Weekend Photos: Ready, Set, Santa
Photo by Dennis
Enjoy these photos and your weekend!
Photo by James Cohen
Photo by David McDonald
Photo by Robert B. Livingston
Photo by Sina P
Muni News: More BART on NYE, more Muni muggings, more BART cops
Photo by torbakhopper
- BART to extend hours, provide special service on New Year’s Eve (BART.gov)
- Two More People Mugged On Muni Last Weekend (SF Appeal)
- Outspoken cable car operator Eric Williams to lead transit union (SF Examiner)
- Mayor Ed Lee defends big payout to Muni drivers (SFGate)
- BART Police To Up Patrols In Downtown SF Stations, Offer East Bay Escorts (SF Appeal)
- BART Elects New Board President (SF Appeal)
- SFMTA director lists agency’s accomplishments in year-end letter (SF Examiner)
Muni’s Number-One in My Book, Too
Photo: epugachev
I decided to walk to the Church St. Station to catch the Metro. When [I] arrived at Market/Church, I saw the J streetcar was struck in traffic at Safeway. I proceed to walk down to the subway and catch a train to Van Ness Station. When I arrived at Van Ness…I saw the J-Church that didn’t opened the door for me slowly arriving…so I made my way on the platform to the front and, as the J pulled up, I stood at the side of the driver’s cab and gave him the finger and let it linger there for about 10 seconds or so.
There’s a first time for everything: 30-plus years of ridership, and she says it’s the first time she flipped off a driver.
Well, we’ve all been there: riding the high (“You’re stuck at a red, thank jeebus! Open up, kind sir or madam!”) and the low (“Oh. Walking won’t be so bad, I guess). Literally giving Muni the middle finger could be a bit much, but getting stonewalled is obviously a shit picnic.
What say, Muni riders? Is finger warranted here?
Video Diary: London Bus Driver Story
We’ve heard lots of great driver stories from you, like a driver who stood up for your fare rights, the Muni driver who hands out lollipops, or a driver who decorates his bus for Halloween. Maybe they’d make a great video for SFMTA. I want royalties for this idea. Just saying.
Your Muni Driver Loves You
Earlier that day, @sfkatya told the world, “Found the driver who gives out dum-dums to kids and nice riders. #muniwin.”
Win indeed, even if the driver’s cousin is a dentist.
Muni iPhone Theft on the 38-Geary
Photo by Steve Rhodes
A young woman’s iPhone was stolen [last Tuesday] by two young men on the 38L outbound bus. The victim was seated in the third seat on the same side as the door, between the second door and the accordion section. The taller of the two men snatched her iPhone and ran off at the Fillmore stop at approximately 8:15-8:20 pm.
The noted modus operandi seems to be operating in pairs and stake out their victim by standing near or in front of the potential mark near the door with frequent texting on older non-smartphone phones, making frequent eye contacts with each other. They seem to frequently target women who are distracted or using their phone during non-commute hours.
Other passengers soon informed the driver of what happened, but the driver said he could not do anything since the victim is gone. He called central and reported the incident.
Matt described the thieves as two young black men, one overweight with some facial hair and the other tall and lanky, both wearing all black. This was one of the string of phone thefts on Muni, so use common sense and be aware of your environment!
p.s. Here’s some information from SFPD on how to file a police report.