BART’s Oakland Airport Connector — Yea or Nay? (updates)

BART @ Bayfair Station, 2007
Photo by Flickr user sftrajan

Update (9:04 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009): Transbayblog has a recap of last night’s City Council meeting, in which the council approved the OAC, with a caveat or two.

Original post: Things could come to a boil at tonight’s Oakland City Council meeting, when the council will vote on a resolution rejecting a proposal for an elevated line connecting the Dublin/Pleasanton and Fremont lines to the Oakland International Airport. The estimated cost of the project: $522 million.

We at BART Diaries see both sides of a fairly complicated and certainly expensive project. But we want to know how you, dear reader/BART rider, feel about this. Let us know in the comments.

Oh, and if you’re so inspired, Transbay Blog is awarding prizes to anyone who shows up to tonight’s City Council meeting to speak about the OAC (Oakland Airport Connector).

Newsom-Muni-Parking Meters: It’s getting ugly in here

DSC_0657.jpg
Photo by Flickr user myelectricsheep

SF Weekly has a nifty play-by-play of sorts detailing the long, drawn-out drama involving our broken public transportation system, and suggested studies of ways to keep the thing afloat.

Muni Diaries isn’t taking sides in all of this, of course. We’d simply like public transportation to be affordable. That, and we feel like good ideas are worth exploring further. Good ideas like extending parking-meter hours in an effort to let those who choose to drive help pay the way for those unable to do the same, which his Gavination seems to be against. Even studying the aforementioned.

Oh, and the obligatory Gavin joke: Wait, he’s still the mayor?

Black Stripe Tattoo on the 31 – is this you? Muni Missed Connections of the Week

Without Knowing What Is Going To Happen Next
Photo by Flickr user ashleyniblock

The weekend brought a round of amusing Craigslist Muni Missed Connections, courtesy of tattoos and LoveFest.

Black glasses, black stripe tattoos on arms… – m4w (31 Muni Bus)

“You only got on the Muni briefly, and got off at the college. Your left arm has one fairly solid, wide black stripe tattoo on it, the right arm had what looked like 2 or 3 thin solid black stripes, and you were wearing a white tshirt, jeans and black glasses.

You’re beyond cute….like, way beyond cute!!!

I wonder what it’d take for a guy like me to take you out for a drink or something….”

I really love it when Missed Connections are, like, long, semi-drown-out conversations.

Beautiful Asian lady – m4w

You and I held the same bar… in that crowded muni. I think you are beautiful. I doubt if you noticed me. Coffee?” (italics, ours)

The same bar??? Uh, cute.

Girl in the red hat – 71L at 8:30 am – m4w (haight ashbury)

“Normally I pass on MUNI, but this morning I took the 71L downtown. We sat next to each other, eventually. I’m groggy in the mornings, but wanted to say I thought your nail polish — a funky blue color — was pretty cool. That’s all.”

Could a chance ride and some funky nails be the seeds of romance?

29 Bus – Sunset/SFSU – m4w – 22 (sunset / parkside)

“I see you on the 29 bus a few times a week, both in the morning on the way to SFSU and in the afternoon on the way home. More often than not, the bus is crowded and we end up at opposite ends, so I figure this is the most convenient option for the time being, since it doesn’t require me yelling over the heads of fellow muni riders at you, a girl I’ve yet to meet. I’m not sure we’ll ever talk, but you’re almost excessively cute and catch my eye every time we ride.

Here’s to seeing you tomorrow!”

College love. Charming.

On the Muni with my bike and 2 friends. You are the gorgeous redhead. – m4w – 26 (We got off at Steiner)

“You got on the bus, I forget where, I had 2 of my buddies with me, and we all had bikes. I saw your friend, who I thought was cute, then I saw you. I normally am not attracted to redheads, but you are gorgeous. Perfect face and beautiful hair. Cute style, and red painted toenails with white snowflakes or stars? lol not sure. I looked up at you a couple times, and we made eye contact, but just felt weird that you were with your friend and I was with mine. Then as I was getting off the bus you definitely gave me an amazing smile through the bus windows. Doubt you will read this, but you are amazingly beautiful. So if you do. I’m Shaun. Tell me what I was wearing and what I looked like.”

A night of browsing for Muni Missed Connections simultaneously makes me believe in both chance encounters and total wastes of time. It’s the romantic/cynic in me.

If you’ve spotted a hottie, attainable or not, on Muni lately, let us know.

Another sweepstakes from Commuter Nation

Okay, we missed the live event last week (sorry!). But we’re here, this week, promoting this pretty nifty giveaway. Check it out:

Win a FREE year of commuting with the Commuter Nation RIDE FREE Sweepstakes!

 

What: Commuter Nation campaign, is giving away over 10 years of free commuting during the Commuter Nation RIDE FREE Sweepstakes!

 

When: Monday, September 21, through Saturday, October 17. On October 7, Commuter Nation teams will be at Fourth and King Street Station from 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and Embarcadero Station from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

 

Where: Commuter Nation website: http://www.commuternation.com.

 

Why: With the current Muni & BART fares, you might be unaware that you could decrease the burden of commuting costs by participating in commuter benefits through your employer. The Commuter Nation RIDE FREE Sweepstakes is giving commuters a chance to win free commuting, and learn about how they can save each month by participating in their employer’s commuter benefits program.

Another sweepstakes from Commuter Nation

Okay, we missed the live event last week (sorry!). But we’re here, this week, promoting this pretty nifty giveaway. Check it out:

Win a FREE year of commuting with the Commuter Nation RIDE FREE Sweepstakes!

What: Commuter Nation campaign, is giving away over 10 years of free commuting during the Commuter Nation RIDE FREE Sweepstakes!

When: Monday, September 21, through Saturday, October 17. On October 7, Commuter Nation teams will be at Fourth and King Street Station from 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and Embarcadero Station from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Where: Commuter Nation website: http://www.commuternation.com.

Why: With the current Muni & BART fares, you might be unaware that you could decrease the burden of commuting costs by participating in commuter benefits through your employer. The Commuter Nation RIDE FREE Sweepstakes is giving commuters a chance to win free commuting, and learn about how they can save each month by participating in their employer’s commuter benefits program.

iPhone thefts, other crimes on Muni

iPhone on muni on my way to the Apple Store
Photo by Flickr user Steve Rhodes

We were reminded yesterday via Twitter that there seems to be an increasing number of iPhone and other smartphones being stolen from people on Muni trains and buses.

Here’s maryspecht‘s tweet:

@munidiaries have you noticed uptick in phone robberies on Muni? Mine was stolen last night & ppl tell me it’s been happening lots recently.

That jogged our memories of this story, on SF Appeal in mid-September, about the arrest of two young men for allegedly stealing cellphones on Muni.

Today, the Examiner online has a story about the city and SFPD’s eagerly awaited new measures meant to combat Muni-specific crimes, including the violent sort. The post discusses how crime has remained steady in the transit system, while ticking down for the rest of the city over the first half of the year.

Be careful out there. And always reports crimes when they happen.

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