New Clipper Card Holders with Real Fast Passes

Are you sad about losing those colorful, so-very-SF paper Muni Fast Passes like we are? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Dress up your Clipper Card with these Muni Diaries Fast Pass Clipper Card holders, now with a real Fast Pass on the cover! Flip it open and there are two pockets for your Clipper Card and a few credit cards/IDs/paper money.

Each Clipper Card holder features vintage paper Muni maps, laminated on both sides for durability. They fit easily into your wallet, backpocket, purse, or socks (old-school style).

These Clipper Card holders are available now in the Muni Diaries Etsy store. They were lovingly crafted by Heather L., and designed by Suzanne LaGasa.

Months available:
Mar 06
April 06
May 06
Nov 07
(The January 2010 holder seen in the photo above was purchased already!)

We’ll be adding more of these to the Muni Diaries store in the next few days so if you don’t see a month that you want, check back there or at Heather’s store!

Paper Fast Pass Through the Years


Image courtesy samsast

Today is the last official day to use your paper “M” Fast Pass. As always (and this practice will continue in the future), SFMTA will grant a three-day grace period at the end of the month, so the absolute, drop-dead last day you can use a March 2011 paper “M” Fast Pass is Sunday. But today is March 31, and this month’s pass is the last that the agency will distribute on paper passes.

Let’s take this opportunity to usher the beloved Fast Pass to the netherworld, as we once did with Muni routes that were about to be taken out of service.

A few tidbits about the paper Fast Pass:

  • Ken Schmier is the man who came up with the concept of the Fast Pass. He’s also the mind behind NextBus. Strange, right? But also, not. This happened around 37 years ago, to the best of our knowledge. The first passes went on sale sometime in 1974. The earliest we could find an image of (below) is October 1976.
  • In a blog post from Chronicle Books, designers for the book publisher lamented the lameness of the Clipper card’s look, and paid homage to the beauty of the paper pass.
  • In 2009, local artist John Kuzich opened his Fast Pass exhibit at the de Young Museum. Kuzich asked for people’s passes on Craigslist, then assembled them on panels in really interesting and beautiful ways.
  • Muni Diaries commenter Dexter shares his recollections of the history of the Fast Pass: “I do remember that it came out around 1977 or so and the early ones just featured graphic designs. Later Fast Passes had odd-shaped cutouts to prevent counterfeiting (later removed). Then they switched to photos. I had a collection that was lost when I moved.” Too bad.
  • And of course, in November, we unveiled our first Fast Pass memorabilia product: T-shirts at the Muni Diaries Etsy store, and onesies and hoodies with the same logo available at Secession Art and Design in Bernal Heights. We also have very cool Fast Pass-looking Clipper Card holders at our Etsy store. Look for an awesome new design of cardholders very soon.

Check out these photos of the Fast Passes through time (presented mostly in chronological order) and how San Franciscans have incorporated images of the paper Fast Pass into our favorite holidays. Long live the Fast Pass!

1976 muni fast pass by cranky old mission guy
Photo by Cranky Old Mission Guy


Image courtesy samsast

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BREAKING: Fast Pass prices going up in July

April 2009 Fast Pass
Photo by eviloars

The SFMTA just announced a fare increase beginning in July 2011, mostly felt in the passes that the agency issues.

“A” Fast Passes, which allow riders unlimited Muni rides and BART within San Francisco city limits, are currently $70 per month, but will increase to $72 per month.

On the eve of its last regular day of usability, SFMTA announces that “M” passes, which are for Muni only and are currently $60, will increase to $62.

Other passes will also increase. Cable car rides will go from $5 to $6 per ride.

See all the new fares here (PDF)

Dress Your Clipper Card Up Like a Fast Pass

As convenient as they may be, the Clipper Card hasn’t won any beauty contests. If you’re mourning the loss of our beloved colorful paper Fast Passes, we’ve got something for you: our new Clipper Card holders that actually look like a Fast Pass on the outside! These Clipper Card holders just arrived at the Muni Diaries Etsy shop. They are laminated for durability, and feature two clear pockets inside for your Clipper Card and a few credit cards or IDs.

Each Clipper Card Holder also features a vintage Muni map, showing various San Francisco ‘hoods and old Muni lines alongside those we know and love. Check ’em out:

These Clipper Card holders are lovingly crafted by Heather L. of Heathered and designed by Suzanne Lagasa.

Get them at the Muni Diaries store today!

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