BMW Makes Over BART. No, Seriously.

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Empty BART
Photo by Timothy Wells

Say goodbye to the fecal-stained seats of BART and say hello to BMW, who will make over BART. No, really. Check out this report by CNet.

BMW’s DesignworksUSA announced a contract to design future trains for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the commuter rail system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The contract calls for DesignworksUSA to design the exterior, interior, and train operator controls.

The current trains on the BART system, despite their streamlined look, are actually the oldest fleet of commuter rail cars in the country. The rail system uses a broad gauge rather than the standard gauge of most rail in the U.S., so cars must be custom-designed.

(also see BART’s official announcement)

Since the project won’t be completed until 2017, I hope there’s time for me to suggest some interior improvements. How about some of that supple buttery leather and titanium trim? But then again, features like “rear seat entertainment” could have a whole different meaning when it comes to BART…

Hat tip: BART Don’t Lie

Category: BART, News

Muni news: Lengthy Muni overhaul, new streetcar, new Muni chief

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Milano 1893
Photo by franciscophile

  • Major Muni overhaul project could take years (SFGate)
  • Lawsuit pending over ads on Muni buses (ABC 7)
  • Bay Area transit agencies look to trade leaders (SFGate) | BART leaders dispel rumor (SF Examiner)
  • F-Market Car 1040: Newest All Over Again (Market Street Railway)
  • Muni, SF police to meet with Tenderloin residents about unsafe bus shelters (SF Examiner)
  • Muni could get new chief today (SFGate)
Category: News

Clipper Card citation nightmare

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For your safety.
Photo by Michela

Rebecca recently had a terrible experience with Clipper. Unheard of, right? She’s hoping to find others who’ve experienced something similar in hopes of bolstering her case against getting ticketed.

I live in the East Bay and take BART into work regularly, but I take Muni only rarely. However, I purchased 10-ride ticket for my Clipper Card about six months ago because I do take Muni on occasion.

One night last month I stayed in San Francisco after work for an event, and I decided to take Muni to Embarcadero BART. I got on at 3rd and King, and tagged my card to the reader at the middle door. It beeped and I sat down. When I got off at Embarcadero, a transit officer stopped me and asked to check my Clipper Card. I was stunned when she said that the last time I had tagged in was that morning at El Cerrito del Norte BART. She did not have a record of me tagging out at 16th and Mission that morning, or tagging on at 3rd and King.

I did nothing illegal here besides use the damn card that they are asking us to use. For heaven’s sake, I have more than $200 in general funds on that Clipper Card, *plus* seven rides of a ten ride muni ticket — why would I cheat? But my protest was denied and so I’m going in for a in-person hearing.

Has this happened to you? If so, let us or Rebecca know.

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Fare evader shoots at SFPD; cops fire fatal shot back (updates)

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Update (4:18 p.m. Sunday): SF Appeal reports that the suspect’s gun has been recovered.

Update (8:29 p.m.): The Examiner now reports that the suspect in the shooting near Oakdale and Third has died from wounds he received after being shot by SFPD. The Examiner reports that:

“the two officers were conducting Muni fare inspections on a T-Third Street light-rail train when they detained the suspect on the platform at Third and Oakdale. The man bolted from the platform and fired back on the two officers, Andraychak said. That is when the cops shot at the suspect, with one officer kneeling down to take aim, according to one witness.”

SF Appeal also reports the story. SFGate’s report.

Original post: The Examiner is reporting that a man was shot by SFPD in the Bayview after deboarding a T-Third not having paid fare. We’ll bring you updates as we get them.

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