Muni Assault Sends Driver to Hospital 04.19.10
Photo by Flickr user j-fool
An assault on the 9-San Bruno on Saturday evening sent the driver to the hospital, CBS5 Crime Watch reports. According to the CBS5 report:
Muni officials said a number 9 San Bruno bus driver was pulled off his bus and attacked.
It happened around 5 p.m. near the intersection of San Bruno Avenue and Somerset Street.
The driver was not seriously hurt, but was sent to the hospital for treatment of a minor cut.
Surveillance video isn’t available yet. The driver was pulled off the bus? The attack comes after SFPD announced new anti-crime efforts on Muni.
Weekend photos: Damn Muni can’t drive itself 02.12.10
Photo by Jason Schlachet
Here we are, another Friday afternoon. That can mean only one thing: Time to revisit some of the more important goings-on of the week that ends in three, two, one …
- We never did hear a follow-up, so we assume the woman hit by a 9-San Bruno on Tuesday is okay. She was sent to the hospital where she was treated and put in critical condition. Video of the incident was released a few days later.
- On the lighter side of things, after some frivolous twitter-twatter (heehee), SFist went public with a contest to get a new slogan for Muni. If you haven’t weighed in yet, now’s your chance.
- We did our best to get a report out on this week’s MTA townhall meetings to discuss upcoming service cuts and fare hikes. The next day, Streetsblog SF brought up a great point many people seemingly forgot about: bus stop consolidation.
- Thursday evening’s commute on Muni Metro got interesting when the pantograph on an L-Taraval busted way out at 36th and Taraval, knocking over the dominoes that crippled the entire Metro system. It wudn’t purty.
- MTA announced that it is rescheduling its next board meeting (to consider the latest budget proposal) from Feb. 16 to Feb. 26. Mark that date, and come let the board know how you feel the service cuts and fare hikes will affect you.
Okay, take a deep breath, let the magic take over and whisk you away to a more Zen-like weekend. See you Monday er, Tuesday. Which reminds us: Muni will run on a Saturday schedule on Monday, aka, tall, dead white guys’ day.
Photo by tbridge
Photo by brad.coy
Photo by Nick.Fisher
Photo by eviloars
Life-threatening injuries in Muni-pedestrian incident (update) 02.09.10
Update (4:55 p.m.) From MTA:
Final Update
As of 4:17 p.m., the scene below has cleared and all Muni buses have returned to their regular routes.
According to San Francisco General Hospital, the pedestrian is in critical condition.
Per normal procedure, the Muni Operator (hired in 2000) involved in the accident has been placed on non-driving status and will be tested for drugs and alcohol.
The investigation by the San Francisco Police Department and the SFMTA is ongoing.
Original post: This just received from MTA:
Muni Service Alert
As of 1:41 p.m., an accident between an outbound (southbound) 9 San Bruno Muni bus and a pedestrian on San Bruno Avenue at Burrows Street is causing the following Muni buses to be re-routed around the accident scene:
9 San Bruno
9L San Bruno Limited
8X Bayshore Express
8AX Bayshore ExpressThe injuries to the female pedestrian are described as life-threatening by the San Francisco Fire Department.
The San Francisco Police Department and the SFMTA are investigating the accident.
We’ll get updates in here as soon as we receive them.
No Ride For You! 02.04.10
Photo by Flickr user SlinkyDragon
Rightfully pissed-off rider Mel sends the following gripe:
This morning found me and my husband and one other guy sprinting a long city block to make it to the #9. We got to the doors in time, the dude in front of us who was sprinting gets on the bus, I raise my foot to get on…and the DOORS SLAMMED RIGHT IN MY FACE! The driver made EYE CONTACT with me and still sped off! WTF?
Seriously, it’s one of the worst lines in the city. Drivers seem to make a game of how far they can pitch us around the bus with rapid acceleration and braking and they’re stone cold deaf when fights break out.
I’m tired of paying more for less. Down with Muni and their crappy rude drivers.
My last ride on the dearly departed 26-Valencia involved a drunken sprint caddy-corner to catch the bus. The doors closed just as I drunkenly touched them from outside. The driver saw this, and opened the doors back up.
