Your place to share stories on and off the bus.
Photo by Thomas Hawk
KCBS reports of a partnership between BART police and Oakland Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association to provide escorts at the West Oakland Station tonight and tomorrow. The volunteers will be available to walk people to their cars or give them rides to a nearby parking lot.
We can see the necessity for this, but really? It’s come to this?
Photo by Flickr user juicyrai
Muni rider Sara sent us the following tale of jackassery on the 21-Hayes:
The rider caught my eye from the second we boarded the 21 at Market and Montgomery on Monday night. I noticed as the cute 20-something with amazing curly hair slipped his bike on the front rack before jumping aboard, sitting in the very first seat across from the driver. I noticed as he chatted nicely with the driver about the new line changes, and how he groaned with the rest of us about the obscenely loud speaker (seriously, that’s another entry – since the Muni updates on Saturday, some of the speakers have been blaring out of control). And then I also noticed how he dashed off the bus lighting fast on Hayes and Buchanan as the driver yelled something muffled. All I made out was “Your bike!” But that’s all that mattered. Even from the watchful eye of the first seat, the 20-something’s bike was snatched off the rack before he could stop it.
I was floored, but as word traveled around the bus, people came forward with other stories about bikes being jacked off the front of the bus (“They took one from a group of tourists!”). Is this a common occurence? It struck me as really sad. And slightly annoying, because the driver wouldn’t leave until the police came, so we all had to wait for the next bus to arrive. It was a bonding moment on the 21 last night, no doubt, but I’m guessing the poor guy never got his bike back.
It’s ridiculous enough to get your phone snatched out of your hands on the bus, and now your bike might be next?
Did your bike get stolen on Muni or did you witness what Sara saw? Let Muni Diaries know.
Image from Eric Fischer‘s Flickr account
I honestly can’t recall how I came across this. Twitter? RSS? Email?
In any case, the image above, published to Flickr by Eric Fischer, is a map of proposed subway and elevated train routes through our fair city. I often imagine what could be transit-wise, failing to remember that some of that stuff is more “what might’ve been.” Or, in some cases, it’s “what used to be.” The freeways-all-over-the-damn-place stuff I can do without. These subway lines, on the other hand, are the shiznit.
(This post ran on Muni Diaries yesterday. Share your BART stories today)
Image from Eric Fischer‘s Flickr account
I honestly can’t recall how I came across this. Twitter? RSS? Email?
In any case, the image above, published to Flickr by Eric Fischer, is a map of proposed subway and elevated train routes through our fair city. I often imagine what could be transit-wise, failing to remember that some of that stuff is more “what might’ve been.” Or, in some cases, it’s “what used to be.” The freeways-all-over-the-damn-place stuff I can do without. These subway lines, on the other hand, are the shiznit.
Photo by Telstar Logistics
A few weeks ago, Todd Lappin sent us these photos of the decoration of Muni’s streetcar fleet for the holidays. Shortly after the post went live, Todd wrote us again to let us know of something making my Texas-raised skin and bones mighty jealous: The Market Street Railway’s nonprofit is sponsoring an event they’re calling Family and Member Days at the Museum on December 19-20 (this coming Friday and Saturday). From 1-4 p.m. on Friday, MSR will run special cars just for kids (hear that commuters!? no angry posts or tweets about children on the F.).
So parents! Clear your schedules, check the weather, dress the wee ones appropriately, and get thee down to Don Chee Way for some charter rides on the pride cars of the fleet. Here’s what Todd has to say:
The MSR gang is organizing a special Family Day charter using the decorated cars, on December 19. It’ll be a special charter for kids, running nonstop from the Railway Museum by the Ferry Building to Pier 39.
Pretty nice. Unlike some white-bearded dudes with red cheeks, our streetcars actually exist. What a cool thing to do to celebrate the holidays.
Photo by Flickr user Brian_Brooks
About 10 days ago, SFMTA (everyone knows that acronym now, right?) began its long-planned changes to service for Muni buses and light-rail lines. Some fretted the approaching changes, while others cried tears of sadness to see bus routes wither and die. (In case you’re still under that rock, we posted several Muni obituaries from readers.)
Last Friday, we asked Twitter followers to give us their thoughts about Week 1 of Muni-geddon. Here are the responses we got:
I see higher fares and same old horrible service. Am I wrong?
18 bus not arriving at designated times, sometimes early, other times up to 10 mins late. 38L also running 40 footers.
what I don’t get is the fact we’re paying more for less service. Can any1 explain this to me?
Coworker showed up an hour early because wait times for the 18 were 5 minutes and 125 minutes.
Not happy w/new changes. 41 increased size & arrivals but still EXTREMELY crowded, no improvement & 12 completely changed route
took a commute full n Judah home from ucsf last night. Everyone was nice. Paying by cash really slowed down boarding.
Monday was a sad day. I did not see the 26-Valencia on NextMuni. Now I am dependent on the consistently tardy J Train.
Feel like the 38 does not come as frequently as before, probably because of no 38-Ocean Beach.
So how’s about it? Do you like the changes? Hate them? Ambivalent?
See also:
* asinine asterisk meant to explain that we actually prefer Muni’s term of choice: service changes. Some lines and line segments were cut, it’s true. But many lines’ frequency was increased. Some lines felt no love or hate whatsoever. Changes, yeah, that’s the ticket.