Muni to test three-car Metro trains

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West Portal Muni
Photo by Danny Howard

Add this to the “OMG FINALLY” files. Local news outlets have reported recently on Muni’s attempts to speed up underground and tunnel service. How? By running three-car trains through parts of its Metro system.

Muni Metro trains are unusually short compared to other subways, limited to one or two cars so they won’t block traffic as they crawl along surface streets after emerging from the tunnel. Under the new plan, [director of transit operations for Muni, John] Haley said that one- and two-car trains would be hitched together as they enter the subway at the West Portal or Embarcadero stations during rush hour — and disconnected once again when they popped out. /The Bay Citizen

As SF Appeal‘s April Siese points out:

It’s unclear from the BC article exactly why hooking up multiple trains would make things go faster — though they report that “delays on just one line can grind the whole system to a halt,” it seems like delays on a big, long, hooked up train will be just as system-clogging.

We’d love to hear what you think of this idea. Will joining trains for their journey underground help to speed up the chronically sluggish Muni Metro system?

Read more at The Bay Citizen and SF Appeal.

Category: News

A lightsaber could come in handy on Muni

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Image courtesy Wired.com

In advance of George Lucas’ latest tinkering (the upcoming release of Star Wars movies on Blu-ray), Japanese transportation officials have turned the grab bars on Tokyo subways into lightsabers. Nerds can finally hold onto something other than … well, I’ll stop there.

According to Wired.com:

Using stickers with built-in buttons and LED lights, the promo isn’t only smart, it’s also a great opportunity for stealing Star Wars memorabilia. I imagine that these stick-in ’sabers are going to disappear very quickly indeed.

You might be thinking, ‘Tokyo would do something this cool.’ The best makeover San Francisco transit vehicles have received lately is being wrapped in blue for Dell Computer. Yawn.

Category: diaries

This Wednesday, Muni Diaries Reunion Show/Open Mic!

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Mark your calendars, clear away all the other appointments, because this Wednesday is our first reunion show/open mic at the Elbo Room! Your favorite past performers will be back on stage telling Muni stories that they didn’t get to share the first time around. And you too can get up on stage and win $50 by telling your own story!

Our special guest is the one and only Anna Conda, who will read the winning Muni review on Google Places! If you haven’t written your wittiest review, you better start right now.

Remember Vero Majano, who brought the house down with a story about being one of the kids in the back of the bus? Remember Joyce Lee and her story about riding Muni with her perfectly coiffed mom? You’ll see Vero, Joyce, and many other Muni Diaries Live favorites this Wednesday night.

Remember: this time we’re having our show at the Elbo Room. Doors 6:30 p.m, show 7 p.m.. We’ll see you there!

Category: Muni Diaries Live, News Tags:

Weekend Photos: Rinse, Ride, Repeat

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Approaching MUNI train
Photo by Erik Meldrum

When the temperature goes up in San Francisco, you know it’s time to take out the best fetish wear and spandex from your closet out for a walk. Check out these three fun things to do this weekend.

  • Brokeass Stuart Book Release Party. If you’re a brokeass, you probably ride Muni. Therefore you should get yourself to Stuart’s book release party tonight to see what else you can do with just a few bucks. Friday, Sept. 23, 8:45 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Make-Out Room. 3225 22nd St. between Mission and Valencia. Take Muni there: 12, 14, 22, 33, 48, 49, 67
  • Tour de Fat, with Extra Action Marching Band. Saturday, Sept. 24, 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the official schedule. You’re probably biking there, no?
  • Folsom Street Fair. I would be remiss if I didn’t include the Folsom Street Fair as one of the three fun things to do this weekend. Gents, you still have time to get your backsides waxed if assless chaps are in your very near future. MissionMission has information on the delicious afterparty. Sunday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Folsom Street between 7th and 12th Streets. Take Muni there: 12, 14, 19, 27, 30, 45, 47, 76
  • Eat Real Festival in Jack London Square. So much to eat, drink, make, and see. Lake Merritt BART station.

Muni Diaries would be a sad, ugly site without the amazing pictures from photographers in our Muni Flickr pool. Got a great shot of public transit in our city? Remember to send us your photos via Flickr or even email!

Enjoy these photos and your weekend!

K1000_BW400CN_16Sept2011_21430001
Photo by Aaron Anderer

Where's My Everything
Photo by Thomas Hawk

#muni #commute #sanfrancisco #tenderloin
Photo by Marcel Cortez

:- Limits
Photo by Rob Ward

Category: diaries

New Vinyl BART Seats: Sooner Than You Think

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127/365 | September 16, 2011
Photo by Galina

BART may be replacing those nasty fabric seats sooner than expected, the Bay Citizen reports. Earlier this year, we showed you some of the proposed BART seat and interior designs (BMW FTW!). Originally BART didn’t expect to complete the project until 2017 or 2018, but yesterday BART officials said that changes may come sooner than you think.

In a surprise announcement Thursday, BART officials said the transit agency is set to spend $1.3 million to order more than 5,000 padded vinyl seats that it will install in 100 BART cars in the next six to nine months.

So, no more fecal matter on the seats? I think we can all say yay to that.

The Bay Citizen has more details on the announcement.

Category: BART, News

Video: Old School Dance Moves Made New on BART/Muni

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B-boys and B-girls and everyone else in between, listen up. You have to watch this video. We found it hot off of the Twitter wires (thanks, @SAAjorge). These totally amazing dancers mixed up an old school black and white dance video from the underground in London and remade it on Muni and BART.

Sick, right?

From the filmmakers:

This is a collaboration between Neverstop and YAK FILMS. Music remixed by Sammy Bananas of Fool’s Gold Records.

Dancers in order of apperance: Chonkie F Tutz (TURF FEINZ), Retro (D4M), Waa Waa (Oakland Turf), eNinja (TURF FEINZ), D Kwan (popper from 2nd Nature), Scorpion (Storytellerz), Bboy Karloz (MTK), Lil’ Looney 2 Smoov (TURF FEINZ), T7 (TURF FEINZ), Freshh (Turf Dolls), Zeus (Anamaniakz), Frost (Supreme Soul, Triple Threat), Jerm (TURF FEINZ), Johnny 5 (TURF FEINZ), Kash (YAK). Music remixed by Sammy Bananas of Fool’s Gold Records.

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