Weekend Photos: Ready, Set, Santa 12.16.11
Photo by Dennis
Enjoy these photos and your weekend!
Photo by James Cohen
Photo by David McDonald
Photo by Robert B. Livingston
Photo by Sina P
Muni News: More BART on NYE, more Muni muggings, more BART cops 12.16.11
Photo by torbakhopper
- BART to extend hours, provide special service on New Year’s Eve (BART.gov)
- Two More People Mugged On Muni Last Weekend (SF Appeal)
- Outspoken cable car operator Eric Williams to lead transit union (SF Examiner)
- Mayor Ed Lee defends big payout to Muni drivers (SFGate)
- BART Police To Up Patrols In Downtown SF Stations, Offer East Bay Escorts (SF Appeal)
- BART Elects New Board President (SF Appeal)
- SFMTA director lists agency’s accomplishments in year-end letter (SF Examiner)
Muni’s Number-One in My Book, Too 12.16.11
Photo: epugachev
I decided to walk to the Church St. Station to catch the Metro. When [I] arrived at Market/Church, I saw the J streetcar was struck in traffic at Safeway. I proceed to walk down to the subway and catch a train to Van Ness Station. When I arrived at Van Ness…I saw the J-Church that didn’t opened the door for me slowly arriving…so I made my way on the platform to the front and, as the J pulled up, I stood at the side of the driver’s cab and gave him the finger and let it linger there for about 10 seconds or so.
There’s a first time for everything: 30-plus years of ridership, and she says it’s the first time she flipped off a driver.
Well, we’ve all been there: riding the high (“You’re stuck at a red, thank jeebus! Open up, kind sir or madam!”) and the low (“Oh. Walking won’t be so bad, I guess). Literally giving Muni the middle finger could be a bit much, but getting stonewalled is obviously a shit picnic.
What say, Muni riders? Is finger warranted here?
Video Diary: London Bus Driver Story 12.15.11
We’ve heard lots of great driver stories from you, like a driver who stood up for your fare rights, the Muni driver who hands out lollipops, or a driver who decorates his bus for Halloween. Maybe they’d make a great video for SFMTA. I want royalties for this idea. Just saying.
Way too much drinking on the N-Judah 12.15.11
Muni rider Ryan says, “If you’re going to drink on the N at 9:30 in the morning, be sure to bring an entire shopping basket full of Gordon’s gin.” Or at least share?
Ghosts of Muni 12.14.11
As a Muni train arrives at the station, the silhouettes of past riders can be seen on the frosty glass, as if they were ghosts waiting for a train that will never come.
Your Muni Driver Loves You 12.14.11
Earlier that day, @sfkatya told the world, “Found the driver who gives out dum-dums to kids and nice riders. #muniwin.”
Win indeed, even if the driver’s cousin is a dentist.
Muni iPhone Theft on the 38-Geary 12.13.11
Photo by Steve Rhodes
A young woman’s iPhone was stolen [last Tuesday] by two young men on the 38L outbound bus. The victim was seated in the third seat on the same side as the door, between the second door and the accordion section. The taller of the two men snatched her iPhone and ran off at the Fillmore stop at approximately 8:15-8:20 pm.
The noted modus operandi seems to be operating in pairs and stake out their victim by standing near or in front of the potential mark near the door with frequent texting on older non-smartphone phones, making frequent eye contacts with each other. They seem to frequently target women who are distracted or using their phone during non-commute hours.
Other passengers soon informed the driver of what happened, but the driver said he could not do anything since the victim is gone. He called central and reported the incident.
Matt described the thieves as two young black men, one overweight with some facial hair and the other tall and lanky, both wearing all black. This was one of the string of phone thefts on Muni, so use common sense and be aware of your environment!
p.s. Here’s some information from SFPD on how to file a police report.
Video: What Not To Do When You See a Muni Cutie 12.13.11
Like, don’t do this (a scene from the video).
Come on, New Yorkers. If you must write notes, try it this way (via @LindapopSF‘s blog, Popup Poems).
Much better.
Needles on Muni for the Holiday Season 12.12.11
Photo: Telstar Logistics
Not those needles.
Ever since @sabrinabot tweeted this:
for some, red cups signify the start of holiday season. for me it’s knitters on the muni. saw two today, the holidays can begin!
…we’ve seen our fair share of them, too. With less than two weeks to go, I expect to see even more commuting elves working on handmade projects.
Since we do live in Scarf City, Fogland USA, knitting is a popular transit pastime year-round. Just ask Hooked on Muni (great name), every mischievous devil on International Yarn Bombing Day, and the good citizen who knitted coozies for the shelter seats, pictured above.
How’s your handmade holiday project going? Send us your knitted-on-Muni creations or your pics of the knitting elves. Spin your yarn (HAHA) to muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
Ride Muni like a boss. Our Fast Pass Clipper card holders and Muni Diaries T-shirts are all on sale 
