Your place to share stories on and off the bus.
Bob at All City says, “We saw each other last Tuesday in the Civic Center Station. You had smiling eyes. I had a Pentax.”
We wonder which one in the photo he’s referring to.
Add your Muni photos to our Muni Photos group pool on Flickr or email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
Photo by Telstar Logistics
A few paragraphs into the heartbreaking story of 28-year-old Alicia Parlette, who’s been suffering a rare and aggressive form of cancer and recently decided to end treatment, I was struck by her sentiment about public transportation. Parlette, who met her boyfriend on BART, said:
“I always wanted to meet someone on public transportation. All these people are riding to and from work, and they’re all looking at their iPods. Why can’t they be looking at each other?”
Exactly. I’m not sure that iPods are entirely to blame, but we do seem to have more gadgets to keep us from making conversation with one another. But the best stories on Muni Diaries — at least my favorite ones — happen when people break out of their shells and talk to fellow passengers. We even have a few friends who met their spouses on public transit: Lisa and Nick, who met on BART and are now expecting their first child; Eric, who met his wife on the 22-Fillmore (See? Miracles do happen); and then there’s a never-ending stock of potential hook-ups in Muni Missed Connections.
And while people might say that iPods and smart phones are getting in the way of making connections, these gadgets can be a conversation starter, too. A few months ago, we set out on the bus one day to ask people what they were listening to and made a Muni playlist. Creating a snippet of the day’s soundtrack on Muni was so much fun because passengers enthusiastically shared their music choices with us, and we got to report a slice of life on Muni, which is always what we’re looking for.
Sure, there’s a lot to complain about on Muni — we see it on Twitter all the time. But we know that riding the bus can be so many other things, too. Sometimes friendships and relationships emerge from these chance encounters; other times, you just get to know someone you share this city with for a few minutes, then you’re both off to whatever adventure lies next. So, the next time you see people break out of their self-imposed cocoons of isolation on Muni and actively engaging with fellow passengers, let us know. Tell us your stories.
Photo by Katieswall
New Muni service cuts may be on the table for discussion as SFMTA tried to figure out how to bridge its budget deficit, reports SF Appeal. The agency has just approved sprucing up 80 aging buses (via the Examiner). That project costs $12 million — with $12 million in federal and local funding, SFMTA is still $9 million short. SFMTA’s budget deficit shrank this fiscal year, but the agency is still looking at service cuts as an option.
According to SF Appeal:
The transit agency is looking at $19.6 million budget deficit for the new fiscal year, beginning this July, which means that the SFMTA is again considering “right-sizing its service,” as Reiskin described it at the MTA Board meeting Tuesday.
According to the Ex, Tom Nolan, president of the agency’s board of directors, said that potential service reductions seem “like a really good option.”
Muni cut service by 10% in 2010, which led, they say, to savings of $28.8 million. About half of those cuts, they say, were eventually restored.
Hmm. “Right-sizing.” The San Francisco Chronicle also has more on the budget deficit that SFMTA faces this year.
We’ll keep you updated.
Photo by David Lytle
Thousands of Craigslist Missed Connections ads on Muni and pickup artist bootcamp can’t be wrong, right?
Making the moves on someone on Muni sounds awkward to me, but we know at least a few riders who met a cutie on the bus: Eric, Wil, and this mysterious note writer. What do you think? Should we get off OkCupid and start riding Muni more?
Photo by juicyrai
Hi, everyone. Just a quick note here to let you know that momma Eugenia has left me (papa Jeff) in charge of you kids for the next two weeks. Yes, you can eat all the candy and dessert and sodas you want, watch whatever on TV, and go to sleep when you feel like it. But let’s make a deal, too: let’s create the best Muni Diaries we can for Eugenia to come home to.
That means you guys gotta keep sending me your Muni stories, photos, videos, songs, and whatever else you think warrants a post on Muni Diaries. And keep the comments coming. I can steer the ship, but you guys gotta paddle. Or is it the other way around?
Let’s do this!
* Technically, I will have some editorial/curatorial help these next two weeks. Tara has volunteered to navigate these dangerous waters. Thanks, Tara!
So you’re sitting on the bus and you spot a hottie sitting across from you, what do you do? If you’re a bunch of “suits” on the 41, looks like the thing to do is to stare at the said attractive woman shamelessly and then apologize for it! I found this hilarious post on Craigslist’s Missed Connections section:
Woman on the 41, jeans, sweater, too much attention
So you got on the bus somewhere on union today, you sat facing forward, the suits with their blackberries and the awkward stares filled the back of the bus, 9 old guys trying to catch a glimpse of you. my buddy and i had our backs to you and could not stop laughing watching these guys. the best was when you got off the bus and walked into the old jamba juice, full floor to ceiling glass, looked back and caught the ENTIRE group of dudes staring… so for two of us, we apologize. You are extremely beautiful and the staring was intense, but still pretty funny.
Thanks.
Lovelorn Muni riders have also posted for the dark hair beauty on N-Judah, the intense blonde on the 44, and a hoodie-wearing guy again on the N (hmmm is the N the hottest line in the Muni system?).
Do you have a Muni missed connection?
p.s. Don’t ask me why I’m reading the Craigslist Missed Connection section! I’m doing it for the greater good of Muni riders!