Today at Noon: 52nd Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest

cable_car_contest

I’m guessing that if you’re reading this, you are reading this. I’m good. I’m also gonna guess that if you’re reading this, you appreciate knowing about things like the 52nd annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, which will take place tomorrow at noon in Union Square.

Current champ Trini Whittaker will go for his fourth victory in a row. From SFMTA:

“Whittaker will face stiff clapper competition from two three-time winners: Ken Lunardi (1997, 2002, 2006) and Leonard Oats (2007, 2008, 2009).

“In fact, expect Mr. Lunardi to pull out all the bells and whistles. The 35 year SFMTA employee has spent the last three-decades as a cable car gripman and will soon retire, so he’s looking to claim the crown and a place in bell ringing history.”

Fun. If you go, share your thoughts here.

Photo by geoff dude

Transit News: Muni station elevators, E-Embarcadero, Muni challenge

  • Elderly Woman Beaten After Striking Passenger In Dispute Over Seat On Muni Bus (CBS Bay Area)
  • City’s construction boom causes elevator replacement costs to skyrocket at Muni stations, agency says (SF Examiner)
  • Op-cartoon: The San Francisco Transit Riders Muni Challenge (SF Examiner)
  • E-Embarcadero Debut Now August 1 (Market Street Railway)
  • State regulators seek stricter background checks for tech-transit companies (SF Examiner)

Brass section represented on Muni

tuba

Muni rider Ruth recently spotted this fine fellow and his travel companion, a tuba sousaphone. It made me want to gather all the people we’ve featured over the years on Muni with musical instruments (see below). They could have a show on a moving Muni vehicle. Or something.

Previously
A little music to accompany your Muni ride
Strange cargo on Muni: They call me yellow cello
An entertaining commute on the N-Judah
Strummin’ away on Muni
Muni driver toots his horn

Add another to the Pantheon of Muni tattoos

cable_car_tattoo

Sure, we’ve seen Muni worm tattoos, F-Market streetcar tattoos, Fast Passes, Muni transfers

But it wasn’t until this morning that we’d seen or heard of anyone honoring the San Francisco institution of cable cars with permanent ink on their skin. Muni rider and cable car lover Luna sent us her new skinwork: “Got my #cablecar #tattoo!” Yes you did, Luna. Yes you did. Red and gold FTW.

Update: Leap bus for sale! Leap bus for sale!

leap_for_sale

Update (June 29, 2015): Word comes from Henry that this here magic blue bus has sold for a whopping $9,750. For the math-challenged among you, that’s a mere 3,250 precious cups of Blue Bottle single-serve coffee. Jealous? GET IN LINE.

Original post (June 12, 2015): In a Super-Duper-Size helping of schadenfreude, looks like the failed startup Leap, which dared to challenge our beloved/behated Muni, is auctioning off its wares. Or, at least one of their spiffy blue buses.

Muni/SFMTA should soooooooo buy this and let a group of us riders paint a big ol’ hand flippin’ the bird on the sides. Just an idea.

Currently the Leap bus is being listed on First Capitol Auction, Inc. Thanks to Sarah for finding this. She says, “Anyone want to buy a used start-up bus?”

leapbus auction

Previously:
Private bus service Leap Transit shut down by state
Leap bus needs a tow on Day 2: Is there an app for that?
Gizmodo writer finds the ultimate competitor for Leap buses

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