Janet’s cousin Sylvia’s best friend’s husband Bob, on repeat 07.06.10
Photo by geekstinkbreath
Andrea had a rather interesting ride on the L-Taraval last Wednesday:
As soon as we exit [West Portal] I hear this woman on her phone.
She goes on to explain that he went to the doctor for a check up, the doctor noticed his pacemaker wasn’t doing its job, then after a series of tests they realized that he never needed one in the first place.
Then Janet tells the person on the other end of the line that we are going to go into a tunnel (which is a big fat lie because there are no tunnels once the L leaves West Portal) and the call was going to cut off. She hangs up.
A few seconds later –
“Hi it’s Janet. . . . Do you know my cousin Sylvia’s best friend’s husband Bob? … Sure you do.”
She goes on to explain the pacemaker story, adding more detail than the last time she told the story. Complaining about the price of Coumadin and about how doctors only want your money, they’ll do anything for a buck,etc. Then she tells the person on the line that her stop is the next stop and she has to hang up.
(more…)
Photo diary: A virtual world aboard Muni? 03.18.10
From Muni rider Anthony:
If Cloud from Final Fantasy 7 was a kid, this kid would be him.
*Scratches head*
Who?
A little internet search showed that Cloud is a young man with what I previously thought was an impossible-in-real-life hairdo, which this cool young man has replicated to perfection.
Thanks, Anthony!
A series of bad days on the L-Taraval 03.05.10
Photo by Telstar Logistics
Ed note: My god, this is so awesome. Such a great response to a shitty, sad situation. L-Taraval rider Kristen has had it with her beloved aggravating Muni Metro line. But she’s not sitting back and taking it, no. Read on, please …
Local papers declare the J-Church the worst line. If so, maybe the reason is that there are so many they can barely move. Someone told me it’s political–i.e., city officials live along the J line. Could this actually be true?
What I do know is, the L-Taraval is terrible as far as frequency and “last-minute” mid-route turnarounds/re-routing.
So I’m journaling my experiences riding the L line on the days that I consider bad. To comment: email me at quisten@pacbell.net.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Date unknown, 2009: a.m. L stops on Taraval. Driver announces he had to stop because he suddenly lost his sight due to a diabetic episode–and that he had recently been hospitalized for a similar episode (yet MUNI had put him right back to work???).
10/12/09, 6:10 p.m. Montgomery sta. I hear announcement saying “…ALL MOVING EXTREMELY SLOW.” I take BART to 23 bus instead.
10/16/09 6:20 p.m. Embarcadero sta. Wait OK but then streetcar changes destination from Zoo to 22nd Ave. sometime before Church. Why not determine destination at Embarcadero end of line? SRO on following car at 22nd.
Read more of Kristen’s bad days on the L-Taraval after the jump. (more…)
KFC Run on L-Taraval 02.18.10
Photo by cbcastro
Muni rider Ellen sends the following dispatch:
I was riding the the L-Taraval train to work one morning and as I approached the front exit the eloquent conductor pointed at me and said, “You… go get me a brown bag” and tried to hand me some crumpled bills. It was obvious I had no clue what he was talking about so he gestured at the nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken that advertised “Brown Bag Tuesday.” He wanted me to get him some fried chicken so he could eat it on the train! I was late for work though so I politely declined and he honked angrily at me as I exited and hurriedly crossed the street. I don’t think passengers should be expected to go on food runs for Muni conductors — especially when he/she commands it while on the job!
What do you think? Are Muni operators public employees, or are we at their service? I mean, a man’s gotta eat, you know? :P
Weekend photos: Damn Muni can’t drive itself 02.12.10
Photo by eviloars
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
Weekend Photos: Looking out on San Francisco 01.15.10
Photo by Flickr user jwhiteman
I simply do not believe that another week has past. That must mean that 2006 2010 is almost over, right? So fast.
So a couple of bombshell Muni news stories dropped just before this post published. The first, and perhaps most crucial, is Streetsblog SF’s report that SFMTA is now considering a second round of major service cuts in May to close its still astounding nearly $17 million budget gap. Cuts would affect every line, and hike fares on the F, cable cars, and express buses. Ouch.
Also late-breaking, KRON reports that Muni stabbing suspect Bobby Brown was found competent to stand trial for his alleged crimes. We find that hard to believe, but then, we’re not lawyers.
There was also this report from The Thin Green Line (an SFGate blog) about how Muni’s ridership and on-time performance numbers are holding steady. You take the good with the bad, I guess.
The weekend advisory from MTA says that rail work on the L-Taraval line will be on hold for the weekend. Also, on Monday (i.e., MLK day), parking meters will be enforced. Enjoy your holiday, if you’re lucky enough to get one!
Photo by Flickr user jwhiteman
Photo by Flickr user daniellallanlefebvre
Photo by Flickr user captin_nod
Photo by Flickr user daniellallanlefebvre
Derailment on the L-Taraval near West Portal 11.17.09
That’s the scene this morning at West Portal. 511/MTA report a derailment of the L-Taraval somewhere between West Portal and Castro stations. We’ll report more as we learn it. If you were there, share stories and photos please. Form or email.
Photos by @wirelesschunk
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
Your Muni ‘Day in Storm’ 10.13.09
Photo by Flickr user Picklesthefirecat
An email from Muni rider Katherine:
Hey guys,
Man what a weathery day!
From SFAppeal: “2:43 PM: Not really related to what we’re talking about, but since this is already a Muni post, what the hell? MTA spokesperson Judson True says that the L Taraval’s derailed between 35th and 36 Aves at 2:05 today. No one was injured, and the cause for the derailment is still unknown.
L riders will be taking a bus between 22 and the zoo.”
My update: my trusty security guard friend, Myles, was waiting to board the train that “derailed”. Apparently it was switching from the outbound to inbound rails and a giant gust of wind caused the electric guide bar thingy and attached electrical box thingy to come completely off the top of train. He thinks the system power cables came along with it. Hence, no L service after 22.
Definitely not a good day for my good ‘ol L line…
The derailment follows a morning of general wet, humid commuting in which NextBus joined its friend Muni in total broken-down-land.
And we’ve still got the evening commute to go … ah!
What has your experience been like today?
Muni’s new insurance policy — too late to cover this weekend’s West Portal crash? (update) 08.06.09
Photo by 2girls1queen
Update (August 6, 2:17 p.m.): SF Appeal helps answer the question this post asked 18 days ago. Thanks, guys!
Original post: Regular service has resumed after yesterday’s West Portal accident, but the fallout is far from over. The SFAppeal reports that 48 people were injured, four of them critical. Ahem, anybody smell a lawsuit coming? This brings us to a KCBS story that a reader sent to us about how the MTA board approved the purchase of something known as catastrophe insurance, which pays for lawsuits. Pretty sad that such a policy is warranted.
But lo and behold, a mere three days following the board’s vote, an accident more or less validates that decision.
Since the MTA board just voted to purchse the “catastrophe insurance” last Wednesday, we’re not sure if a further vote is necessary to enact the insurance policy. Or does the Board of Supervisors need to approve this?
And does the policy cover Saturday’s crash? We doubt it, unless this is a magic policy that’s magically already in place. It would be nice, if only to cover Muni’s already-broke ass. If the policy isn’t in effect, we foresee the potential for multiple lawsuits. If that happens, does Muni fall into an even deeper hole? Ugh.
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