Photo Diary: ‘All kinds of weird shit went down’


Photo by Heather

Heather‘s rad Muni tale is a few years old, but evergreen for us:

All kinds of weird shit went down on my bus ride back from HMCRA today–people transporting enough grape juice to quench a high school, a 60-year-old dude totally covered in (some really awesome) tattoos (we’re talkin’ legit head-to-toe, here)–but this guy wins hands down. Homie totally just rolled up onto the 33 today with this patio chair, put it down in the aisle next t to me, and sat down in it. From something like 16th and Mission to 24th and Potrero.

We missed this dude when we did a roundup of creative seating on Muni last month. Apologies.

Hey, That’s My Tattoo! Girl Reunites With Her Muni Tattoo

100 Muni StoriesThere’s devotion, and then there’s next-level total fucking adoration. Julie is the proud owner of the Muni worm tattoo you see here. What better way to celebrate Muni’s centennial than slapping some permanent art on your neck?

A few days after we posted a roundup of various Muni tattoos, one of the tattoo’s owners contacted us to tell us more.

Julie is the proud owner of the Muni neck tattoo. Here’s what she had to say upon discovering it on Muni Diaries:

That is me 3 years ago, at the fresh-faced age of 18 when I first got the tattoo. The day after, I was in Costco with my mom, and three dudes stopped me to ask if it was really the worm, and snapped this picture.

Here’s what Julie said about why she got the Muni worm tattoo’d on the back of her neck:

At 15, my mom kicked me out of the house, and I was out on the streets. I would sleep on the 90 or 91 when it was extra cold or rainy out. The drivers, despite their rough exterior, showed me ultimate compassion and sometimes would give me food or hot chocolate. The entire experience of being a street kid had a huge part in the chick I am today, so I got the worm.

Plus, it’s unique to San Francisco, and I’m a city kid to the core.

And the reaction she gets to the tattoo?

It’s always fun. Usually a laugh or two and then a question of why I got it. A lot of tagger kids think it’s pretty cool which always amuses me. Muni operators get a good laugh out of it too, and cable car drivers always tell me it’s my life pass and I can ride their trolley for free any day.

So much awesome is happening on the nape of Julie’s neck and in her story. Thanks for sharing, Julie!

This and other posts are being corralled over on our 100 Days, 100 Muni Stories page. Check out these tributes to the Muni experience, and send us your best Muni memories.

Weekend Photos: The Faces of Muni Riders


Photo by Matthew Davis

Muni Diaries Live No. 5, with its stellar lineup, is a mere two weeks away! We’re getting super-psyched. Be sure to pick up discounted advance tickets ($8) if you haven’t already. They’re running out, and you can use that savings on some of the delightful libations at the Make-Out Room.

Another thing we can hardly contain ourselves about is the San Francisco Giants first home game, under way right now at AT&T Park. SFMTA encourages you to take public transit to and from all games this season. We agree. Or, at least walk or take a cab. Driving there is just silly.

The Muni Diaries Facebook page is another way for you to stay close to the action. “Like” us on Facebook today, and you won’t regret it.

So, yes, Muni didn’t seem to want to stay out of the news this week:

  • Muni crash settlement would bring total cost of West Portal crash to nearly $7 million (SF Examiner)
  • Is the SFMTA too big and unwieldy to function properly? (SF Examiner)
  • Muni hires PR firm to handle media during contract negotiations with workers (SF Examiner)
  • Fare evasions still high in SF as Muni loses $19M in 2010 (SF Examiner)
  • Supe Wiener: Wild Muni Ride “one of those ‘Twilight Zone’ situations” (BCN via SF Appeal)
  • Muni’s new $100K public-relations firm fires first salvo in labor negotiations (SF Examiner)
  • Man Shot By Teens Getting Off Muni Bus In Bayview Thursday Morning (BCN via SF Appeal)
  • Man Shot By Teens As He Got Off Muni Expected To Survive (BCN via SF Appeal)
  • How Smartphones Can Improve Public Transit (Wired.com)
  • Texting Muni Driver on Paid Suspension (SF Appeal)

Enjoy the weekend and these beautiful photos!

Awkward
Photo by Troy Holden


Photo by Ben Soto

MUNI roller disco
Photo by Bhautik Joshi

Hot on Twitter: Sleeping passengers on Muni

Dead assleep on the N-Judah
Photo by WeMeantDemocracy

Here’s our favorite Twitter conversation (twitversation?) on @munidiaries this week:

When you see people sleeping on #muni, do you ever just want to wake them up? — @faernworks

sometimes i like to sit behind them and make a loud screech then smack the window real loud. Hilarity ensues.@Jonathanstack

AHHH no way! i like to cough really loud- but that has multiple benefits… — @faernworks

OH! thats a good one too! makes me want to bust out my spray bottle and “sneeze” — @Jonathanstack

oh that’s just gross! i’ll call you out if i catch you doing that one 😉 — @faernworks

See what fun awaits when you follow Muni Diaries on Twitter?

10-Townsend driver up and quits, but needs a roof over her head

Muni accident F Market smashes into 10 Townsend Bus on Market at 2nd St 4
Photo by Steve Rhodes

Bhautik has the deets on a memorable Muni ride this morning:

Get on the 10 this morning; going along and we pull up to a red light at 2nd and Folsom. The bus driver opens the doors to let people on and off, gets up out of her seat and announces to the bus “That’s it, I quit!”, and walks out. Stunned silence for a moment as she goes and drops some mail in a nearby postbox and gets back on chuckling and saying “..but I like a roof over my head better.”

Everyone laughs along and we all experience a +1 awesome start to the day. It might (allegedly) be the worst-dressed line on Muni but it’s definitely got some of the best drivers 🙂

Oh, to be present on some of these Muni rides. +1 awesome, indeed.

Play ball! SFMTA: Ride Muni to AT&T Park

A Parade For The World Champion San Francisco Giants
Photo by Troy Holden

We relayed a message from SFMTA a few weeks ago about taking Muni to the ballgame. But now, things are different. We’re a mere 13 hours away from welcoming our very own World Series champs back to their home stadium, as the San Francisco Giants prepare to battle the St. Louis Cardinals in their first regular-season home game in 2011 tomorrow at 1:35 p.m.

So once again, SFMTA is urging you to consider not driving to the game, but instead taking Muni, a cab, or bicycle to AT&T Park. Oh, and eat hella garlic fries and sandwiches from Crazy Crab’z, also, too.

Go, Giants!

Press Release–SFMTA Encourages Fans to Go Green to San Francisco Giants Baseball Games 4.7.11 (PDF)

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