So close, yet so far—when your hangover turns south on Muni

Pic by ashleyszwec

One of my favorite things about Muni Diaries is how naturally people share stories or “you won’t believe what happened” anecdotes. Sometimes those come in as longer write-ups or poignant images, but they’re often snack-size snapshots that sneak into our social feeds. From a reader on the Muni Diaries Facebook page:

One time I was super hungover trying to get home to the Sunset. I secretly puked in my own bag. I was only 2 stops away and didn’t feel like I could walk. I was almost there!!! (This was more than 10 years ago btw.)

I feel you, and I see you, reader. I also think this was the most polite option for all involved.

If you’ve cleared your last meal and are curious about how often this happens on Muni, listen to this podcast episode how it played out for Muni Diaries Live storyteller Kristee Ono, dig into our Muni vomit archive or come clean with a story of your own.

When we say “story,” it doesn’t have to be long, it doesn’t have to involve vomit, but it does have to be your own experience in this funny place we call home. Email munidiaries.sf@gmail.com, or tag us @munidiaries on TwitterInstagram, or Facebook.

‘Squeeze the chicken’: One ingenious solution to broken transit

Not that chicken.

A tip via reader Marcin W., Jannina Uribe tweeted this ingenious solution to a broken stop request from a bus in Mexico. She reports that the written message translates to: “Bell out of order. Squeeze the chicken.”

Insert any number of chicken/Muni/and choke-the-chicken jokes here.

In the spirit of international cooperation, we occasionally have a look-see at what’s happening on transit around the world, including a most Pride-ready tram in Amsterdam, these dope bus shelters in Austria, and transit etiquette guidelines from Taipei, hometown of Muni Diaries cofounder Eugenia.

Hey, important news: Muni Diaries Live is back this Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Elbo Room, which is closing in Jan! We’re selling out fast so get your tickets right this way.

Mannerly must-have for Muni riders: letterpress etiquette cards

letterpress bus etiquette muni diaries by huneymungerdontcare

Someone found a classy way to complain about a very annoying habit on Muni — those damn backpacks! Direct from the Muni Diaries Instagram inbox, artist Emma Munger sends us her very first letter press project:bus etiquette cards. Emma says:

My first letterpress project is something I can hand out to the dickheads of public transportation #takemycard

No, please, for the love of god, take her card.

Inconsiderate backpack carriers on Muni have been called a lot of names — turtles, for example — in our transit-riding community. You hate having backpacks bumping into you so much that our very first Spanish submission was about this universal pet peeve.

The powers that be assure us that they’re aware. A lot of ink has been spilled about how you should just take the damn thing off on a crowded bus. BART made a PSA about it. It’s the number two complaint from Muni riders (can you guess what numero uno is?). But that has yet to translate into common commute courtesy.

Check out Emma’s online store of her other very cool work.

Psst: are you a podcast fan? Hear our live stories on the new Muni Diaries podcast! Find us on iTunes and Google Play.

Pants, Check: Lost and Found on Muni


Photo: nelz9999

100 Muni StoriesSome of our favorite stories are those of lost and found. Love. Clipper Cards. Pants?

@Robbie_Lawrence‘s tweet tells a compelling, centennial-worthy tale in Twitter-size bites:

lost my pants and my wallet one night. Month later a homeless guy brought it to me saying was on 5-Fulton

Score one for humanity.

Catch up with all the published stories on our 100 Days, 100 Muni Stories page. And help us celebrate 100 years of journeys on Muni: submit your own entry today or tweet @munidiaries with hashtag #100MuniStories.

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