Your place to share stories on and off the bus.
Update 12:29 p.m.: KCBS reports that the suspect, Bobby Brown, has been handed a bail of $5 million. As things go, any nutjob person with $500,000 can bail this man out. My feelings are that he’s a deeply troubled individual, and that, whatever the failings of the penal code, he should at least be kept off the streets (and Muni) for now.
Original post: SFGate (and others) have the goods. A quick post for the non-Twitter crowd.
Photo by Steve Rhodes
I’m anticipating a fair amount of Oscar Grant-related blowback on this (fair enough), but this story in SF Weekly got me wondering — does the crime on BART justify the presence of more BART officers riding BART?
Photo by Flickr user Orin Zebest
BART rider Beth W. writes in to proffer these suggestions, no-nos you might call them, for passing through fare gates:
* Meander up to the exit, block one of the gates, and then fumble around in your pockets/bag/etc. for your ticket.
* Go through the gates quickly and successfully, then stop walking once the red plastic bits close behind you. For bonus points, start
talking on your cell phone.
* Try to go through one of the gates showing a red circle with a bar through it. Look confused when it doesn’t work. Keep trying.
* Try to get through the gates with an invalid ticket. Get irate when the machine beeps at you. Attempt to slide it through 5 or 6 more times.
* Slide your ticket into the slot for the disabled exit, then try to pick up your ticket from the (nonexistent) spot on top of the machine. If you were in a wheelchair, could you reach up there? No? Then that isn’t where your ticket is.
* Go through the gates with a large suitcase or stroller. Get stuck. Eye passersby pleadingly for help.
* Push your bicycle through the fare gates. Watch as the red gate closes on your bicycle.
* Pay with an exact fare, then throw a tantrum when the machine doesn’t give your ticket back.
What are your favorite BART fare-gate fails? Share.
All photos by Flickr user Telstar
Rider Todd sent us these fantastic photos of Market Street Railway volunteers decorating Muni street cars for the holidays. The volunteers decorated the Milan 1818 and New Orleans 952 streetcars last weekend at the Geneva yard with loads of ornaments, wreaths, and garlands.
The other day when I saw an F train with a little green wreath on its nose, I kind of squealed like a little girl. So thanks, Todd, for the photos!
See the rest of Todd’s photos from last weekend’s Muni holiday decoration party.