe to the Muni Time Capsule feed. We’ll be serving up at least a couple posts per week over there.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy these photos and your weekend.
Photo by Chris Saulit
Photo by bats
Photo by Troy Holden
Photo by Jaymi Heimbuch
BREAKING: Tree falls into wires, disrupts J-Church (update) 12.03.10
Update (2:57 p.m.): SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose says that SFFD crews removed the tree and that J-Church was restored around 1:00 p.m.
Original post: Muni rider Christine sends the following alert:
Looks like a moving truck hit a tree bringing it down and into electrical wires on the outbound J line between the 22nd and 24th street stops. Police are working to cut the tree down but we were told to exit the train because it would be awhile. 12:30pm.
We’ll bring you service updates as we receive them.
Email or tweet us if you see anything happening that you think can make your fellow riders’ commute easier.
Acoustic Guitar Rap at Powell Street BART 12.03.10
Ed. Note: Carlos was delighted by this bit of street music. It’s Friday and I’m so ready to get my “nail done hair done everything did.” Caught something cool on camera on public transit? Let us know! – Eugenia
Ride Muni like a boss. Our Fast Pass Clipper card holders and Muni Diaries T-shirts are all on sale 
