(Art diary) J-Church comin’ through
Image by captin_nod
As seen in Clarion Alley.
Weekend photos: Goin’ retro in the now
Photo by Flickr user _lmc
This short week sure did pack quite a punch. Four-day weeks often remind of us what’s left in the juicer’s reservoir — condensed everything, and not too savory.
Anyhow, Muni seems to have held up fairly well, all things considered. Here’s a look back at the week in Muni news:
– Muni Weighs How to Restore Service If It Gets the Chance (StreetsblogSF)
– Muni budget still in limbo (City Insider)
– SFMTA Board Urges Board of Supervisors to Put Revenue Measure on Ballot (StreetsblogSF)
– Cyclist collides with F-Market streetcar (SF Examiner)
And looking ahead to this weekend, the SFMTA advises of the Union Street Fair, which will take place from 10 to 6 Saturday and Sunday. It will affect service on the 22-Fillmore, 30-Stockton, and 45-Union/Stockton in the Union/Fillmore area. The Statuto Race on Sunday will affect 39-Coit service Stockton/North Point vicinity. And on Saturday, the Saint Boniface Church Anniversary will detour service on the 5-Fulton in the Golden Gate/Leavenworth area.
Once this paste known as humidity lightens up, please breathe again. And have a great weekend!
Photo by adamjackson1984
Photo by angryf
Photo by Brandon Doran
Photo: Gumby sans Pokey
From way back in the day (in May).
A month of Muni, in visual form
Ever wonder how the gods see Muni? Us, too. Eric Fischer has gone and outdone himself with the above image. According to Mr. Fischer:
“Average speed at each location according to NextBus, April 13 – May 21, 2010. Black is stopped (less than 3 mph). Red is slow (3-5 mph). Blue is normal operating speed (5-9 mph). Yellow is fast service (9-19 mph). Green is rapid movement (faster than 19 mph).”
Who knew Muni data could be so purty? I’m going to think of this next time I’m stuck on a metro car in a tunnel.
Oh, but our boy Eric isn’t done just yet:
“Average speed at each location according to NextBus, April 13 – May 21, 2010. Each level of gray represents a speed increment of 0.1 mph, up to a threshold of 24 mph.”
24 mph, eh? I’d like, just once, to be on that bus.
Photo diary: I got big …
… nuts and I cannot lie! It’s why my leg is at your side….couldn’t help myself!
My Muni Sanctuary
Photo by chainsmokingbluemonkey
Sean at Noisebeard is newish to San Francisco and not at all fazed by the schizophrenic relationship we riders have with the beast we call Muni. Instead, Sean has chosen to embrace the crazy.
Most people I know who also have to ride the bus around often complain about it. It’s crowded, slow, and pretty unreliable sometimes, especially on weekends. I don’t need to defend any of those claims because they’re 100% true. But I think what people overlook is the social complexity that Muni offers.
People of all sorts ride the bus for whatever reason. At any time of the day, the buses are pretty crowded. Living in a city with around 900,000 people in the “proper” area, there’s never a dull moment.
I love riding the bus. I like the weird people that join me in the ride. I see something new every day. I see the same drivers on my routes looking totally complacent and care-free. I see the old Asian men and women carting home their bundles of Chinatown goodies. I see the mid 20s hipster chicks with their denim-painted tights and iPod/iPhone headphones dangling around their scarf. I see the Tenderloin crack heads holding onto mortality and falling at every lurch in the bus’s path. I see it all. Every social paradigm someone could conjure up ends up on Muni eventually. It’s the ultimate people watching venue.
Continue reading Sean’s post at Noisebeard to find out how this newcomer avoids Muni frustration.