Muni Metro Service Suspended at Civic Center (updates) 04.23.12
Update (9:47 a.m., next day): SF Appeal reports on the identity of the victim.
Update (3:33): SFMTA reports that the victim died from his injuries. Service was restored to Civic Center Station around 1:45.
Update (1:01 p.m.): SFMTA reports that shuttle buses are now running between Civic Center and Embarcadero.
Original post: Beth just wrote to let us know about an alert she got: “All Outbound MUNI Trains from Civic Center Station are Stopped.”
SF Weekly reports that a man’s leg was severed by a Muni vehicle. Details are still coming in, but the victim is reportedly alive and at the hospital.
We’ll do our best to keep you updated, but as of now, Civic Center is still closed.
Transit News: BART surplus, Muni communications upgrade, AC Transit “Made in the USA” 04.19.12
Photo by grace1171
- BART budget surplus boosts plans for future (SF Examiner)
- Switchback setbacks reduced on Muni lines (SF Examiner)
- Push made for ‘Made in America’ transit vehicles (CC Times)
- Taking the train to the Transbay Terminal (City Insider)
- Muni board to approve upgrading communications system (SF Examiner)
- BART worker may lose job over act of ‘benevolence’ (SFGate)
- Bill bars cell service shutdown by public agencies (SFGate)
Free Muni for Low-Income Kids Passes SFMTA Board 04.18.12
Photo by idealisms
According to reports from Tuesday’s SFMTA board meeting, something like free Muni for kids has made it onto the budget for the next couple of years.
The board favored a free youth pass program for low-income students, but members weren’t convinced that expanding the proposal to include anyone under 17 would be worth the trade-offs in cuts to Muni maintenance that staff presented to the board — at least in this budget cycle.
The two-year budget must now be approved by the Board of Supervisors before going into effect. Read Streetsblog SF for more.
Muni Overtime Savings: At What Cost to Riders? 04.17.12
Photo by Matt Biddulph
The transit agency has stopped paying overtime to replace drivers who call in sick. Instead, it is simply letting absent drivers’ buses sit idly in the yard, while riders wonder where they are.
Eight buses a day, on average, do not make their regularly scheduled runs as a result of the new practice, according to San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency spokesman Paul Rose.
Read the rest of The Bay Citizen‘s report.
Pretty shady, if you ask us. What do you think: Would you rather SFMTA save money on overtime costs, or, uh, NOT catch the bus when it’s scheduled? How would you cut down on overtime costs? We’d all rather have our buses arrive when and where they should, but since that’s apparently a problem…
Muni Cameras Catch Reporter in Transit-Only Lane 04.16.12
The transit lane camera enforcement isn’t new — it actually started in January of 2008. The pilot project installed cameras on some Muni buses to detect transit-lane parking violations. In February the Examiner reported that the program will be expanded to all Muni buses in the next 15 months.
KRON4′s Stanley Roberts had some level-headed tips: “My advice? Stay out of the transit lanes and the bus stops. Or better yet, some people should just get to the bus.”
Transit News: Caltrain ridership up, free Muni for youth derailed, BART to SJ gets under way 04.11.12
Photo by fotoeins
- Muni Riders Attend Meeting On Proposed Changes (BCN via SF Appeal)
- Caltrain Ridership Up 12.1 Percent (BCN via SF Appeal)
- Embarcadero Scene to Sunday Afternoon Muni Light Rail Collision (BCN via SF Appeal)
- Free Muni for youth in danger of being derailed (SF Examiner)
- Medical Examiner Trying To Identify Man Killed By Muni Bus (BCN via SF Appeal)
- Toward a Faster Muni: Check Out TEP Proposals for Your Transit Route (Streetsblog SF)
- Expect ‘trucks with dirt’ as BART construction gets under way (SJ Mercury News)
Ask a Muni Driver: Unwritten rule to let the homeless ride for free? 04.10.12
In the first post of our new monthly series, Ask a Muni Driver, Muni operator Tammy answers your questions about dealing with homeless people on the bus. You might remember Tammy from when she threw a surprise party for her passengers, then had to take a leave of absence from work because of the death of her son. Tammy has since returned to work and has graciously offered to answer your questions. Her comments are strictly her own and do not represent SFMTA or any other organization.
I wanted an opportunity to reach out and thank everyone who left positive comments and encouraging words when I lost my son. Nothing will compare to the love you all gave, which made me feel so good. So I thought that the Ask Muni Driver series would be a great opportunity for me to give back.
