MTA Sound System 08.31.10
Photo by ChazWags
I think San Francisco would be a happier place if they just played music on Muni (Norah Jones perhaps?!)
I don’t know about how her choice of tune-age, but I do wonder whether a soundtrack would help ease some of the pain of Muni commutes. One could argue that many routes already come equipped with passenger-selected musics. But I’m thinking something like a built-in, jukebox-like system, embedded in Muni vehicles, deejayed by a rotating group of passengers. We can dream …
What would you play on Muni, if you got the reins for day?
‘Dali’ on Muni (or, how to move beyond a tragic weekend) 08.30.10
Salvador Dali takes Muni, doubtlessly finds inspiration.
Truer words were never spoken, though I’d say this dapper mustachioed monsieur is more a Chaplin/W.C. Fields/Dali hybrid.
Where, oh where, were you going that fine afternoon, sir?
A Muni bus filled with ‘Oxford scholars’ 08.26.10
Photo by lorelei
Muni rider Tara K. has a story that goes to show, you never know what kind of colorful character you’ll encounter on Muni:
Okay, today is the day I’ll be early to work…well, on time. I set out in high hopes of catching an early 22-Fillmore bus. I get on the bus and there is actually a seat!
That’s when the magic happens. A older woman, probably in her 80s, dressed in matching red and white from head to toe, turns to the remaining three people on the bus and yells “well, looks like this bus was filled with a bunch of God damned Oxford scholars. I tell ya the City is filled with ‘em!” I glance at another passenger as we suppress a burst of laughter. Then the show begins. The older woman continues on asking, “why the hell are people so stupid? Didn’t they hear that the driver is gonna take us to the next stop. A bunch of cattle, they are.”
As the driver pulls up to the stop the older woman turns to us all once again. She smiles and says, “well, it’s too bad they all missed the extra ride, the idiots, but it was nice ridin’ with y’all.” I catch her eye and say, “it’s really too bad they missed a great comedian!” She looks at me askance (Oh God, was that too cutesy for this lady, now I’m gonna get it), giving me a half smile and guffaw…and whaps me on the leg with her cane while nodding in recognition of her performance!
Note to self: Always ride Muni early cuz the bus will break down and you could be smiling for days.
It either happened to you, or around you. Share your Muni story on Muni Diaries.
Fun with Fare Inspectors on the 38 08.24.10
Photo by atacklamb
Saturday night Sam (who will be posting reviews of the hotel bars we went to) and I headed downtown for an evening of drinking in hotel lobbies. Trust me, it was both more and less glamorous than you can imagine.
We caught a mostly empty 38 at 6th Ave. and settled in to seats towards the back.
At 3rd Ave., a pair of fare inspectors got on and made their way through the bus, checking people’s Fast Passes, Clipper cards and transfers.
A woman sitting two rows ahead of us did not have any proof of payment. The female fare inspector sat down nearby and told her to go ahead and keep looking for her transfer, and if she couldn’t find it she would get a ticket. It was sweet of her to give the woman a chance. Also, these inspectors were polite and friendly. We liked them immediately.
The male fare inspector moved to the back of the bus, where he kept an eye on the back door.
We watched the inspectors, watched the fare evader woman rifle through her bags over and over again.
At Fillmore the female inspector started to write up the woman’s ticket. She explained how the woman could appeal the ticket if she found her transfer. The woman had some questions, all of which were answered by the inspector.
We got to talking with her. She was very chatty and gave us some tips on how to make sure we don’t get busted for fare evasion:
Tip 1- Always keep your receipt from purchase of a Fast Pass or Clipper refill. In a pinch, the receipt is good proof that you did indeed pay for your pass.
Tip 2- If your Clipper card gets lost or stolen, report it immediately and have it canceled, otherwise someone else can use the Fast Pass or funds on the card.
Her tips were good, common sense really, but I appreciated them anyway.
Our bus approached the Van Ness stop.
