Scary Temper Tantrum on the 31BX 09.02.11
Photo by backofthebuspodcast
I had already boarded the 31BX outbound at Davisadero and Pine when a man tried to board by tagging his Clipper card, but it didn’t work. He talked to the driver about it, saying that he had just bought a monthly pass and showing him a receipt for his payment (I’m not sure which month pass he bought and loaded to his card but I suspect it was the September one, which I presume wouldn’t be valid until the next day, Sept. 1). The bus driver said that since the card clearly wasn’t working, he couldn’t let him on unless he paid the $2.
The man got irritated and repeatedly tried to board and walk to the back of the bus, but the driver called him back. After a few times the man got extremely angry, yelling and cursing at the driver and, after a few other riders expressed their disapproval of his behavior, he cursed at the rest of the bus. The driver then said that he might consider pulling the bus out of service because this man was so disruptive. The man eventually left the bus after making sure the driver and the other rides knew what he thought of them (not complimentary, to say the least).
After he left, the driver pulled away from the curb and began to turn down Pine when the man ran up from behind the right side of the bus and crossed right in front of the bus to the other side of the street! He was within two feet of the windshield. It was insane. The driver had to slam on his brakes to keep from hitting this man, and even after he pulled away he kept checking behind him to the other side of the street to make sure the guy wouldn’t do it again.
Throughout the entire ordeal, the driver calmly but firmly stood his ground on not only the non-working Clipper card, but also the guy’s inappropriate behavior. While I would not have enjoyed having to wait for another bus, it was clear that the driver’s reasoning for possibly pulling the bus out of service was for everyone’s safety, and I appreciate that. The man said he would file a complaint and took the driver’s number and route info, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he files a complaint soon. If he does, I think that it should be taken with a grain of salt because I don’t think the opinion of someone who is willing to throw themselves in front of a moving bus just to prove a point is rational or based in reality.
Strangely enough, the remaining riders developed a kind of spontaneous solidarity over the whole ordeal, laughing and chatting with one another about it (once we were far enough down Pine to know it wouldn’t happen again, of course), and many, including me, complemented the driver on his management of the situation.
The one thing that sticks out in my mind from the whole thing was when the guy loudly objected to just paying the $2 fare and sitting down, telling the driver that “it’s not about the two dollars, it’s about the principle.” It was clear to me that to the driver, it was also about principle… about the principles of doing his job, applying the rules fairly, and keeping his other passengers safe as this guy began to melt down.
Props to you, Unknown Bus Driver, whoever you are.
Bus Graffiti: Gloomy on Muni 07.28.11
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Not-Too-Loud American Seeks French Disciplinarian 02.02.11
Photo by Flickr user Lulu Vision
Allie has a strange missed connection of sorts. Read on.
Regardless of the day of the week, she will exclaim across the bus, “It is Sunday, a day of rest! Do not talk so loud!”
We hadn’t seen her in a long time until last week when we were disembarking from the 5 at Baker and she was waiting at the stop… Let’s just say I got a very stern look and lots of hand motions which insinuated that I was being loud and obnoxious. But I was outside and laughing (soberly and not super loud) around noon on a Saturday. Has anyone else run into this librarian-like French woman?
Please don’t do that 10.26.09
I take the 31 towards Fillmore after I leave work. Normally, I walk the mile home but today I was particularly tired and wanted a quick trip. It was a quick ride but disgusting to say the least.
The bus was packed, smelled like like stale body odor and Cheetos, and of course, there had to be this guy. Standing up, holding on, trying not to breathe the stench in too much, I notice a man sitting down flailing about. He was shirtless with shorts and wearing sneakers with no socks. He had scabs all over his upper body and was talking to himself.
Now, I know I was not the only person praying to get the hell off that bus asap. Then, he stood up and started violently picking his nose. I mean really sticking his fingers up there. I could have barfed right then.
Soon after he took the same finger and proceeded to pick some food out of his teeth. I mean, he was getting waaay back there. THEN, to top it off, he started gagging and I truly believe he was doing this on purpose. I’ve been in the city for 5 months and this ride home was the worst I’ve experienced so far. Let me tell you, 5 minutes on the bus with someone like that will haunt you forever.
Photo Gallery: Inaccurate or Outdated Muni Signage 08.13.09
Found this amazingly neato photo set on Flickr the other day. It was shot and assembled by Octoferret, to whom we owe a humble thank you. In light of upcoming Muni lines slated for extinction, we feel this is a moving tribute to the routes that time has forgotten.
Rats! 04.23.09
I’ve seen some pretty nasty stuff after riding Muni twice a day for almost two years, but what I saw a couple of days ago takes the cake.
A woman got on the 31 Balboa at Montgomery and Market with a small (about 10″ wide 5″ deep) tupperware FULL OF RATS! Not gerbils, not hamsters, but about 8 to 10 full sized rats! She looked like she might be homeless, so I doubt they were from PetSmart. I thought to myself “Shit, that’s pretty nasty, but at least she has a lid on the box”.
But then she proceeded to take the lid off and feed the rats small bits of carrots. They all started crawling all over each other, and the bus was quickly filled with the raw stank of rat pee. Afraid that we would hit a bump and she would drop the box, I quickly got off at the next stop.
Whether they involve animals or not, if you have a Muni or BART story to tell, send it our way.
Jamming on the 31 last night 04.17.09
After yelling about the white man and his separation from the late James Brown, this guy pounded out rhythms, chest-high kicks and grunts from Van Ness to 35th Ave. Awesome…
This gem of a diary came to our inbox from Renee. Thanks, Renee!
Got multimedia to share with Muni rider? Email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
Under siege on the 31 — attack of the kids! 11.27.08
Submitted by Muni rider Joey.
A few weeks ago, on the day of the big Prop H8 protests, I was enjoying a lovely day of shopping downtown with some friends. At the end of the day, against my better judgment, I decided to take the 31 home to the Richmond District.
I hate the 31. I’ll digress for a moment so that I can truly capture my 31 hatred:
In the evenings it’s overcrowded with loud teenagers and irritable shoppers, and both types speak really loudly on their cell phones. Plus, you get all the USF girls who are getting off of work from Abercrombie- I mean really, if you’re wearing leg warmers, it’s too cold for flip flops, dumbass.
Thanks for sharing 08.13.08
No, ma’am. It wasn’t your facial hair. Nor was it your morbid obesity. These things I can look past.
You didn’t hoard any seats, spit, or litter. I’m pretty sure you flashed a Fast Pass and took your seat, not refusing to move to the back of a crowded coach like so many of your fellow riders.
No, your offense was perhaps more egregious: You treated us all, a peaceful bunch of weekday morning 31-Balboa riders, to an exclusive, VIP performance of … your phone conversation with a friend. Loud and clear, thank you.
It was so wonderfully annoying, really, the way you neglected to shield your loud mouth from us. Otherwise we might not have been privy to all those glorious details of your home and social life.
Unless it’s an emergency, or you can keep it brief and quiet, put your phone away.
- Jeff
Jeff has heard his fair share of excuses.
Pissin’ in the Wind out in the Avenues 08.08.08
Thank god sometimes for NextBus.
This morning, I was out in the upper 20s on the north side of the park, and was passively relying on the 31-Balboa, which typically arrives shortly after 9 a.m. I usually check NextBus around 8:50 or so, and this morning, it’s a damned good thing I did. Here’s what I saw:
There was no way I could make that seven-minute bus. I’m not sure the world is ready to see me ride Muni in my boxers. That, and I still had to get the dog ready.
But note the parenthetical around that 22-minutes-away bus: Masonic & Turk????
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