Muni Diaries

Last week, we told you about the end of an era: the departure of paper transfers because SFMTA was looking to upgrade farebox technology. This week, SFMTA approved the new fareboxes, diagrammed above, that will print out receipt-like transfers when you board the bus, reports SFBay.ca. The approved contract for $21.9 million will mean the installation of 1,336 new fareboxes for cash-paying riders, according to SFBay.ca.

Here’s what the new transfers will look like:

Yeah, well, OK. While the images feel more descriptive of a Vertsateller machine from the ’80s or a prop from Back to the Future, we accept that it’s probably more efficient, if less “San Francisco” — an outcome that always requires at least one sad face emoji.

That’s right, gone are those nights when you feel like you’ve won the lottery because the driver gave you a Late Night transfer, so get your nostalgic transfer shirts (or tattoos) soon.

Photo credit: SFBay.ca

First, they came for our paper Fast Passes, and we did nothing. Well, we did things*

Now, they’re coming for our paper Muni transfers! We will not stand for this! (But, of course, we will stand for this). SFBay has the story:

The current fareboxes, which date back to 1991, will be replaced with machines that can print real-time passes as soon as Muni riders pay their fare. As reported by SFBay, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has been shopping through proposals from potential contractors since last year.

San Franciscans have been making things out of the transfers for years. And the more crafty among us have been splicing and dicing transfers to squeeze a little more time out of the suckers.

Good times, they end. [sad face]

Read the full story on SFBay and cry in your soup with us.

*
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Fast Pass wallets are back! (well, they were …)
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Muni Art: Fast Pass, Oil on Wood

Photo above by David