Rider Dave Rhodes wrote MTA a letter about two Muni drivers who saved the day when Dave’s wife lost her wallet on the bus.
I’d like to voice my appreciation for two fantastic San Francisco Muni drivers, George and Bernetta. My wife and I had just purchased two Muni passes on March 2nd for the first time, having recently returned to this city after many years. We were on our way home from the Haight district and took the #33 from Haight St. up to Fulton and Stanyon to catch the #5 to Fulton and 25th.
When the #5 came, driven by Bernetta, my wife reached for her wallet to display her pass only to discover that it was gone. Bernetta saw that she was distraught and waved her aboard the bus anyway, stating, “That’s okay sweetie, we’ll work it out.”
We were shown the number to call for assistance and my wife hooked up with a very helpful operator who’s name I don’t know. She was told that the driver of the #33 (George) would be contacted and asked to look for the wallet. While my wife was on a cell phone talking to the operator, Bernetta also called from her bus radio or phone to try and get the other driver to locate the wallet as soon as possible.
We all knew that time was important, given the increasing likelihood that some nefarious character would find it before the driver did and help themselves to it.
After we reached our destination and disembarked, the MTA operator called back to say that the wallet had been located and that we’d be able to claim it from the #33 driver when he came around again. We were given a time to meet him and grabbed another #5 going back to Fulton and Stanyan to wait for him.
When George pulled up he was beaming, and said that he was happy to have found the wallet because so many items are lost or stolen, he was glad to see something have a happy ending. My wife had ID in the wallet so George was careful to make sure it was hers and then he happily handed it over – a check of the contents showed that the newly purchased Muni pass was still in there, along with a number of important documents and credit cards. We vowed then to be more careful and check our wallets and passes before leaving any Muni bus we happen to be on.
A few days later we boarded a #5 bus on Market Street to get back up into our area, and Bernetta was the driver. I didn’t recognize her at first, but she recognized us and said, “Hey, you got your pass back!” She went on to tell us how glad she was it had worked out and that she’d actually been worried about it!
So I’d like to commend two Muni drivers who care – George and Bernetta. To narrow it down because I know there are quite a few drivers, George was driving the #33 route and Bernetta was driving the #5, both on the evening of March 2nd. We’d also like to extend thanks to the phone operator who took our request for assistance that evening, even though we don’t know her name. She was very kind and helpful.
Muni rider Kristen wrote recently to ask about those old “Nowhere in Particular” signs we used to see every so often on Muni trolleys and streetcars when the vehicles are heading to the garage. Kristen asked:
Kind of bizarre… Does this mean that Muni actually has a sense of humor? I mean, why be so obtuse? I think it probably just pisses most people off who don’t work for Muni…
We actually appreciate the sense of irony in the signs. But we wondered: Where did they go? So we asked MTA, and they told us:
Traditionally, curtain (analog) head signs on the streetcars (JKLMN) included an exposure reading “Nowhere in Particular.” Current staff is not aware of when this reading was supposed to be used.
Historic streetcars (Fs) still have the sign. There was a brief period when the digital signs had this option, but it was deleted from the database several years ago.
Has anyone (besides Thomas Hawk, above) spotted an F with the playful jab on its marquee lately? I think a little sarcasm and irony might actually encourage people to ride the bus. Instead of the staid, “Garage” or “Not in Service” signage. How about, “J-Church, BRB” or “F-Market, Worth The Wait”?
Rider Erik alerted us to a preschooler series called “Cubbie the Cable Car,” where the cable car is the star of the show. Erik says this series is home to “the humorous adventures of Cubbie and his friends as they ferrry people up, down and all around 1890 San Francisco.” So, parents, take note: it’s never too early to groom your children to be future transit fans.
Thanks, Erik!
[Warning: TV-Y (All Children -- This program is designed to be appropriate for all children.) The themes and elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience, including children from ages 2-6, and may be unsuitable for adult Muni riders. This program is not expected to frighten younger children, but it may frighten young urbanites. We apologize that this program does not contain any of the following: graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language (L). For programming containing V, S, or L content categories, please visit Muni Diaries.]
Ed. note: While the discussion continues on the post we got from a Muni operator’s wife, we received a first-hand account from Will, a Muni operator, who lays forth his ideas about MTA and describes what it’s like to drive for Muni:
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about Muni Drivers. First, operators are not unwilling to make sacrifices when it is appropriate to do so. However, the MTA’s proposal to freeze scheduled wage increases for an additional 12 months (we are currently under an 18-month wage freeze that expires in July of this year) came at a time when city officials were publicly questioning whether the MTA is misappropriating money budgeted for Muni service. We would like to know why the MTA gives $67 million of the Muni operating budget to other City Departments.
As for the Charter pay survey that determines our wage increases: Muni operators are worth every penny! We are the most uniquely trained and highly qualified transit operators anywhere in the world. Where else can you find antique cable cars, high speed light rail vehicles, articulated electric and diesel coaches as well as antique street cars all being operated by the same group of people?
Also, try to imagine the frenzy of activity (700,000 riders per day, 21,000,000 per month) in and around transit vehicles every day. Operators successfully manage interactions of all kinds with riders while navigating the chaos on city streets, (like patting your head and rubbing your stomach and walking on a tight rope 100 feet up). This is not a complaint but an attempt to describe the experience.
As for work rules: Operators are disciplined and fired for excessive abscences… disciplined and fired for too many passenger complaints… disciplined and fired for unsafe driving. Contrary to popular belief the MTA is very tough on drivers (many would say excessivly so). Because of the current economic conditions many San Francisco residents are unemployed and angry. This is understandable. However, it is no reason to blindly bash Muni operators for trying to hold the line against the anti-union opportunists trying to take advantage of the situation.
Muni Diaries Live! Breaking It Down on Friday, April 23!
Come to our third spoken word party at the Make-Out Room on Friday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. Our great lineup includes comedian Will Franken, the Cock-Ts, and more. Details
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