A man was standing next to a tree, facing us.
“Is he peeing?” asked the female fare inspector.
He was, of course. Standing next to a spindly tree, a few feet from an idling cab, this guy was taking his sweet time. And we all were treated (punished?) with a full frontal view.
“This is like the third time this week I’ve seen guys doing that in public,” I told Sam.
The female inspector started laughing, and pointing, and even rapped on the window.
Well, you didn’t think we’d give away the ending (it’s not that kind), did you? Mosey over to Fog City Notes to read the rest of the story and find out what else they saw.
Here’s a tip for Muni drivers 08.20.10
Photo by ganesha.isis
No, by “tip” we don’t mean advice. Just referencing what we found to be a funny and perplexing tweet yesterday from @biorhythmist:
How much do you tip Muni drivers? I don’t want to look like an ass.
Anyone care to help Mr. Rhythmist out?
Muni in teh Pr0n 08.19.10
We received this diary from Muni rider Ben, with the following admission:
Hmmm, hope that research ended well for ya, Ben. Also, why not submit the entire video and let us decide how much of it to show here on Muni Diaries? We’re not exactly a “family” publication, you know?
But to Ben’s question: Have you encountered Muni in your online research porn?
Bat Signal on the J Train 08.16.10
Vintage Tokyo Subway Manners 08.11.10
"Space Invader", March, 1979
Isami-ashi: Wait behind the white line (May 1979)
You know the big-balls-having, seat-taking guy y’all have complained about? He should see this:
The Seat Monopolizer (July 1976)
There are loads more of these posters so meander over to Pink Tentacle to check them out.
Surprise Box on the 38-Geary, Saturday Night 08.11.10
Saturday nights are designed for a fun night out with friends. You got to sleep in that morning and you don’t have work the next day. It’s party time! The only thing that can put a damper on this fun night out is the ride home on Muni, especially if you live out by Ocean Beach. During the regular commute hours the 38-Geary is filled with silent workers on their favorite smartphone, headphones in, of course! But once night falls this grand ‘ol bus turns into a circus filled with college clowns, drunken acrobats (a.k.a. drunks girls in heels falling all over themselves), and freak shows (bums who think they are god).
I’ve spent many a drunken night on the always-a-madhouse 38, but I like to keep to myself and just watch the action around me. This most recent Saturday evening I found myself in my normal position of inebriation on the back of the bus, but this particular night was a special one. No crazies? Am I on the right bus? Luckily I was, so I thought to myself, “I guess I should be the crazy one!”
I suddenly shouted out, “I’m hungry!!!”
This is the part where beautiful music started, a bright light descended onto the palms of my hands, and an angel came to my hunger pangs. The man next to me, wearing a full chef’s outfit (which I didn’t notice before my hunger declaration), placed a white box in my hands and said “Here ya go, young one.”
Ok, maybe it didn’t go exactly like that. He placed the box in my hands and headed toward the exit without a word. I opened the box to find every cookie and yummy pastry known to man! As my angel chef walked off the bus, I yelled “I love you!!!” and he looked back with a smile. I shared my gift from heaven with the not-so-inebriated and quiet people around me. It was the most joyous bus ride of my life, and I will never forget it. Mostly because I’m surprised I woke up the next morning. Those things could have been poisoned! My mom told me never to take treats from a stranger and I failed her. My mom and I thank you, nice Muni chef man, for not killing me.
Are those cupcakes and Mexican wedding cookies in the box? Casi, you lucky you! Got another story of random wonderful strange encounter on Muni? I bet you do.
Jack-In-The-Bus 08.01.10
I was walking along California on my way to the bank on Friday when I spotted a bunch of tourists getting off of the cable cars. Guess who was waiting for them?
Too bad I had to rush off before the bank closed. The funny thing was that nobody batted an eye. Jack was looking at his phone the whole time…videotaping people’s reaction, perhaps?
