The smallest gestures go a long way

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San Francisco - BART
Photo by Flickr user sebastiansuk.de // pitlanepics.de

BART rider Anya has this diary to share:

So BART had some serious rush-hour delays this morning. So when I got to Civic Center there was a mass of people waiting, already looking frustrated. The Pittsburg/Bay Point train pulls up LOADED with people. Naturally, when the door opens, it’s a typical battle to wrestle yourself into the train. Everyone is even more agitated and pissed.

Once we get to Powell, before the doors open, the train conductor says something to the extent of “sorry to have to start your day this way folks but look on the bright side — it’s a beautiful day outside. Forget about us and have a good rest of your day.” Everyone immediately lit up in smiles (as jam-packed as we were) and a few people chuckled.

Moral of the story: even the smallest gesture goes a long way on days like that. Thank you to that train conductor for being so positive! And to the other drivers — please try to stay positive and cheerful on the crappy days…. your words go a long way to make everyone else snap out of their angry commuter modes.

Got a BART story to share? Do it here at BART Diaries.

Category: BART, reflection Tags: ,

Love Seats on the Bus

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Love Seat
Photo by Flickr user jovike

Rider Julie pointed us to a post on Copenhagenize.com. Starting this week, more than 100 buses in Copenhagen will have red love seats to encourage flirting. If you’re single and ready to mingle, sit in the love seats and see if magic happens on the bus.

“How about it, Muni?” Julie asks, “I can use some love on the 1AX,” she says.

You and me both, Julie! I absolutely adore the unabashed enthusiasm for flirting — from a transportation firm, of all places.

More from Copenhagenize.com:

The transport firm, Arriva, is following the increasing trend of companies branding themselves as singles-friendly.

Buses on routes 3A, 4A, 150S, 173E and 350S now feature seats that are red, placed next to each other, where according to Arriva flirtacious, sexy glances and cheeky pick-up lines from both sexes are allowed.

“We would like to get people to change their behaviour and flirt and smile more on the bus. Maybe some will find love. Others may just want to try taking the bus because there is a chance to flirt with a good-looking guy”, says Marianne Færch, from Arriva.

Several experts agree that the red seats could very well become the most sought-after on the buses. Single life is no longer a tabboo, it’s an accepted part of modern life.

If these seats were on my line, I think I’d get a kick out of either sitting in them or eavesdropping for some unfortunate pickup lines to unfold …

Category: diaries, Funny: Muni LOLs

1930s San Francisco With Hella Streetcars

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We found this amazing home movie from the 1930s on 10 Times One‘s twitter feed. Part of it (0:23-0:46, roughly) shows a bunch of streetcars and one of those old hubs you hear about every so often. We love this stuff! Maybe one of you can help tell us where (on Market, obv.) this is?

Also, as you’ll notice, the video has no sound. That was once the case with the now-ubiquitous “Trip Down Market Street” video, until some clever hands on You Tube got a hold of it. All good images can be made better with sound. What are you guys waiting for?

Category: diaries Tags:

A Party on the Delayed 33-Stanyan Outbound

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full-bus

NextMuni.com says my bus arrives in 18 minutes and the next one comes in 32 minutes. Next I check it’s 9 minutes and 23. Then the ETA jumps up to 12/18…then 13/16…and finally 4/4. By the time I get to my stop, both buses are pulling in together. Just another typical morning waiting for the 33 in Upper Haight.

I hop on the first one, frustrated that yet again it would have been faster to drive. The bus driver apologizes, saying the two buses that were supposed to be in front of hers aren’t running today. Then she offers me my choice of wrapped candy from a dish by the fare machine and for the first time I actually look around at bus 2442 driven by Tammy.

It’s like a Fourth of July party inside Tammy’s bus. There are red white and blue streamers, balloons, coils that say “happy,” banners and party lanterns hanging from the railings. Large handwritten posters adorn the windows thanking her riders and spouting truths such as “Until Muni realizes that without our passengers there’s no Muni!” and pretty much everyone has a smile on their face.

As I sit in the bus watching new passengers board, I witness a Muni miracle: a sea of frowns turn into big grins as people enter and see what awaits them. I overhear nearly every newcomer commenting on the scene to either Tammy or their fellow straphangers. “How cool is this,” they ponder aloud. “Is this for Mother’s day?” “Is someone retiring?” “I can’t believe I got candy.” Even the woman on her cell phone discussing how her doctor just found a lump in her breast seemed upbeat, enjoying her Tootsie-Roll lollipop with her lips curled up from ear to ear.

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Category: Aww: Cute on Muni Tags: ,

Muni Missed Connections #34*

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MUNI SF tattoo
Photo by Flickr user 0x0000org

We were only on the bus together about 3 or 4 stops, I was sitting, you were standing a bit in front of me…but I could not take my eyes off of you. You’re super super super cute, and if you’re single at all, and into us menfolk, I would love to take you out for dinner or drinks or a show or something.

~ tattooed bus boy

Wait, the poster doesn’t even say which line this was? Still, cute. Nice touch with that oh-so-SF “into us menfolk” bit. Good luck!

* Okay, not really. More like 7 or 8. We’re not really keeping track.

Category: diaries, Funny: Muni LOLs, reflection
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