I only relay this story to suggest that, as often as Mel’s story occurs, perhaps, there’s the other side of the coin. Or maybe the doors open once for every 16.3 times they slam in your face. Either way, the drivers almost always see this happen. Shame on those who, unlike my lucky 26 driver that night, leave potential riders high and dry. Hmph!
A Silent Van Ness Station and Finding the 9 San Bruno 12.14.09
Photo by Mike at Epic Road Trips
After dinner at Olivo’s in the Tenderloin I walked down to Van Ness and Market to catch a bus to Potrero Hill.
At Market and Van Ness I saw an underground where I could catch the N Judah which crossed the 22 Fillmore line at Church. I knew this was not the quickest way, but I know it would get me home.
I got to the turnstiles and there was a guy blocking the way as he was talking to the attendant in the glass booth. A woman who wanted through said, rather disgustedly “Are going in or coming out?” The guy said, “The trains aren’t running and I’m trying find out what’s wrong. But, you can come in.” And he stepped aside with a flourish.
Now it was my turn, I used my FastPass and then asked the attendant if the N was running. She said “Yes, but the are running slow. But they are running”. Ok. Down to the platform.
The above photo was what I saw when I got to the platform stairway. Everyone was milling round, some resignedly others were more agitated. Some were looking at there watches and mumbling. This was not a good sign.
I went down to the platform and then realized just how bad it was. There was not one sound to be heard in any direction. It was very eery. And to me it meant there was absolutely no movement in the tunnels. You can here the trains for miles down here and now it was absolute quiet. Time to leave.
I stopped on my way out and asked the attendant what surface transport I could take which would cross the 22 line going to Potrero hill. She thought for a moment and said, “Take the number 9 and get off at Potrero and 16th.” This intersection I knew well by now and so I thought I was on my way. But, when I got up to Market Street I could see no sign anywhere for a “9″ Bus stop. I walked a complete circle around the busy intersection and could see nothing.
Now what!? I went back down into the station using the stairs on the other side of the street. Again, I asked the attendant (a different one) the same question. She gave me the same answer. But this time another MUNI worker told me the stop was up at the Bank of America. He said “When you get to the top of the escalator go right to the stop for the 9 San Bruno”. Ok, now we are getting some where.
I did as instructed, and , guess what! I was right back where I started. Oh, brother… No sign of the 9 bus stop.
I noticed some people on the street car platform and decided to take a chance. I asked one of the ladies standing there where I could catch the number 9 and then the 22 and she said “On the other side of the Bank of America. It comes down Market and turns there.” Ah ha!
I crossed the intersection again and walked past the escalator I had come out of and it was then I realized what had happened. The previous instructions to “go right” should have been ” go straight to the first street, then go right. So, there I finally was, at the stop for the 9 San Bruno.
I had been waiting for about 5 minutes when I was surprised to see the woman from platform turn the corner and walk straight towards me. She came up to me and said “Oh, I see you found it. I just realized I didn’t ask you what direction you wanted to go on the 22. I said “To Potrero Hill”. And she said “You’re Ok then”. I thanked her sincerely for coming to check on me and I was quite amazed she did it. She could easily have missed her bus.
Now, to make a long story even longer. I boarded the San Bruno and confirmed where I needed to go with the driver. He said he would call out the stop when we got to. Groovy. I might get home yet. I sat down and we just sat there. The driver was having some king of long conversation with another MUNI employee. Finally she got off and bus driver said: “Sorry folks, Supervisor.”
The driver yakked amiably with several of the passengers and then called out my stop for me. I waited about 5 minutes and boarded the 22 behind several people. When we all boarded the driver stayed put, and looked around at one of the passengers and said “Is that wadded up piece of paper you showed me actually a valid transfer?” His voice was dripping with sarcasm. The older gentleman he was talking two tottered up to the front of the bus mumbling “It should be valid…” He showed it to the driver who dismissed him with a wave of his hand. What a jerk.
Next stop – same thing. Someone got on and I guess he didn’t stick his transfer in the drivers face so the drive stayed put and said “I didn’t see that transfer”. The guy ignored him – ear buds. The driver then got half way out of his seat and waved his arms and said the same thing. Guess this time the guy heard him. Satisfied, he finally pulled out of the bus stop. Brother…
Finally we got to my stop. It was nearly ten o’clock. I went upstairs and it was lights out in short order. Interesting day.
