Muni Ray Charles

Ray Charles
Photo by Andy Callahan

Mr. Eric Sir, take it away …

Who says Muni isn’t worth $2?

Last Thursday night I was in a foul mood and in desperate need of some cheering up before the ohGr show at Bottom of the Hill.

After I climbed aboard the 22 I heard a strange sound. It’s difficult to describe to someone who hasn’t heard it; a not-quite-falsetto whine tinged with a gravely roughness that — in a certain way — had a tune which could have been mistaken for music.

The bus cleared out when we hit 16th and Mission and that’s when I spotted the source of the sound: Muni Ray Charles.

Make no mistake, Muni Ray Charles is a black man wearing a suit and sunglasses (at 9pm, no less) who “sings” in his own unusual way.

Passengers kept their distance as Muni Ray Charles rocked himself out like an overwound wind-up toy. Like most other passengers, I was ultimately unsuccessful in suppressing my laughter. His performance was so vigorously impassioned it was impossible to stay in a bad mood for long.

A few stops after Mission, Muni Ray Charles finished the performance, fist-bumped a few passengers, yelled “BACK DOOR!” and was on his way.

Muni News: Muni thefts, new Muni union leaders, BART copper thieves

5549
Photo by mike dillon

  • Alert San Francisco cops stop pickpockets on Muni (SF Examiner) || (BCN via SF Appeal)
  • Extraordinary Circumstances only for cell phone interruptions (BART.gov)
  • Johannes Mehserle Cleared of Police Brutality Charges (SF Weekly)
  • What’s the Best Design for Van Ness BRT? (Streetsblog SF)
  • Muni fares are throwing riders off the bus (SF Examiner editorial … yep, you read that right)
  • Muni union’s frustrated members to pick new leaders (SF Examiner)
  • Good news for Muni riders? (City Insider)
  • Copper thefts around tracks bedevil BART officials (SFGate)
  • Man on Muni Brutally Stabbed Over Cellphone (SF Weekly)
  • Muni Thieves Target Cellphone Users In Three Robberies Monday (BCN via SF Appeal)

Van Ness clusterfuck for a few more years (at least)


Image of one proposal for Van Ness BRT courtesy of SFCTA via The Bay Citizen

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a proposal that, among other things, creates dedicated lanes and prioritized signals for public transit vehicles. The result, ideally, is that Muni fast-tracks through clusterfucked corridors more efficiently than it does now. (See also: 49-Van Ness, 38-Geary, and OMFG ARRRGH).

However, the approval and implementation of BRT plans and proposals has been the opposite of efficient.

Streetsblog discusses the holdup of the proposal for BRT along Van Ness Avenue, one of several asphalt parking lots in San Francisco that Muni has the privilege of navigating.

Van Ness BRT is in many ways the first of its kind in the United States, and its scope has grown to include a complete overhaul of the street. The project’s environmental impact report/statement, released last month in compliance with state and federal requirements, also included a burdensome level of analysis.

Read the rest of the story at Streetsblog SF.

An N-Judah/Prius Sandwich

Muni rider Andrew sends this dispatch from Carl and Willard around 10 a.m.:

Looks like Muni is at it again (or in this case, may actually be the victim!). A car has become wedged between an outbound N Judah train and a parked car. Although nobody wanted to discuss what actually happened, it looks as though the grey [sic] car tried to take a right onto Carl st directly in front of an oncoming N Judah. Bummer.

Bummer indeed. And bummer that no Muni employees could explain what happened to Andrew. Anyone else have more info on this?

Santa gets started on Muni


Photo by @susanalacubana

Yes, he was spotted on BART in October. But that was merely a decoy used to get us talking. Sneaky devil.

Now it’s December, and Saint Nick is for reals. And he’s so chill about it, he’s taking Muni to creep into your non-existent fireplace and deliver presents. Or not? Spotted by no less than two (count ’em, 2!!!!) Muni riders.


Photo by @Krothko

If you see the jolly red dude, gawk for sure. But then share you stories and photos!

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