My purpose is to bridge the gap between the community and Muni operators through constructive, positive dialog. I believe that as drivers we should make a conscious effort to provide safe, time-efficient, and courteous service; and the passengers should be prepared to board with money in hand, and be respectful and courteous. If so, I know that riding Muni will be a positive experience.
Let’s get to the questions. And please don’t egg my bus if you don’t agree with my opinions!
Is there an ‘unwritten rule’ to always allow the homeless to ride for free? – Lou
No Lou, there’s no unwritten rule. Operators have to pick their battles. Out of compassion we know the only warm place is on the bus so that’s why some of us let them ride.
Why don’t you ever smile? – RLM stonebody
You haven’t looked at my pics, I always smile.
Pretend you’re one of us. How would you suggest we react to things like unruly homeless people, unruly teens, general intimidations/threats, and uncivilized overcrowding? Why do you pretend not to notice what’s going on? What would it take for you to step in and help? Why do you penalize the rest of us law-abiding riders, who just want to reach our destination, by halting the vehicle and trying to reason with unreasonable people? – Fortama
Wow, you’re making me work, Fortama. I would first discern whether the person has mental issues or is just being rude. If they pose a threat, you should inform the driver because your safety is our #1 priority. Sometimes you have to keep in mind that the ride is not going to last too long, so change seats, or if you’re being threatened, let the driver know.
We don’t jeopardize someone’s safety, so if you are being threatened, let the driver know right away so he or she can handle the issue.
Although I understand what you’re saying, we have to pick our battles. If two passengers are arguing about a seat, they’re old enough to handle that issue. If we stopped for every issue that took place on our buses, you would never reach your destination.
Are there any Muni ghost stories? – D
D, if there’s any ghosts around, you can bet your life you would not see any drivers!
Thank you all for taking the time to write. Muni isn’t where it should be, but I think that through positive dialog, we are on the right path for positive interaction. Be good to yourself and others.
– Muni Driver Tammy
Ask a Muni Driver is a monthly series where Muni operators answer your questions on Muni Diaries. Got a question for your Muni driver? Here’s your chance. Ask away in the comments section or email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
Transit News: Muni budget, Muni on-time rate, Central Subway money 04.06.12
Photo by waltarrrrr
- MTA budget: Sunday parking meters, Fast Passes for low-income youth, Muni vehicles maintenance (The Daily Dose)
- Muni’s on-time rate up slightly so far this year (SFGate)
- Proposed SFMTA budget includes significant portion of Central Subway funds (Central Subway Blog)
- Muni Town Hall: New Chief Meets, Confounds His Public (SF Weekly)
- Dear Muni: Don’t ask drivers to balance budget (Nevius — who else?)
Muni Centennial kicks off with a ride on Car No. 1 04.05.12
Among the more memorable things said:
Mayor Ed Lee: “Muni is such an important part of every San Franciscan’s life.” (We couldn’t agree more!)
Supervisor David Chiu: “Love it or hate it, everyone has a Muni story.” (YES!!!!!)
Just after the speeches, VIPs got on board Car No. 1 and went for a stroll down Market Street. Car No. 1 first entered service on Dec. 28, 1912, when Muni was first launched. The historic streetcar is set to join the F-Market/Wharves fleet. We can’t wait to ride it.
As a part of the centennial celebration, Muni Diaries is launching our “100 Days, 100 Muni Stories” project: your story can appear in an ad inside the bus! Sounds like Supervisor Chiu has at least a story or three.
Here are some photos from this morning’s event. Special thanks to Market Street Railway for all its hard work getting these moving museums back into service.
Car No. 1 makes its way down Steuart before turning west onto Market
Sen. Feinstein and Mayor Lee unveil the official Muni centennial logo
Baby Strollers on Muni 04.04.12
Photo by visnup
Two San Francisco supervisors have proposed new laws that would force Muni operators to allow baby strollers on Muni unfolded. According to SFGate, it currently is up to the driver whether to allow strollers (news to us). More from SFGate on the current situation:
If it is allowed, the baby must be removed and the stroller must be folded up. The policy also prohibits parents with strollers from using wheelchair lifts and “special ramped platforms” for boarding a bus.
Families are apparently leaving the city, and the supervisors hope that this policy change will slow that phenomenon down.
Read the rest of the report on SFGate. And let us know what you think about this proposal.
Ride Muni like a boss. Our Fast Pass Clipper card holders and Muni Diaries T-shirts are on sale 
