Josh Ellingson art at BART stations 08.23.10
Image by Josh Ellingson
Okay, not technically a Muni diary (speaking of, send those stories in to us, eh?).
The artist himself tweeted us to tip us off to some of his process drawings, which are posted on BART Diaries today. Enjoy!
’10 places not to see before you die’ — you’ve seen at least one 06.23.10
Photo by Flickr user anitakhart
Let’s start with the carpet. Why would Bay Area Rapid Transit, one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems, decide it was a good idea to upholster the floor?
The result is Eau de BART, the stomach-turning scent that hits you in the face every time you board a train to San Francisco.
Oh man. Our transit system is getting dissed…nationally! Okay, I agree that the cloth seats are a bad idea. What’s more barftastic: BART, Muni, or the NYC subway?
(Thanks for the tip, reader Dave)
Muni a smoother ride than AAU shuttle … 11.27.09
… but riding either is just such a San Francisco treat. Spotted this art, signifying some sort of arts-appreciation something-or-other, on an Academy of Art shuttle Tuesday. I have to say this: It was one bumpy-as-fuck ride. At least Muni buses have shock absorbers. I think.
Announcing BART Diaries — Proud Spawn of Muni Diaries! 08.17.09
Photo by Flickr user thebrandbuilder
You thought you wouldn’t be able to take BART today, but woke up to find some good news — the threatened BART strike was called off. Well, we’ve got even better BART news for you today.
After two years in the womb, the Muni Diaries crew is welcoming our proud little spawn, BART Diaries! Many of you have shared BART tales here, and we figured our speedy little subway deserves its own storytelling space. After all, where else (okay, besides Muni) can you see grown men fight like school girls, erotic magazine on full display, and hear a hot operator’s voice for free?
So if you’re a BART rider, stop by BART Diaries and start sharing your strange and wonderful BART tales. Send us your stories, pictures, videos, and anything else BART-related to bartdiaries@gmail.com. You can also follow BART happenings on Twitter @bartdiaries.
BART strike averted (updates) 08.16.09
Photo by Flickr user David July
Update (6:43 p.m.): Now SFGate concurs — the strike has been called off.
Original post: It was the Muni Diaries Twitter feed that first predicted it: It appears, though no formal announcement has been made yet, that the two sides have avoided a strike that was set to begin tonight at midnight. The Examiner has more. We’re waiting for further details, sources before we remove that question from the post title.
Billie Jean, not my lover either 08.14.09
A mild flurry of tweets came across the wire yesterday from @anthologie detailing a seemingly spontaneous dance-a-thon at the 24th St. BART station. Here’s a recap of the action:
approx. 3 p.m. 2 men dancing to Around The World on the platform at 24th. Man playing violin concertos upstairs.
approx. 4 p.m. 24th st guys still here. Now dancing to PYT.
approx 4:15 p.m. Billie Jean (@ 24th St)
Awesome. What else can we say, really? The only way this would’ve been better is if the tiles on the platform had lit up.
Muni Mind Reader: When f*&king BART goes on strike! 08.14.09
It’s finally here. The long-threatened, much peanut-galleried BART strike is set to start Monday morning. Of course, for us Muni commuters, this really only means an influx of the unknowing, unaware, well-to-do BART commuter (stereotype much?). We’ll do well to welcome them with open arms. Well, maybe not. Just be nice. Don’t bite. Tiffany Maleshefski, aka Muni Mind Reader, homes in on what it must be like for this odd creature: the reluctant BART rider on Muni.
WTF? I wish when I decided to go on strike I had the ability to fuck with the lives of tens of thousands of people. But I don’t. And just because BART is finally going through on its threats to screw us all over for a couple of days, doesn’t mean I get to go on strike too. See, I’d just get fired, or my boss would tell me to get my ass on the closest Muni bus I can find…and fast.
Which is exactly what I’m doing. Finding the closest Muni bus. That’s a doable request. Can I find one fast? Probably not. Why? Because I’ve been waiting here for freakin’ 14 minutes, and every time the clock ticks down to 8 minutes, the goddamn NextBus sign bumps it back up to 10 or 12. PLUS, who the HELL schedules buses to come every 15 minutes at 8:30 a.m??? Hello Muni wunderkinds, this is peak commuting time. Hmmmph. BART would’ve had me to work by now.
BART strike most likely announced shortly (updates) 08.13.09
Photo by Flickr user troutfactory
Update (4:36 p.m.): Transbay Blog again, this time with TransLink tips during the strike.
Update (4:15 p.m.): Transbay Blog lists some ways to get across the Bay.
Update (4:12 p.m.): From StreetsblogSF: [ATU leader Jesse] Hunt announces strike effective Sunday evening at close of business. Also: Reporter asks: Will there be talks this weekend? Hunt: Clearly, they’ve decided they’re cutting off negotiations.
Original post: Too bad, so sad for riders and the two unions who voted in favor of the new contract. That’s not to say shame on ATU for what will most likely be a strike. Just too bad it didn’t all get worked out. We’ll do our best to keep you updated. Meantime, follow @streetsblogsf on Twitter for a probably kick-ass live tweeting of the press conference at 4 p.m. You can also try CBS 5′s live stream here.
BART, union reach deal; strike averted (updates) 07.31.09
Photo by Flickr user zbolwing
Update 3: SF Appeal is on it.
Update 2: SFGate gets the story first, as far as we can tell:
BART asked its five labor unions to agree to $100 million in concessions over the next four years. The transit district targeted the costs of employee benefits along with work rules that it says contribute to excessive overtime.
Update 1: ABC 7 has the story headline, but no story.
Original: KCBS reports that BART negotiators and union reps have reached a tentative four-year labor contract agreement. Check back here or here for details on the agreement.
Weekend Photo Diary: Purple BART Man 07.10.09
Photo by Flickr user natecardozo from the Muni Photos Flickr group
Something about the purpleness of this guy screams out “this weekend.” Maybe it’s also the fact that no one else seems to be on the platform with dude.
It’s gonna be one of those weekends where San Francisco weather doesn’t really totally suck (morning fog, 60-ish afternoon highs), but where, beginning Monday, the weather suddenly is all “Oh, haha, now I’m awesome. Now that the weekend is over and you suckers are back in the cube.”
Stay warm, have fun, and send us your Muni stories!
xoxo
Muni Diaries
