Muni Diaries

What if you could replace the ads in bus shelters with messages of your own? What if public spaces spoke to you, instead of projected ads at you?

This is what the team at Wooster Collective did earlier this month in Madrid. More than 60 contributors woke up at the crack of dawn and surprised Madrid’s bus riders with a message take over.

Check it out:

We were honored to be asked to participate in the latest PublicAdCampaign project: the Madrid Street Ad Takeover project. Last Thursday at 5:30 AM over 106 messages replaced advertising in light boxes around Madrid. 4 teams of 16 dedicated folks took only one hour to complete the takeover. Though removed within about 5 hours, most were documented and can be found here. Luckily, there were no arrests.

Contributors were asked to send in text that was printed in black on a white background. People involved included artists, lawyers, teachers, sociologists and gallery owners. Everyone submitted a sentiment about what they would like to see in public space to create a vision of what the public environment could be.

You can read more about the takeover and see more pictures at Wooster Collective.

Though advertising in bus shelters is probably a necessary revenue generator, I can’t help but wonder what kind of messages we would put in our Muni bus shelters if we had the choice. Ideas?

Photo by goofcitygoof

The fifth installment of Muni Diaries Live is tonight, as you know. Our already muddled brains are now scattered as well. But as it’s been the past three years on this website, and as it has been at each of the past four Muni Diaries Live events, your stories, photos, and videos keep Muni Diaries going. And we thank you for that.

The site is three years old now. A bona fide toddler. Walking around on its on, talking, pooping on the pot. We’re proud of this little corner of the internet. And we’re thankful that you all seem to enjoy it enough to keep reading and sharing your Muni stories. Thanks, guys!

Here’s this week’s Muni news:

• Muni Bus Strikes Car, Sends One Victim To Hospital (KTVU)
• Muni Honors Cam Beach (Streetsblog SF)
• BART Riders Now Have a Dignified Walkway at Balboa Park Station (Streetsblog SF)
• Muni N-Judah love train chugs along (SFGate; not news, but a cool story)
• MTC and Clipper Keeps Quiet About $2 Monthly Fee for Commuter Benefit Users (Akit’s Complaint Department)
• Man Stops Muni in Its Tracks (SF Weekly)
• Hearing To Determine Fate of Texting Muni Driver (KTVU)
• It’s happened again –- Muni train door left opened while traveling in subway (Daily Dose of SF)
• Muni Union Votes to Approve Strike Authorization, SF Threatens Legal Action (SF Appeal)

Now, allow me to turn my attention to my day job for a few. Got some things to do so that I can knock off early and get ready to party at Muni Diaries Live No. 5! Enjoy these photos and the rest of your weekend.

Photo by Justin Beck

Photo by davitydave

Photo by franciscophile

Photo by Noodles and Beef