Rocking Muni for the Giants 11.02.10
Video by Amber Wolf of Wiz Bang Photography
Watch the 33-Stanyan wade through the thicket of toilet paper and Giants fans in the Castro in the video above.
Fans in the Marina atop a 30-Stockton (photo by @jcsnotes):
More fans in the Marina took over the 2-Clement (photo by SHUN [iamtekn]:
I got a couple of pictures of guys hopping on top of a soon-to-be-stranded 14-Mission, on Mission Street, in (you guessed it) the Mission:
Amy grabbed this short video of that same 14-Mission:
Ariel has a shot of the 22-Fillmore stuck in the Mission:
Giants fans on Muni were burning up Twitter last night too:
“Some guy stepping off the L announced GIANTS 3-0!! Driver repeated it over the PA. No reaction from riders. Me: Really? Giants!” @wallbounce
“people are sitting on 30s here on Chestnut. First Clipper now this. Anarchy!! Let’s go Giants clap x5″ @jcsnotes
“28 driver now leading @SFGiants cheer.” @dalbizo
“I’ve never experienced anything like last night in SF after the win… I just remember running through cloudy MUNI buses #SFGiants” @cementone
Indeed. Indeed.
Congrats to the 2010 San Francisco Giants!
Muni driver Tammy in YouTube documentary 06.08.10
Rider Carlos sent us a documentary he found on YouTube about a Muni driver. It was none other than Tammy, who held a great party on the 33-Stanyan for her riders (see Greg’s post about Tammy in May).
“The Front Seat — A documentary about San Francisco Muni Bus Drivers” was made by Sara Biegelsen at Digital Video Workshops. In it, Tammy talks about why she takes her job so seriously: “All these people on my bus, I’m responsible. Their lives are in my hands. You can’t put a price on that.” She also explains how drivers sometimes have to adjust their mood based on the line they’re driving.
Thanks, Carlos, for the tip. And thank you, Tammy, for your amazing attitude. It’s great to see you in motion.
Copenhageners wish their bus driver a happy birthday 05.17.10
From smallerdemon, just another of the 1,000s of ways Europe kicks our asses.
This reminds us of Muni operator Tammy, who showed her appreciation for her 33-Stanyan passengers by throwing bus parties her last couple of days driving that route. Any 24-Divisadero riders out there get to meet Tammy yet?
Thx, Neatorama
A Party on the Delayed 33-Stanyan Outbound 05.05.10
NextMuni.com says my bus arrives in 18 minutes and the next one comes in 32 minutes. Next I check it’s 9 minutes and 23. Then the ETA jumps up to 12/18…then 13/16…and finally 4/4. By the time I get to my stop, both buses are pulling in together. Just another typical morning waiting for the 33 in Upper Haight.
I hop on the first one, frustrated that yet again it would have been faster to drive. The bus driver apologizes, saying the two buses that were supposed to be in front of hers aren’t running today. Then she offers me my choice of wrapped candy from a dish by the fare machine and for the first time I actually look around at bus 2442 driven by Tammy.
As I sit in the bus watching new passengers board, I witness a Muni miracle: a sea of frowns turn into big grins as people enter and see what awaits them. I overhear nearly every newcomer commenting on the scene to either Tammy or their fellow straphangers. “How cool is this,” they ponder aloud. “Is this for Mother’s day?” “Is someone retiring?” “I can’t believe I got candy.” Even the woman on her cell phone discussing how her doctor just found a lump in her breast seemed upbeat, enjoying her Tootsie-Roll lollipop with her lips curled up from ear to ear.
Muni Saved My Life! 03.29.10
Photo by Flickr user Let There Be More Light
Literally. A scary guy was tailing me from Il Pirata to Mighty on Utah. I left Mighty when I saw scary guy pay the cover and ran onto 16th street. I was under the freeway looking back when I saw the scary guy again. A 33 bus pulled to the side of the road and said, “You look like you need some help.” I got on the bus and the driver dropped me off at 16th and Mission BART. He never asked for cash. That Muni driver saved my life. GO MUNI!!!!!