Trick or Treat, Now You Have to Smell My … 10.13.09
Sure, it is tempting to put one’s feet on the seat facing one’s own, but how does this guy justify taking up all these seats in a row on a rather full 9? And shouldn’t one, at the very least, put one’s feet down when somebody looks longingly at the shoe rest?
Don’t commit this Muni faux pas, especially on a rainy gross day like today! And don’t forget to send us your tales on the bus.
Muni Sting — Still Continuing Today? 09.25.09
Photo by Thomas Hawk
This morning I saw two uniformed police officers on my line (49-Van Ness) for the first time. It made me wonder if the sting operation as reported by SFGate will be taking place in the near future in the Mission. The Chronicle reported that the sting operation earlier this week happened at the Ingleside station.
According to Rachel Gordon via the City Insider blog:
A posse of San Francisco police officers worked a special undercover operation on three Muni bus lines earlier this week and by the end of it had issued 22 citations for such minor offenses as back-door boarding, littering at a bus stop, alcohol and tobacco possession by minors and on-board eating.
…
Snakes on the 9! 06.24.09
This actually happened in 2001, but this I just heard about this site today so….
New years eve 2001/2002, I decided to go to one of those giant raves they used to have at the Cow Palace. I lived downtown, so took the 9 out to the Cow Palace. The trip there and the party were uneventful, but ride home was surreal.
A few stops down the line a guy gets on and sits down near me. He was a big ripped dude, probably 6’6″ 250lbs. He was wearing what looked like a prisoner jumpsuit, and had a cast on his arm. He was sweating like crazy and his eyes were bugging out of his skull.
He was sitting across from me near the back of the bus. He kept twitching and muttering under his breath, standing up then sitting right back down. The only word i could make out was “snakes”. Before long he started asking people if they have seen the snakes on the bus. Of course, nobody had, and this just starts to agitate him.
A series of Owl-fortunate events 04.19.09
Note: The title is supposed to emphasize “Unfortunate,” not riding on the Owl being fortunate.
Happy 1906 anniversary people, as you all know, people gathered at 3rd and Market remembering those who died. Eventually the crowd went onto Church and 20th to spraypaint the gold hydrant. But, I’m pretty sure most of you guys got lucky — the Owl was working for you and you guys got on a fake cable car and headed there with ease — mine was different.
So, anyway, I started out at Van Ness and Jackson, heading on the 90-Owl hoping to time-transfer with the 91-Owl at Van Ness and Chestnut. Unfortunately, as I got to Van Ness and Chestnut I saw the NextMuni display and it said “91-Owl: 22 minutes & 37 minutes.” So I ran as fast as I could to catch the 90-Owl, hoping to catch the 38. Unfortunately, some guys got on at Union and tried to get a free ride. “I gave you a free ride yesterday,” the driver said, but he still got on and asked people around for a dollar. Nobody gave him one, so he began this long talk with the driver which lasted three minutes or so, and the bus was heading slowly up Van Ness. The bus let the guys off at Pine, and continued slowly.
Abusive Operator on the 9 (Also, a 30-minute Wait for the 19?)? 03.15.09
Normally when I head home from Potrero Hill I would take the 19. It’s a thirty-minute, roller coaster ride from the start of the ride, but that wasn’t the case today, mainly because of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations (Happy Early St. Patty’s Day too!)
So, I decided to use an alternative, which would mean I would take the 9 in hopes of catching the 47. I got on the 9, but missed the 47.
Anyway, I got on the 9 at SF General. When I got to 16th, two guys got on the second rear door. After that, the driver, who was a she, called Central Control, and we were idling there for FIVE MINUTES. Two minutes into when she was making the call, this guy went up to her and started screaming at her. She starting screaming back at him, saying,
“You can’t tell me what I can or can’t do!”
He got off, occasionally returning to the bus to scream her off. After that, her wife, or girlfriend. Or friend. Or whatever, went up and yelled at her. She returned fire by calling her a “bitch”, and some other nasty stuff I didn’t hear because I was in the back.
And all this during a call to Central Control!
So here’s the lesson for these folks: Don’t mess with Muni operators otherwise they may resort to committing dumb acts by cussing you out!
