Cool Muni Photo of the Day: San Francisco Punk
When was the last time you saw a mohawk this good? I’ve always had a soft spot for punk rockers.
Photo by @Rastadave52
Transit News: Geary transit signals, Van Ness BRT, BART to San Jose, subway funding
Photo by Daniel Hoherd
- New devices on Geary stoplights: No, you’re not being watched (Richmond Blog)
- Concerns raised over BRT lanes on Van Ness Avenue (ABC 7)
- BART line to San Jose lurching into view, in fits and starts (SFGate)
- Controller says Central Subway on track — both budget and completion (SFGate)
- Caltrans approves $82M Central Subway Light Rail Project (SF Appeal)
New homelessness awareness ads go up on Muni
Photo by Lynn Friedman
A new ad campaign designed to break stereotypes of homeless people is scheduled to go up on Muni buses and BART stations starting today, according to SFGate. The ad campaign was commissioned by the Coalition on Homelessness, and shows “clean, normally dressed, pleasant looking people who are homeless,” the SFGate post says.
More:
The ads also include facts like “Most homeless S.F. residents were residents before they were homeless.” (According to the most recent homeless count, 61 percent of homeless people in the city were living in San Francisco when they became homeless.)
Another ad shows a mother holding a little girl with the line, “There are enough homeless children in San Francisco to fill 35 Muni buses.” (The school district estimates there are 2,100 homeless kids in the city’s public schools.)
“We want people to see pictures of people who are homeless and think, ‘Gee, that’s weird. They don’t look homeless to me,’” [Matthew] Gerring[, a coalition staffer] said. “We’re attempting to catch people off guard by getting at their heartstrings, which is how you change people’s minds.”
The ads will be up for about a month. Let us know if you see one and it causes you to rethink your attitudes toward the homeless in our city.
West Oakland BART reopened after protesters chain themselves to train
Photo by @johnsasaki1
The West Oakland station has just reopened after Ferguson activists chained themselves to a BART train this morning and closed down the station all morning, according to @SFBART. As of 3:07 p.m., the station has just reopened and BART continues to experience delays.
Photo by @jilltucker
The San Francisco Examiner reports that about 15-25 protesters chained themselves to trains on both sides of the West Oakland station, and passengers were evacuated. Because of the protest, trains cannot travel to and from the Transbay Terminal. The protest was first reported around 10:45 a.m., the Examiner reports. CBS Local reports that several protesters were arrested.
Super San Francisco Black Friday Gifts
We hope you’re not breaking a sweat (and your wallet) at the mall right now, because here are some very cool, super San Francisco gifts that we found from our favorite Etsy sellers. We found some cool prints, stationery, and apparel, including a Muni belt buckle! Check ’em out.
To wear:
Great Muni tees by SunSet Apparel to show your Muni line pride.
Appropriate for any rush hour ride: Muni Sardines tee by DSF Clothing Company
“Don’t sit there”: Five things to be thankful for on Muni
As we give our thanks and sit down to our feast of choices, it’s really the little things that I’m thankful for as a Muni rider.
1. A friendly warning to weird substances on the seat. Aw, look at this friendly Post-It note on a Muni seat to warn you away from questionable liquid on the seat (rule number one: it’s not water.) Photo via @3nsnared_in_the_brambl3 on Instagram.
2. Cute animals riding the bus. Aw, a kitty in a shopping basket on Muni? How can you resist? Thanks @tashahasfun for spotting this cutie.
3. Getting the bus all to yourself. Those rare times when you’re the only passenger on the bus. It’s like your own $2.25 chariot.
Photo via @cburg319
4. When the bus driver waits an extra second for you as you sprint up the block. Makes my day every time.
Photo by @chrisdav1d
5. People yelling “Back Door” for fellow riders. It’s a San Francisco tradition, really.
Photo by @jtwg.