Thank You, Magnificant Muni Drivers 03.12.10
Photo by Flickr user eviloars
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.
What happens when a nice car backs into the 33-Stanyan (update) 03.11.10
Update (9:14 a.m., Friday morning): Rider Dawn sent us this photo of a legion of 33-Stanyans backed-up after the accident described below.
Original post:
Photo taken by the unstoppable @laurao of @caltraindiaries fame. Taken near Noe and 18th Street.
Muni/pedestrian accident at Stanyan and Fulton (w/Update) 02.23.10
Update (4:43 p.m.): MTA says that the area of the accident is clear, and the 33-Stanyan has returned to its regular route. The injured pedestrian is in serious condition, according to San Francisco General Hospital.
Original post: Just got this alert from MTA:
As of 2:43 p.m., Muni service on the 33 Stanyan route has been disrupted by an accident involving a bus and a pedestrian on Stanyan near Fulton. Buses are being re-routed around the intersection.
According to the San Francisco Fire Department, the pedestrian has been transported to San Francisco General Hospital with potentially life threatening injuries.
According to initial reports from the San Francisco Police Department, the accident occurred when the southbound 33 Stanyan bus began to pull away from the bus zone. Again according to initial information, a male pedestrian running for the bus in an attempt to board it fell and slid under the bus and was run over by the rear wheel. Initial reports indicate that the pedestrian’s leg was injured.
More details as they become available.
Muni Playlist: From New Orleans Metal to Nina Simone 11.16.09
Photo by Flickr user Anita Hart
Whenever I am on the bus, at least a handful of people have headphones plugged firmly into their ears. It’s like we’re riding the same bus but to very different soundtracks. What’s everyone listening to? I spent yesterday afternoon on a couple of Muni lines to poll some random fellow passengers and find out.
Today’s Muni playlist:
On the 33, Tenaya is listening to The Mystic Krew of Clear Light, a heavy metal band out of New Orleans. In front of him, Jesus is listening to Hoobastank‘s The Reason. Jesus’s friend, Julio, was listening to a psycho punk band called skz1 (I think). These guys got off at Haight and Ashbury. A short time later John boarded the bus, listening to his own production of disco and filter house, a new term I learned today. (According to John, Daft Punk is an example of this genre.)
On the 28, Katrina, who was sitting behind me, kindly shared an earbud with me so I can hear Owl City‘s “Fireflies.” In front of us, J.P. Lanigan was listening to Sum 41.
Our Muni soundtrack today also included some comedy — Wilder got on the 28 listening to comedian Daniel Tosh.
On my way home on the L, Jan Dalley introduced me to Her Space Holiday (she was listening to their song called “Sleepy California.”)
Right before I got off the L, rider Andy (nice hat, by the way!) made my day when he told me he was listening to Nina Simone‘s “Don’t Pay Them No Mind.”
You can listen to almost all the songs I found from these kind passengers on the YouTube Muni Playlist below (YouTube didn’t have a video of Nina Simone’s “Don’t Pay Them No Mind” so I substituted a fantastic live version of “Ain’t Got No…I’ve Got Life.”)
What are YOU listening to on the bus?
- Eugenia
Awesome 33 Driver 09.23.09
Photo by Flickr user mattymatt
Sometimes Muni can really brighten your day. Rider Heather sent in the following story.
I was walking to my bus stop that I always take ( 16th and Bryant) and had to just cross the street to be at the stop. The light turned red and then the bus came! I wondered if I should walk or wait and see if another bus comes. Then the fabulous bus driver who I see often honks at me and motions for me to stay where I am. When the light turned green, he crossed the street and opened his doors for me.
Thank you awesome Filipino ( I assume but I am almost positive and have no other description) bus driver man who drives the 33 and is at the 16th and Bryant stop about 10:05pm. If you see him he is truly nice. It really made my day.
Had a good Muni day? We’re all ears!
Ride Muni like a boss. Our Fast Pass Clipper card holders and Muni Diaries T-shirts are on sale 
